A journey through the history of Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh
KASHMIR
THROUGH AGES
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History of Jammu
Jammu is bluffed on the Shivalik Range, overlooking the northern plains. Jammu district derives its name from the city of Jammu which is also known as the city of temples. It is believed that the city was originally founded by Raja Jamboo Lochan who lived in fourteenth century B.C. The Raja had gone out one day for hunting when he happened to witness a tiger and a goat drinking water from the same pond. This extraordinary phenomenon set him thinking and he decided to build a city at this site so that the strong and weak could live together in peace and mutual tolerance. Eventually, he founded the city which came to be known as “Jamboo” after his own name. With the passage of time and due to its frequent use the pronunciation of the name got slightly distorted and the city, came to be known as ‘Jammu’ as it is called now.
Jammu
Jammu is situated on a hillock, on the bank of river Tawi and is bound by Udhampur district in the North and Northeast , Kathua district in the East and Southeast, Pakistan (Sialkote) in West and Rajauri district and POK (Bhimber) in the Northwest. Its skyline was once dotted with glittering spires of temples. These spikes are no longer visible as most of these are hidden behind multi storyed buildings. The city has numerous shrines for Muslims, Sikhs & Christians also. Jammu also serves as base camp for the holy shrine of Vaishno Devi. Jammu is also the railhead of the state.
Historians believe that Raja Jamboo Lochan founded the city in the historic period of Mahabharata and memoirs of Timur confirms it. The two principal chronicles, Gulabnama and Rajdarshani also mention that Jammu kingdom was established 3000 years ago. The historic reference to Jammu is also available in the eighth century AD when Muslim saint Pir Roshan Shah Wali came to the city. There is also a mention of Jammu found in Indian history in late 11th century AD. The famous Rajtarangini also mentions rulers of Jammu during Timur’s invasion to India. The ruler of Jammu, Raja Maldev put up a brave resistance to him. He is believed to have built his palaces in the heart of the city at Purani Mandi.
The famous Bahu Fort is a historic fort in the city of Jammu. It is constructed on the banks of Tawi River. The ancient fort is believed to be constructed by Rajput Raja Bahu Lochan around 3,000 years ago. It is believed that the first renovation of this fort was undertaken during Dogra Rule in 18th century.
There is not much historical evidence of the growth of city except that the city grew around the temples and shrines constructed by Hindus and Muslims under the patronage of different kings. Growth of city is of medieval character with a wide bazaar and narrow streets and lanes, single storeyed buildings adjoining each other. The layout however indicates that there has been a deliberate effort to plan the old city in an orderly manner. The city was divided into various mohallas named after the dominant community/caste, e.g. Malhotrian Mohalla, Afghan Mohalla, etc.
Bahu Fort, Jammu
Through the middle ages, Jammu prospered. Changes of rule at Delhi or Lahore passed over without disturbing the affluence of the town. The fertile cultivable land around the town constantly generated wealth and unlike many medieval towns, Jammu was never depopulated. The town was also a major stopover for caravans on the trade routes to Kashmir, Asia Minor and beyond and was a base for the fabled Silk Route.
The state of Jammu & Kashmir, which was earlier under the rule of Hindus and Muslims, came under the rule of Mughals under emperor Akbar. After the period of Afghan rule from 1756, it was annexed to the Sikh kingdom of the Punjab in 1819. In 1846, Ranjit Singh made over the territory of Jammu to Maharaja Gulab Singh and Jammu and Kashmir came into being as a single political and geographical entity following the Treaty of Amritsar between the British Government and Gulab Singh signed on March 16, 1846.
As said, Dogra rule started in 1846 with Maharja Gulab Singh as the first ruler of the Dogra dynasty. Dogras made Jammu the capital of the state to meet administrative exigencies. Maharaja Gulab Singh constructed the old secretariat complex at a commanding height. Under Dogra rule, the city transformed its medieval character to a feudal one. The seat of the Government was located at the highest point. Nobles lived in the close proximity to the place. The market functioned at the centre and the lowest class of the society settled on the outskirts. This is evident from the buildings like old secretariat, Raghunath Bazar and Gummat Bazar in the centre and Gujjar Mohalla on the banks of Tawi River.
The Dogra rulers took keen interest in the construction of temples. Development of city centered around these temples. Maharaja Partap Singh (1885-1925) contributed to the physical development of the city by constructing Tawi bridge, hospital and sadar, schools and colleges, Silk Factory and Dak infrastructure on modern lines by constructing Ranbir canal – a life line for agriculture of Jammu District, Power House, a pumping station at River Tawi to supply piped water to the city and the Banihal road connecting Jammu with Srinagar. The physical character of the city improved considerably in a lateral form with the construction of new roads and provision of infrastructure. This comprehensive layout of infrastructure appears to have necessitated formation of a Municipal Council. With this, an attempt was made to prepare a layout plan for a housing colony in rehari, indicating regular plots, grid-iron pattern of road system and open spaces.
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