Rajneesh Anand
anandranand9@gmail.com
Jammu city is blessed with a unique location. Situated at the slopes of Shivalik hills, it has both hilly area as well as plain urban layout. The portion of the city to the north of river Tawi, known as old city, has undulating slopes whereas the relatively newly built Jammu located to the south of river Tawi is plain area. Manda hills form the backdrop of the old Jammu city. And definitely the best walkway of north India is located in these hills. It’s a stretch of more than two kilometres, extending from Kamala to Manda Top located in Ramnagar wildlife sanctuary. This track has been preserved very nicely and has a tiled path. The uphill and downhill slopes of the track make it ideal for a morning exercise. Pleasant morning wind of the jungle lifts your spirit as you breath in fragrant air. Sunrise adds to the colours of the day with beautiful view of serpentine river Tawi.
After shifting to the newer part of the city, I always missed the charm of the Manda walkway. Though this part of the city too has many well maintained parks which are suitable for morning strolls, none of them can replace Manda walkway. Walking on a plain surface with man made surroundings and plantations is altogether a different game. No ups and downs in the path and no jungle fresh air flowing from river Tawi. People go to Jammu University campus, Bahu Plaza area and many other parks of Gandhi Nagar, Trikuta Nagar and Chhanni Himmat. But none of these can match the Manda walkway.
Recently, while searching on Google Earth app, found a good hilly road very close to Chhanni Himmat and Bathindi area. The road begins in Bathindi and stretches for four kilometres to Panj Peer. The starting point of the walkway is at Doongiya Masjid in Bathindi. One can drive to this Masjid by vehicle from Narwal area. When I discovered this area around four-five years ago, the road from Doongiya Masjid to Panj Peer was kutcha road. But it has been metalled now and the vehicles can go up to Panj Peer. But for a morning walk it is advisable to park your vehicle near the Masjid and start walking to Panj Peer. It’s an uphill road with around six U-turns and end to end distance is of around four kilometres.
As you walk on the road you start gaining height. And with every U-turn, the view of Jammu city keeps increasing. You get a clear and beautiful view of the city from Bathindi to Gandhinagar to river Tawi and palaces of old city. The vegetation along this path is mostly full of shrubs. It’s a kandi area full of stones. If you are lucky you can find some wildlife too like peacocks, foxes, rabbits, Khalij, monkeys etc. Halfway through the road passes along a village Raika consisting of around twenty houses. Most of the residents of the village are agriculturists and herders, selling milk to adjoining areas.
From this village as one walks towards Panj Peer, the vegetation changes and pine trees surround you. The other side of the hill becomes visible. River Tawi has created a big plain area in between the hills. One can see Bajalta village and hills beyond where road leading to Surinsar has been laid out. Udhampur railway line too is clearly visible. In clear weather one can enjoy the view of Peer Panchal range, Trikuta hills and even Shankhpal peak, located above Sanasar, is visible.
After this mesmerising view one finally reaches Panj Peer. It constitutes of resting place of a peer under a big tree near a pond. There is a big flat area near the grave. As is the tradition, every Thursday the devotees congregate here. Over the years the number of visitors to this place has increased, mainly on account of macadamised road.
Like Manda walkway this road too is a hilly road. Walkers get good exercise climbing up the road. One gets a beautiful view of sunrise which is not as glamorous as from Manda. The sun rises up from the hill whereas at Manda the rising sun reflects from the waters of river Tawi adding to the charm of the morning. The vegetation too here is not so dense. Manda has large amount of tree cover whereas this place is more dry and only the other side of the hill has pine trees.
It has been observed that lately this road has become a ‘gedi’ road. Young boys and couples on bikes like to spend their time on this road. The number of such travellers is not much as many are still unaware of such a road. The Manda walkway is only meant for walkers and vehicles can not ply on that route, whereas this is a motorable road where vehicles too keep on moving, though their number is not much.
Inspite of all the shortcomings, this is the best track for a good morning walk in the new Jammu area. Crisp morning air, uphill road, beautiful view of Jammu city and mountains beyond, proximity from the city, calmness of the jungle are all the points which add up to make this road ideal for morning exercise.
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