About Temples Of Basohli

Information- Basohli

The City Of Basohli was known as the City of Temples with more than 100 Hindu temples to its credit. The layout of the city was such that every road in the city had a temple in it. The city of Basohli has 4 big temples on its four sides – protecting the citizens from external natural calamities. The four temples are Shiv Mandir, Mata Chanchlo Mandir, Mahandra Mandir and Swami Neel Kanth Mandir.

Each and every temple in the city has its own legend and history and attributes. Lord Shiva is known as the overall protector of mankind. Similarly, Goddess Sheetla is known to grant good health. Goddess Mahakali is the protector from enemies.

The oldest temple being the Mahadev Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, the other famous temples of Basohli are – The Shiv Temple, Shri Chamunda Devi Temple, Shri Sheetla Mata Temple, Shri Ram Temple, Shri Hanuman Temple, Shri Jatajut Temple, Shri Chamunda Devi Temple, Shri Sheetla Mata Temple, Shri Ram Temple, Shri Hanuman Temple, Shri Jatajut Temple, Shri Mahakali Temple, Shri Bhaironath Temple, Naagdevta Temple, Shri Dharamraj and Shri Chitragupt Temple, Shri Navdurga Temple, Shri Satya Narayan Temple, Shri Chanchloee Mata Temple, Shri Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Shri Shanidev Temple, Satsang Bhawan and Shri Balmiki Temple.

Some of the temples that still attract huge crowds during festivals are:

1.The Shiv Temple is located at the city centre and houses the famous Shivlingam, which is believed to have been brought by the Pandavas to Basohli during their exile.

2.Shri Mahadev Temple dates back to a thousand years. It is believed that the Shivlingam in the temple is ‘Swayambhu’ meaning that it appeared on the face of the Earth by itself. During the monsoon season and Mahashivratri, a Fair is held here by the locals.

3.Chamunda Mata Temple – dates back to about 1000 years - is located in city square of Basohli City. The Deity is in the form of a rock. The temple was rebuilt in 1979 and is dedicated to Maa Chamunda (Maa Durga). Chamunda Devi is family Goddess of Padha Family (Rajvaid Family) in Basohli. But people belonging all castes worship here. During Navratri, the temple witnesses huge crowds.

4. The Jatajoot Temple is situated close to the Rajput Colony in Basohli and is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

5.The Mahakali Temple is located at the South of the city of Basohli near Ravi River and is dedicated to Goddess Mahakali.

6.The Bhaironath Temple is also situated at the South of the city and houses the deity of Bhaironath.
7.The Sheetla Mata temple is situated east of the town on the banks of River Ravi. During Navratri, people of all Strata of Basohli society converge at the temple to worship Mata Sheetla who is known to protect from skin diseases, small pox and ailments of eyes.

8.Shri Ram Temple is located at the city square near Ramleela Ground and is dedicated to Shri Ram, Shri Vishnu, Shri Krishna and Shri Lakshmi Mata, Sita Mata and Shri Radha also worshipped here.

9.Hanuman Temple is located in the city centre facing Shri Ram Temple. And in the vicinity of this temple you will find Shani and Navgraha temples as well.

10.Naag Devta Temple is located about 5 Kms. from Basohli city centre on Basohli - Dhar Mahanpur road, in a village called Valetta Baba. People of Basohli worship Naag Devta during the monsoon months and on Naag Panchami.

Basohli(Tourist Place)

Basholi is a town in Kathua district in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is situated on the right bank of River Ravi at an altitude of 1876 ft. It is founded by Raja Bhupat Pal sometimes in 1635.

 
It has an average elevation of 460 metres (1509 feet). Basoli is situated in the uneven lofty hills of Shiwaliks. It is situated in the right bank of Ravi river. Basoli has become popular for the Thein dam which has made it almost landlocked.Before the construction of Ranjit Sagar dam or Thein dam Basoli was just 32 km from Kathua but now due the dam it is about 72 km from Kathua city.

Ranjit Sagar Dam (Thein)
Hydro electric Project (Thein Dam) being constructed at the west bank of river Ravi by the Govt of Punjab and Himachal Paradesh. It as 6 turbines. It is 600 MW Hydel project. The Govt of Punjab, Himachal Paradesh and Jammu and Kashmir are the beneficiaries of this Project. Jammu & Kashmir has 20% share in this project.Prime Minister Sh Atal Behari Bajpayee has inaugurated the project . At present only one turbine is working (producing 150 MW). The Officers Colony is at Chaper Kandi (Pathankote), 25 km from Kathua.

Dhar Mahanpur
It is new emerging tourist spot in middle Himalayas. It is 27 km from Basohli (Tehsil HQ) and 87 km from Kathua. It is a ridge blanked with thick CHIR, DEODHAR and SHRUBS. It experiences temperate type of climate. It receives winter rainfall from western disturbances and summer rainfall from monsoons. Cold winter and pleasant summer are the main attractions of this place. Many Tourist Melas are organized by the Tourist Department of J&K Govt to promote tourism in the area. Tourist Huts are also proposed to be constructed. Bus service available from Basohli (tehsil HQ).


Basohli Bridge
JAMMU, June 7: Strategically important and first of its kind in North India, Basohli bridge over Ranjit Sagar Dam of river Ravi, connecting J&K State with the Punjab, just closer to Himachal border, is going to be commissioned in December this year.

Being constructed by the Project Sampark of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), it will be fourth bridge of its kind in the country after Worli in Mumbai, Hawra in Kolkatta and Nagpur in Maharashtra. It is the most challenging task before the BRO engineers to accomplish this task. Not only the Indian engineers and consultants, the agencies from Canada, Japan, Spain and Switzerland have also been engaged for the completion of this prestigious project by the BRO authorities.
Chief Engineer, Project Sampark of BRO, Brig B. Bhattacharya told the Excelsior that this 592 mt span and double lane cable-stay bridge at Basohli town of district Kathua is almost ready. “More than 75 % work on the bridge has been completed. The side concrete spans (121 mt each) on both sides have already been completed and middle span is also almost complete. The work of laying cables has been started and the bridge is to be commissioned by November or maximum December this year (2015),” Brig Chattacharya said.

When asked about the delay and jumping of two deadlines and also the latest one fixed as September 2014 for completion of this bridge project, the Chief Engineer said that during floods in September last year and again in March this year, some damage was suffered at the site and work was affected. The cable material after testing was being procured from abroad and this process was also time consuming. All the material has now reached at the site and the cable laying work is being initiated. The contracting agency has also given indication to complete all the allied work by November this year, he maintained.

Responding to another question related to non-completion of black topping of the 2 kms approach road of the bridge on Punjab side, the Chief Engineer said, that portion is yet to be completed while approach road on Basohli side is ready. He disclosed that immediately after monsoon season, the work of black topping would be taken up and finished within a few weeks, the Chief Engineer added.
Described as an engineering marvel in this part of the country, the foundation stone of this important bridge was laid by the then UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi in presence of former Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in May 2010. The work on the project was commenced in September 2010 and three year completion target was given to the agency. Due to some delay another one year time was given for completion and September 2014 was fixed as the new deadline. But it could not be completed even by March 2015. The official connected with the project claimed that in view of the procurement of specially designed cables from Japan and Spain, and their testing in Switzerland and then transportation to India; the project has been delayed by about one year.
Another BRO engineer said that being constructed with the cost of Rs 145 crore, this bridge will connect Basohli with Dunera in Punjab. This bridge will also open the flood-gate for the tourists to the picturesque areas of Basohli, Bani, Sarthal and Bhaderwah from Dalhousie and Chamba sides. The BRO/ GREF has also expedited work on Basohli-Bani-Sarthal-Bhaderwah road. As this upgraded double-lane road is completed in next two-three years, a large number of tourists visiting Himachal will also be attracted towards Bani and Bhaderwah through this important inter-state link. He said this bridge is also tactically and strategically important as per defence point of view.
Referring to the physical progress at this project, he said his 592 mt span double-lane bridge will have nearly 90 mt high towers on both the sides. Between two towers, there is 330 mt span, nearing completion, while 121 mt spans each, on left and right banks of the river (dam) have been completed. The high towers have been raised for the purpose of holding cable system and carrying load of the vehicles. He further disclosed that approach road to bridge from Basohli side is also complete while nearly 1.8 kms approach road from Dunera (Pb) side is yet to be blacktopped.

“The bridge is being constructed by the joint venture of IRCON and M/s SP Singla Pvt Ltd. Canadian agency Infinity, is engaged for supervising the critical activities of this unique bridge as experts. IIT New Delhi had approved the design of this bridge. Nearly 300 ton specially designed cables are needed for this bridge which are being procured from Japan and Spain. After procurement, the testing is being done by another expert agency of Switzerland,” he added.