Project to develop Gaggal-Guler stretch in Kangra as 'heritage road' gets nod

Lalit Mohan

Dharamsala, July 10

The state government has approved a project to develop state highway leading from Gaggal to Guler in Kangra district as a heritage road. The project aims at developing the road so that the tourists coming to Kangra district could travel and visit heritage structures on the said road. There are many heritage buildings on road, including the rock-cut Masrur temples that are under the protection of Archeological Survey of India (ASI) and Guler Fort of former rulers of Guler state of Kangra. Beside the said buildings, there were many heritage temples and building along the road.

Kangra DC Nipun Jindal confirmed that the state government has approved the project to develop 46-km road leading from Gaggal to Guler as heritage road. He said the detailed project report for developing it as heritage road was being developed by the officials of the PWD under which it falls. The funding for developing the road is proposed to be provided by the Asian Development Bank.

The DC further said that strengthening and widening of roads facilities would be undertaken along roadsides so that the people travelling on it can enjoy a hassle-free ride. The stakeholders like the people who own heritage properties along the road would also be consulted and their suggestions would be incorporated while developing the road. The idea is to take tourists coming to Kangra valley for a heritage trip on the road.

The Masrur temples are among the four monolithic rock structures in the country. Experts are of the opinion that they have similarity with Ankor temples of Cambodia. However, the Tourism Department has not been able to exploit the full potential of the temples that, according to some, can be registered as world heritage site if proper research regarding their origin is carried out.

Rock-cut temples located in small and remote hamlet Masrur have been an enigma for historians and archeologists. Even the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) officials, who are maintaining the site, are not sure about history of temples. However, a book written by Professor NK Singh “Coronation of Shiva Rediscovering Masrur temple” has tried to solve the mystery.

Masrur temples are one of the four monolithic rock-cut temples in the country. The other three are Kailash of Ellora, Mamlapuram in Deccan and Dhamnar temples in Rajasthan. While these are in a pit or on the ground, Masrur temples are unique as they are located on the hill top.