Saurabh Van Vihar, homage to hero

Sushil Kumar Phull

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Known for its scenic beauty, Palampur is a small town nestled in the snow-clad lap of Dhauladhar range of mountains. Once a sleepy hill town, it has emerged as a tourist destination of excellence where tourists prefer to stop over for a day or two. The heights of the Dhauladhar range, the milky waterfalls, the huge Neugal Khad, the Hindu temples Maa Vindyavasini, Zakhni Mata, Radha Krishna mandirs, the Shiva temple at Banotu and the historic one at Baijnath enchant visitors apart from the Sobha Singh Art Gallery and Mini Mary’s Pottery Workshop at Andretta. 

Although Palampur has been the home town of many a war heroes, but the Kargil War in 1999 made it conspicuous. Capt Saurabh Kalia and Capt Vikram Batra laid down their lives and brought laurels to the country when they showed extraordinary mettle in fighting under adverse circumstances in the Kargil area. A pall of gloom had fallen on Palampur when the coffin of Captain Kalia reached the Mission Ground where it was kept for paying homage. The then Union Minister, Shanta Kumar, had announced to build a memorial as a tribute to the supreme sacrifice of Captain Kalia. Captain Kalia headed a surveillance party to know about the secret activities of the enemy but was captured by the enemy forces along with his associates. The patrol party was tortured and murdered. The mutilated bodies of Captain Kalia and others were handed over to the Indian Army in June 1999.

Saurabh Van Vihar has come up during the past two decades. Spread in an area of 13 hectares, it is a befitting tribute to the memory of a son of Palampur who had just been commissioned into the Army and was posted in 4 Jat regiment in Jammu & Kashmir.  As fate would have it, war broke out .The mutilated body of Captain Kalia in the coffin box kept at the Palampur Mission Ground for darshans presented a horrifying sight. Thousands of people assembled to pay homage to the martyr.

Situated at a distance of four and a half kilometers from Palampur, Saurabh Van Vihar creates a paradise of nature with flowing waters and attractive flora and fauna. The entry gate gives a majestic look with statues of two horse riders stuck on either side of the gate like the painting on the Grecian urn of John Keats. The entry fee for the visitors is Rs 20 per head. The Vihar is managed by Saurabh Van Vihar Management Society (Palampur Regd) and works under the control of Divisional Forest Officer, Palampur. The Vihar has four divisions, namely Saurabh Kalia’s statue on a big boulder platform, soldiers in action in Kargil War challenging Pakistani soldiers, Meen Vatika (Aquarium) and Boating Lake. There is a spacious well-designed rain shelter by the side of the lake where the tourists can sit comfortably for a breather. Nearby is Monal Restaurant where one can enjoy tea, coffee or can have lunch or other eatables. The war field has been created at the farthest end. Anuj Saini, son of the reputed artist who gave shape to the Rock Garden of Chandigarh, has created 64 figures or statues in all. They include 27 Indian soldiers, 16 Pakistani soldiers, two replicas of tortoises, cows and Tibetan lamas.

There are two dragon boats and two ordinary boats with provision of life jackets. And the charges for boating are Rs 25 per head and every boat has a capacity of four persons. The discharge of the lake water is turned into a Kuhl (rivulet) for irrigation purposes. Another attraction for the visitors and especially children is an aquarium called Meen Vatika. It has 24 aquariums which have 32 species of fish in fascinating colours. There is no entry fee in this segment. There are swings for the children. Schoolchildren who come to visit the Van Vihar are allowed to enjoy it as a picnic spot.

Inter connected with small pavements, Saurabh Van Vihar is a very inspiring place with rich flora spread all over the Vihar. Deodar plantation has been raised systematically for its beautification. A Rudraksh tree also stands conspicuously. BS Yadav, Divisional Forest Officer, Palampur, has a blueprint for its expansion which includes creation of a Heritage village, Children Park, Flower Garden, Botanical Garden and a Spring Fountain. The Saurabh Van Vihar has solar lights and CCTV cameras fitted. In fact the memorial to a war hero has become a tourist spot also. It reminds us of the Wordsworthian saying:

One impulse from a vernal wood,

May teach you more of man, 

Of moral evil and of good,

Than all the sages can.