Dr. M. Ashaq Raza

Darhal Malkan, a beautiful valley is situatedabout 23 km north of Rajouri and about 180kmnorth-west to Jammu, the winter capital of Jam-mu and Kashmir. Rajouri is 157 km north-westof Jammu and 89 km south-east of Poonch. Ithas an average elevation of 915 metres (3001feet from sea level). The weather ranges frommoderate to cool, perhaps better than that ofJammu and Srinagar.

Surrounded by gentle sloping mountains onits three sides, this bowl shaped valley lookslike a naturally carved stadium. The zig-zagDarhal River also regarded as Darhal Tawi orig-inating from snow capped hills that flows downthrough main town towards Rajouri adds to itsbeauty manifolds.

With a population about 40,000, Darhal has23 Panchyats spread over its 12 main villagesviz. Chowkian, Sagrawat, in the west, Thana-mang in the centre and Bari Darhal in the north,Dodaj and Topa in east, and Nadian, Kothra,Leeran, Mulhot and Ujhan in the South. Darhalbecame the 7th , latest and smallest Tehsil ofDistrict Rajouri having an area of 19844 acres(92 sq.kms) in 2004.

A typical Pahari culture that extends fromPakistani parts of Panjab to Himachal Pradeshthrough Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Rajouri, Uriand up to Indian Punjab, Darhal depicts a blendof Punjabi, Dogri, Gojri and Kashmiri culturesnowadays. Pahari and Gojri are main lan-guages of area. Paharis make 57 per cent oftotal population of District Rajouri.

Popularly known as Darhal Malkan orMalikan due to the fact that Maliks Valley Darhalhas a huge tourism potential, if its natural beau-ty is brought on tourism map with certain devel-opmental initiatives and is connected withMughal road through its upper reaches. Shak-er Marg Project that has recently beenapproved will be a gateway to the wonderfuland hidden meadows, and open new vistas tothe tourism sector, provided it has road con-nectivity options with the Mughal road from Pir-ki-Gali or elsewhere. It will be perhaps, theshortest route from Rajouri to Srinagar.

The principal crops are maize, rice andwheat with agriculture as main occupation ofmajority of people here. The vegetables andpulses growing trend is now increasingly seenamong the people as new way of generating

income. Many people, besides Gujjars depictthe tribal character of livelihood. Traditionally,they move to three places along with their cat-tle in an year in the search of fodder for the cat-tle. They go to Dhokhs (alpine meadows) in theupper reaches during the monsoons (mid June- mid September), stay at their main homeplace (where maize crop is sown) for next 3-4months and then move downward in late win-ters to mang (Pahari word meaning - lowerreaches where rice crop is usually grown) untilthey return to dhoks or homes. However, dueto increasing employment and economic devel-opment, many people have entirely changedthe traditional way of life.

Food habits primarily resemble with that ofPunjab but nowadays, a mix of Punjabi, Jam-mu and Kashmir preparations is seen in manyhouseholds. Traditionally, people are fond of

rice twice or even thrice a day unless a personis medically advised. However, bread madefrom wheat and especially maize layered withgreen chilli and butter, or one may call it aPahari Pizza, with mustard saag (vegetable)and lassi (Punjabi curd dessert) is preferred bymany people. But due to changing trends thisPahari pizza is disappearing gradually and isavailable mainly in Ramadan or some placesof pilgrimage. Besides the commercially avail-able vegetables, people eat several wild edibleplants/plant parts including Kandour or Kasrour(Diplazium), Chhou (Nasturtium officinale),Ghanar (Amaranthus) and Bathwa(Chenopodium album) as vegetables,Morchella (guchi) and Mushrooms (Agaricus)that usually grow in rainy seasons under natu-ral conditions supplement vegetables some-times. Halwa or soup of foxtail millet (Setaria

italica) and Ghanar seeds, and kheer (SweetRice) dressed by Methi (Trigonella foenum-graecum) are some of traditional sweet fooditems.

So far literacy is concerned, Darhal ranksamong the top in seven Tehsils of DistrictRajouri. However, there are number of childrenespecially female children who do not attendschool. There are about 10 higher secondaryschools, governmental and private ones, iron-ically there is not a single institution of highereducation in area. Despite having a maximumfeeding area, Darhal remained only Tehsil inDistrict Rajouri without a degree college dis-playing a political tyranny to the generations ofarea. However, of is work on opening a newcollege in Darhal in the near future.

Politically, Darhal Constituency includestwo Tehsil (including Budhal) also regarded as

Darhal - Budhal constituency that extends upto Kalakote in south east, Rajouri in South andto Thanamandi in west. There are about 90,000registered voters (87831 in 2008 as per J&KElection Commission's statistics) with a per-centage of 52 percent males (45564) and 48percent females (42267) in Constituency. How-ever, due to its larger geographical size com-prising of two Tehsils with poor (road) connec-tivity, and with varying social interests, theprogress of two areas is at slow pace, perhapsdivision of this one huge constituency into twowill be boost development of two areas assmaller subunits.

In terms of development, whosoever maybe responsible, the area is still passing throughthe ordeals of real and visionary leadershipsince independence. Last to get a Tehsil, noinstitution of Higher Education yet, worst roadconditions especially from Rajouri to Darhal areself explanatory. Roads from Darhal to Thana-mandi and Budhal that were constructed about50 years ago that are still looking to be com-pleted tell many stories of helplessness. Ifthese roads were completed and properlymaintained, these could have connected notonly Darhal and Budhal areas with Mughalroad but provided Udhampur and Reasi Dis-tricts an alternate connection with districtRajouri and Poonch much earlier.

However, the area has a Sub-District Hos-pital with reasonably good health facilities, andgood network of road connectivity, though poorconditions, in almost every village of Darhal.

Numbers of wild animals, birds typical of Pir-panjal range are seen in different seasons inDarhal. But due to depletion of forest coversmany species of animals have either disap-peared or migrated to other adjoining areas.However, in the recent years a return of biodi-versity has been observed. A wild life sanctu-ary in the upper reaches can be set up to retainthe wild life of the region.

Darhal is famous for its pottery and woodcarping in India. However, preserving the richcultural heritage is a matter of concern.

People of Darhal are also known for their hos-pitality, straightforwardness, bravery and beliefin traditions. About 160 men form Darhal tookpart in World War I, five gave up their lives there.

(The author is Asstt. Prof. of Botany at Govt. College for

Women, Gandhi Nagar Jammu)

Dr Narinder Paul

Jandi garden locally known as “Jandi baagh”or simply “baagh” is a beautiful scenic place inHiranagar tehsil situated in village Jandi which liesat 5 Km distance from Hiranagar Town. This splen-did charming natural place is full of peace and isthe best for meditation. Adjoined by the calmlyflowing stream of Gupt Gang and a mangoorchard, there are number of small stone pitchedbowalies that remained filled with fresh waterbesides an ancient temple devoted to Lord Shi-va. Numerous ancient stones with the images ofdevtas and gods carved on them can be found onthese bowalies. A magnanimous temple of BabaSehaj Nath ji with in the premises of the baaghhas been recently constructed by the Jandials. Itis surrounded by the villages Bassi Jamwal, Pan-tal, Jandi, Kattal Brahmna, Kattal Gujjraan etc.

One locally available legend says that thatonce upon a time this place started to dry updue to some curse. The wild animals and birdsbegan to die. The water bodies started to dryup. All that became matter of worry for the vil-lagers. Years passed but one day the dried upgarden suddenly started to bloom, turned lushgreen and the birds started to chirp sweet songs.The villagers were quite astonished to see all itas they were not hopeful that this would everhappen. Whispers were heard as how has ithappened? How a dried up garden turned greenand birds begin to chirp? When the villagerswent there, they saw a saint meditating thereand it was the result of his spiritual power thathad enabled the otherwise dried up garden tobloom. The dried up stream of Gupt Gangabegan to spurt water and the Ghat once againturned into a viable aquatic ecosystem.

There are two routes to reach the gardenfrom the Hiranagar-Rajpura link road; one fromJandi-Kattal road through a perennial nallalocally known as “cho” and other through the vil-

lage Bassi Jamwal on Hiranagar-Jandi link road.The route through nallah is broad and is suitedfor the passage of large vehicles. Earlier theroad was kaccha but recently it has been paved.At some places however, it is undulated and onehas to pass through flowing water to reach thebaagh. The second route through village BassiJamwal is metalled but narrow and suits well tothe small vehicles including two wheelers. It isquite clear road. Most of the outsiders usuallyfollow this road to reach the baagh.

There is a that stream originated from thisplace that is believed to be that of Gupt Ganga.On the occasion of ekadshi and amavasya peo-ple take holy dip in it. Taking bath at this ghat isconsidered as equal as at Haridwar. With thisfaith people throng the place at occasions toreprieve themselves of the sins and to get thespirit of devotion towards almighty inculcated inthem. The ghat of this magnificent stream wasearlier stone pitched that has now been rein-forced with cemented. One more peculiar fea-ture of this divine place is that it hosts thedevsthans of many biradaries and frequent con-gregations of the respective biradries are heldhere.

There are several small water bodies(Bowlies) in front of the lod Shiva’s temple whichwere earlier used to be the only source ofpotable water for adjoining areas. Few of themhave been now abandoned. Whereas, somebowalies have been renovated and remainsfilled with the underground stream of fresh waterand fishes. Fishing is completely prohibited herenot by force but by faith.

One popular legend associated with thesebowalies in the adjoining area is that that; onebig golden fish lived in one of these bowalieswith golden nose ring in its upper lip (Locallycalled naath) that was considered divine fish.One day a person from another village saw bigand healthy fishes. He fished few and packed

them in a bag. When he turned to go home hecouldn’t see anything when he turned towardsbowely he could see everything. Later he hearda voice that he had turned blind because of thesin he had committed and only he would be ableto see if he puts all the fishes back in the bow-ly, begs pardon and performs pooja of it aftertaking a dip in the nearby stream of Gupt Gan-ga. He got scared and immediately put the fish-es back into the bowley and performed thesame. Miracle happened; his visual sense cameback. Later he begged pardon for fishing in theBaagh and told the story to the villagers. Fromthat day the legend begin to be popular.

Revered Dharamguru 1008 Swami ShantaNand Saraswati Ji Maharaj lived at this charm-ing place for more than twenty years from 1958to 1980 and started the work of repair and ren-ovation of the lord Shiva,s temple, pitching ofthe ghat of Gupt Ganga and got constructed theinitial infrastructure including an ashram in thebaagh premises. This place was selected byswamiji because of its extreme natural beautyand peaceful atmosphere. Now the place hasbeen managed by Jandial sabha which has gotconstructed a big community hall for the welfareof the people in the vicinity of the ancient LordShiva’s temple.

Undoubtedly, the natural beauty of this placeadds charm to one’s life. The musical chirp ofbirds in the summer season and echo of numer-ous voices of koel fill the garden with magic. Thesweet fragrance emanating from numerousmango trees in the baagh fills the surroundingwith great a divine aroma. During summersthere remains a heavy rush of the people whocome here to take bath in the chilling water ofthe stream especially at evening. This splendidplace has all the charm that is needed to makeit place worth mentioning and a tourist attrac-tion for the full scale tourist spot.

(The Author is Agriculture Extension Officer)

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2013 INTERNET EDITION : www.dailyexcelsior.com/magazine

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JANDI GARDEN

A Natural Souvenir

DARHAL MALKAN

An unexplored paradise

There are two routes to reach the garden from the

Hiranagar-Rajpura link road; one from Jandi-Kattal

road through a perennial nalla locally known as “cho”

and other through the village Bassi Jamwal on Hirana-

gar-Jandi link road. The route through nallah is broad

and is suited for the passage of large vehicles.

A scenic view of snow capped mountains of Darhal