Mahendragarh’s historical sites on restoration path
Ravinder Saini
The Haryana Government is planning to spruce up two historical sites in Mahendragarh district. The aim is to develop more than 400-year-old Madhogarh Fort and Dhosi Hill as tourist destinations and generate jobs. For this, the state government has chalked out a plan.
Tourism Minister Ram Bilas Sharma, along with a team of senior officials of his department, visited the two sites early this week and prepared a roadmap for their development. He also discussed with the officials several aspects of the project.
“Madhogarh Fort will be beautified on the pattern of Mughal Gardens in Pinjore, while Dhosi Hills will be developed on the lines of Kurukshetra’s Neelkanth. The work has started and there will be no shortage of funds,” Sharma told the media during his visit to Madhogarh Fort.
The minister said Madhogarh Fort would be given a grand look by restoring its original form. “It will be recognised nationally as well as internationally. The construction on the 35-km-wide and 2-km-long road leading to the fort at a height of about 400 metres has already begun.”
Madhogarh Fort which was built by Madhoji Rao, a Maratha emperor of Jaipur, in 17th century is in bad shape. At some places, the roof is either broken and, at other places, it is about to collapse. Monsoon, coupled with high-velocity winds, causes more damage to the structure.
The condition of Dhosi Hill, known as a treasure of herbs, is no better. It has been an ayurvedic centre due to its fertile land and is considered a place where Chyawanprash — a paste of 46 herbs — was discovered by Rishi Chyavana, who practised penance here for several years.
Dhosi Hill located on the Haryana-Rajasthan border has, it is believed, the remnants of a fort built by Hemu, also known as Hemchandra Vikramaditya, about 500 years ago.
It has a fort, a temple, a pond, caves and a forest around it. The fort was constructed to safeguard the heritage and ashrams on the hill from frequent attacks by Muslim invaders during the medieval period.
Sharma said, “In all, 50 air-conditioned rooms will be constructed on the hill with the facility of online booking. A restaurant is also in the pipeline. As it is not easy to climb hundreds of stairs to reach the top of Dhosi Hill, a road will be constructed in the north-west side of the hill.”
There is an alternative way to climb the hill from Dhosi village in Rajasthan, but it is dangerous because of deep gorges on the way.
The minister said the sites would be made tourist destinations under the Mahendragarh-Rewari Heritage Circuit to be developed under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme of the Centre.
“On completion, the circuit will not only accelerate the pace of development in Mahendragarh and Rewari districts, but also benefit neighbouring Bhiwani and Gurugram districts. The youth will benefit as they will get job opportunities,” Sharma added.
