Suhi Mata Temple-Maloona road construction begins

Our Correspondent

Chamba, September 12

The construction of the much-awaited road from the historic Suhi Mata temple of Chamba town to Maloona has started. The road will pass through the steep green hillside and benefit a large number of devotees and pilgrims, besides the local population.

Jeet Singh Thakur, Executive Engineer, HPPWD, Chamba division, said that the construction of the 3.5 km Suhi Mata-Maloona road was being executed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana at a cost of Rs 3 crore.

Thakur said that the road from 1,000-year-old temple to Maloona, where Rani Sunayana buried herself alive, was a significant step to boost religious tourism.

When completed, the road would fulfill the long-cherished demand of the local organisations, including the District Progressive Council and the District Veteran Cricket Association. The road would also link Kiun, Kathana and Bhaloltha areas, said Thakur.

According to a legend, from Maloona, a tiny hamlet alongside the nullah, an aqueduct was built for the supply of water to Chamba town. However, due to some problems, the water could not reach the town. Ultimately, Queen Sunayana decided to sacrifice herself for the well-being of her subjects at Chamba, and thus got herself buried alive at Maloona. Thereafter, water moved through the channel towards Chamba town and quenched the thirst of the people.

Meanwhile, the District Veteran Cricket Association president, Major SC Nayyar, urged the PWD to complete the construction work before the next Suhi fair, so that the devotees could easily travel from the Suhi Mata temple to Maloona.

To commemorate the sacrifice of Rani Sunayana, a three-day fair is held in April every year, which is an inseparable part of Chamba’s cultural heritage.