As an initiative to apprise people about the rich heritage and culture of the Jammu region, the Directorate of Tourism, Jammu organised a heritage walk from Jio Potha Ghat at Akhnoor to Ambaran, which is locally known as ‘Pambaran’. Over 200 people gathered for this walk which was flagged off by Om Prakash Bhagat, KAS, Director Tourism, Jammu in the presence of Ansuya Jamwal (KAS), Deputy Director Tourism, Jammu, Gopal Singh (KAS), SDM Akhnoor and Deepesh Singh, Chairman Municipal Committee Akhnoor. The importance of Ambaran lies in the fact that it is the earliest recorded Buddhist site in the entire region of Jammu and has been visited by his holiness, the Dalai Lama in 2011.
Jio Potha Ghat is located at the bank of River Chenab where under a tree the coronation of Raja Gulab Singh was performed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh on June 17 in 1822. During the walk, participants were made aware about the historical and cultural importance of monuments like Jio Potha Temple and other landmark monuments like Pandav Gufa, Gurudwara Tapo Asthan Sant Baba Sunder Singh Ji Ali Begh and the Parshuram Temple.
The historic details about the site were explained by Jai Karan Singh, assistant archaeologist from the Archaeology Survey of India Srinagar Circle. The discovery of this important site was due to excavations by Srinagar circle of Archeological Survey of India which revealed, Ambaran’s Buddhist history as a monastery which was active for about 900 years between 2nd Century BC and 7th Century AD, a period belonging to the pre Kushana, Kushana, post Kushana and post Gupta eras.
Director Tourism, while addressing the gathering said that the Department is making every effort to promote the state’s historical places which have tourism potential. Besides this in view of upcoming Amarnath Yatra would target to divert people to local Jammu destinations.
Other officers who joined the heritage walk were Sheena Sahni (KAS), Assistant Director Tourism Jammu, Ambika Bali, Assistant Director Tourism NHW Batote and Surinder Kumar Bhat, Conservation Assistant Archaeological Survey of India Srinagar Circle Jammu.
