Lalit Gupta
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Jandi: A Sacred Hamlet
The old settlement of Jandi is located four kilometres from Hira Nagar, a tehsil of Kathua district of Jammu division. The ‘Jandi Bagh’ or simply ‘Bagh’ is the main attraction of the village. A sacred place for the Jandiyal birdari, this charming place is adjoined by the calmly flowing stream of Gupt Ganga, a mango orchard, a number of small stone-pitched baolis (natural springs) and an ancient temple devoted to Lord Shiva. Numerous ancient stones with the images of devtas and devis can be found on these baolies. A recently built temple dedicated to Baba Sehaj Nath ji’s temple stands within the.
On Ekadashi and Amavasya, devotees take ritual dips at the local ghat, which is believed to offer spiritual merit equivalent to bathing in Haridwar. The Jandi Bagh is also the site for the devasthans of many biradaris who hold annual congregations here. The ancient Shiva temple of Jandi also attracts a number of pilgrims.
Jandi is surrounded by the villages Bassi Jamwal, Pantal, Jandi, Kattal Brahmana, Kattal and Gujjraan.
Jasrota: The Fallen Capital:
Situated on the banks of the Ujh river, the small town of Jasrota was once the flourishing capital of a kingdom founded in 1019 CE by Jas Dev of the Jamwal dynasty. The rulers adapted the clan name of Jasrotia, in accordance with the custom of hill states. By the 19th century, their domain comprising 13 parganas (small medieval districts), stretched from present-day Hiranagar to the River Ravi.
Jasrota’s rulers were once very powerful and often came in conflict with the Rajas of Lakhanpur, Mau-Paithan (Pathankot), Basohli, Jammu and Chamba. Jasrota, in its heyday, was a prosperous kingdom. Folklore speaks of grand city adorned by seven forts, seven gates and seven ponds. Today, only a fragment of these remains as silent witnesses to Jasrota’s former grandeur.
Jasrota finds no mention in the Sanskrit literature. Rajatarangini mentions the kingdom of Jasta along with Babbapura, Vallapura, Chamba, etc, but historians are unsure of the identification. It is referred to twice in Muslim histories of the time of Akbar. As per the records of Akbarnama and Ma’assir-ul-Umura, the rulers of Jammu and Jasrota had acted jointly in the two rebellions against Akbar (1588-89 & 1594-95), in which all the hill states came together.
Ain-Akbari’s description of Mughal subjugation of Jasrota (mentioned in its record as Jasurna and Jasuna) speaks of its strong natural position, as it was surrounded on all sides by a jungle so dense it was difficult to pass through. The Mughal army, with great effort over several days, cleared the way through the jungle by axe and fire.
On the decline of Mughal power in the first half of the 18th century, and the cessation of Punjab to Ahmad Shah Durani, Jasrota, like Basohli and other states, came under the supremacy of Jammu, especially under the rule of Ranjit Dev (c. 1723-1782).
With growing incursions of Sikhs in the hill states, Jasrota’s Raja submitted to Ranjit Singh in 1808, and Desa Singh Majithia was appointed Governor of the hills, including Jasrota. In 1834, Raja Gulab conquered Singh on behalf of Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab and he, in turn, granted Jasrota as jagir to Raja Hira Singh, son of Raja Dhian Singh.
In March 1846, when Gulab Singh became the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, Jasrota was converted to a wazarat (district). Jasrota was vanquished in 1845, and it never regained its glory. The defeated old ruling family, which had ruled Jasrota for more than 800 years, was exiled to Khanpur, near Nagrota, Jammu.
Jasrota’s Raja Dhruv Dev (1660-1675) shifted Jasrota’s capital from the riverbank location to a new city on a hilltop modelled after Jammu. The new capital featured the Delhi Darwaza as its main gate, a Bhawati temple, a market street, and a Shiva Temple opening into a large chougan flanked by two large ponds. Behind this lay a complex of palaces, a watchtower, and an adjacent garden. Today, all these structures-including the palaces, main gate, and watch tower-survive only as ruins.
Jib: The Heart of Ancient Bulbalta:
About 15 kilometres from Udhampur lies the historically principal town of the old principality of Bulbalata. Local lore traces its origin to the lineage of Mewar’s Rana Manubhan. His descendants founded several key settlements: Sispal at Bajalta, Raspal at Reasi, and Dipal-who became a courtier in Krimachi-through whose line the village of Balo-alta was established. Historical texts like Rajatarangini and Tarikh-Dogra Desh record the political shifts in Bulbalta including its annexation by Jammu rulers and later its transformation into a jagir under Ranjit Dev. Who bestowed it on to his brother Gansar Dev. His son Gopal Dev also founded after his name a village Gopalpur situated on a hillock near the village Sunadi. Under Gulab Singh, Bulabalta became part of Jammu and lost its separate identity.
The area’s archaeological wealth includes ruins of the Chaneni palaces, ruins at Rajpura, sites near Duddhar stream, temples and springs of Pa?a, Kalta, forts of Mananu, Gopalpur and palaces of Khoju Shah.
Jourian: From Forest Hamlet to Flourishing Town
Located 19 kilometres from Akhnoor, Jourian-once known as Rakh Tok. Inhabited by Gujjars, there was also a Dhok Khalsa at a distance of 5 kilometres from this town. The area saw a surge in settlement after the Pratap Canal during the reign of Maharaja Pratap Singh (r.1885-1925).
Recognised for its distinctive pair of old Palash (Palah) trees, the place was called Jodva, which later on became Jyodiyan and eventually Jourian. According to local tradition, the town was established by Mustfa Khan, who invited families from nearby villages to settle here following the devastating plague of 1903.
Kaleeth: The Western Frontier Fort of Jammu
Located about 40 kilometres from Jammu on Akhnoor-Kour Road, Kaleeth is an old settlement known for its 18th-century fort, from which it derives its name (as kaleeth in Dogri means a small fortress).
Built by the Bahu Rajput clan, the fort marked the site where Raja Ambi is believed to have surrendered to Alexander. Forming part of the defensive chain of forts from Nowshera to Akhnoor, Kaleeth safeguarded Jammu’s western frontiers.
Its strategic position at a trade tri-junction overlooking Jourian, Khour, Chamb, Deva Batala, and the Chenab and Manwar rivers made it an important trading hub with a thriving market in front of the fort.
Kaleeth was wrested by Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and later it became part of Maharaja Gulab Singh’s dominions.
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