Driving back to Jammu from
Dharamshala, we sighted the ruins of a fort on a hillock and stopped to enquire
about it. A passer-by informed us that
this was the Nurpur fort and though is in ruins, it’s got a temple and a school
functioning inside it.
Intrigued, we decided to take a
detour and headed for a viewing of this fort. Nurpur fort lies just 25 kms
before Pathankot and was about 65 kms from Dharmshala.
We could drive right up to the fort
entry which had a huge open ground all around it for us to trek over. The
entrance didn’t make us feel as if this was a ruin as it looked solid and
intact.
Only once we entered it, did we realize how barren and ruined it was. Remnants of the fort wall were scattered
far and few while most of the inner area consisted of huge stretches of land
over which grass was trying to grow feebly. Huge trees dotted the open area
here and there and for most part it looked desolate and lonely.
On closer inspection of the base of
the walls, I was stunned to see the exquisite carvings making me exclaim why this
is so abandoned and not put up in a museum somewhere. This is indeed the sad
state of affairs in India; if it was up to me, I would have carted them to my
home and put them up in the garden.
A local told us some bits of its
history though I not sure of its veracity. According to legend, this place was
renamed in the honour of the Mughal Queen Noorjehan as it’s said she fell in
love with its beauty.
I so wish that our government would
fall in love with it too and take some measures to protect it. We left with a
very heavy heart to see the neglect of such a gorgeous piece of history and
hope someday it will earn the distinction of being protected by ASI.
_________________________________________________________________________________
About Shalzmojo
An
interior designer by profession, writing is a passion which coupled with travel
love blossomed into this blog where I love to just “do my thing”! Be it
recipes, food events, travel jaunts, fiction dreaming or even meditative
musings; all of it’s taken up quite passionately on my blog. I am a serious
wine guzzler and love to chase butterflies in my free time.
Read about a gorgeous palace where time stands still to allow you to meander
in its memories here
This post is written for the December bloghop #mymojo with Shalzmojo
Linking up for #wordsante with Namysaysso
for every post deserves some love
Lovely scenic pics Shalini.....Another place added on to my to do list.....
ReplyDeleteThanks so much :-)
DeleteSad that they are being neglected in such way! Our history and culture will be washed away in future if such attitude by the officials doesn't stop.
ReplyDeleteYes Keerthi- thats the damndest part about the way things are done in our country! We have such a glorious history and culture - yet when it comes to preserving it, we are not adept at all!
DeleteWow... what a wonderful place. I'd love to see it... it's really sad it's not being preserved in any way.
ReplyDeleteYes Evelina thats the saddest part!!
DeleteThat place looks awesome to visit.
ReplyDeletehttp://sugarcoatedbears.blogspot.com/
Thanks so much Courtney- it really is so!
DeleteNice Post !!
ReplyDeleteLetterhead online in bulk