Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, July 24: Dharmarth Trust president, Ajay Gandotra accompanied with secretary of the Trust, Dr Gopal Parthasarthi Sharma today called on Deputy Commissioner, Samba, Anuradha Gupta and sought for pacing up the development works and restoration of heritage value of the Utterbehni and Purmandal Shrines.
The Trust president held a threadbare discussion on various aspects of developing the holy twin shrines on modern lines to provide state-of-art facilities to the devotees and the tourists visiting the site as the place has immense religious and historical significance.
He urged the Deputy Commissioner to take proactive steps in making these shrines visitors delight because the same are connected with the rich cultural heritage of the region and Dogras of J&K, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh have special affinity towards these religious destinations which hosts several matchless characteristics. “The temple complex at Purmandal devoted to Lord Shiva is popularly known as Chhota Kashi and surrounded by the Shivalik Hills that possess a natural exquisiteness. It is located on the banks of Devika, the underground river.
Nearby the Purmandal Temple, there is the village of Utterbehni called so as the underground river ‘Devika’ takes a northward turn here, which is something rare for rivers in the Himalayan foothills”, Gandotra said, adding that immediate facelift of these shrines is the need of the hour as these could help in boosting the religious tourism in the region. He also discussed in detail the need of taking care of other temples in the district including Aarzi temple Samba, Raghunath Ji temple Rajpura and Raghunath Ji temple Abtal.
Later, Ajay Gandotra also apprised the Deputy Commissioner, Samba about various initiates taken by the Dharmarth Trust with an aim to provide better facilities and amenities to the devotees. He also assured the Deputy Commissioner that the Dharmarth Trust will extend wholehearted support to the administration in carrying out development works in the shrines and other temples in the district. He urged the Deputy Commissioner to make a comprehensive plan to create a tourist circuit comprising all the significant shrines situated in the district and promulgating the same to give boost to tourism and raise the socio-economic conditions of the stakeholders especially after the big jolt which the local economy has felt due to pandemic.
After giving a patient hearing to the delegation, the Deputy Commissioner assured to take up the matter with concerned quarters for taking up the genuine demands as soon as possible.
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