Neglected Tourism - Part I

As promised friends from today with the name of Lord Ganesha, we’ll show u the first of the Series of Neglected Tourism which might be the tourist places & can attract hundreds of visitors /tourists or u may be the source of revenue for the Govt of JKUT especially for distt Samba & may be the bread & butter earners for hundreds of people… As it is first of one so we’ll start with Religious Tourism.

There is no one in Samba Distt or even in Jammu region or neighbouring states who does not know the name of Baba Shivo or Baba Goran which is in the Sumb belt of distt Samba only 26 kms from distt head quarters. People from all walks of life are used to visit this place. Here they feel spiritual bliss get all they want. But there are two more important places in that area also which are out of reach of the devotees due to poor road connectivity & lack of information about them. They are in the Village Samotha which is also called Dev Nagri Garh Samotha & are the birthplace of Baba Shivo where Baba ji had its birth at the home of Baba Ladha ji & Mata Kali ji.

& 2nd place is Baba Ji Ka Danga where Baba ji was martyred. Village Samotha is near about 5 kms from Main stop Goran & is behind the hills so the people/devotees have to cross that hills for reaching there. As there is no road Connectivity, it is very tough on foot to go there. Although there is rough road made by cutting the hillocks & a sumo driver is there also who ferries persons after one hour break, but it is very dangerous. So people r not able to visit there. Now a Charri Yatra is also started here from last five years from Dev Sthan Goran to Baba Shivo Nagri Garh Samotha & writer is happy that he is also a part of it. Dev Sthan Samotha birthplace of Baba Shivo ji has same look as that of Baba Shivo dev Sthan Goran but no development. Even a shed is not there for the devotees & a broken shed is indeed there for cooking purpose

Baba Ji ka Danga

The place where Baba ji martyred is in the way & at the top of the hillock & called Baba ji Ka Danga, now a temple is also constructed there.

Legend say that at this revered place, which is situated between Goran and Smotha on a hillock, it is said that Baba Ji used to walk from Samotha to Jammu to work everyday. On this way Baba Ji used to play his dhutara (musical instrument). It is writer’s request to all the devotees /nature lovers to visit this place. Now shrine Board has made some development there & constructed lawns etc for the devotees. More recently, a dangal has been arranged there on the name & title of Jai Baba Shivo Mahakesari Dangal which is used to be held at Goran ( Now it was 9th) (Writer is the president of this Dangal Committee)and a nice dangal place is built there. But the same problem of road connectivity appears there and as there is no road there is risk of vehicles skidding down.