Heritage
Zone GARLI
PRAGPUR
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Location- Distt Kangra H.P. India
All Images © P r Bali
 The
area of Garli -Pragpur came within the Jaswan kingdom whose
rulers were the cadets of Katoch of the Kangra lineage. Around
the 16th" –17th century, bands of marauders started laying
waste the pretty and peaceful foothills of the Kangra Valley.
Prag Dei, a princess of the royal house of Jaswan,
successfully organized resistance to these marauding
bands. To commemorate this princess, an area was selected
using ancient Indian shastras (texts) which, it was believed,
received the good astral influences of prayers said for
thousands of years at nearby shakti (primordial energy)
temples of which three" Brajeshwari (Kangra), Chintpurni and
Jwalamukhi are famous. Here, Pragpur was founded and its
lay- out carefully planned. Various clans and communities were
allotted distinctive living spaces and by and large this
continue to date.One of the important communities that settled at
Garli-Pragpur and nearby hamlets such as Rakkar, Pir Salui
etc. were some of the 52 clans of the hill Soods. Being
enterprising, many made their fortunes at other
destinations, especially Simla. They, however, did not forget
their root.At
Pragpur and Garli, they built elegant havelis, mansions and
Italianate buildings that are interspersed amongst
lovely mud-plastered and slate-roofed houses which lie
alongside streets paved with dressed cobbled stone. They also
invested in schools, dharamshalas and water systems. In course
of time, they settled where their economic interests
lay. |
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Their
magnificent buildings - some decaying and crumbling -have
largely remained unspoiled, giving Garli-Pragpur a medieval
ambience.
Recognizing that this unspoiled traditional area could
contribute to rural heritage tourism, in December 1997 the
Government of Himachal Pradesh notified Pragpur as a Heritage
Village and followed this up by
making Garli -Pragpur Heritage Zone in 2002. This
Heritage Zone has now been
brought
under a Special Area
Development Authority (SADA) and is
integrated with the national wetland -Maharana
Pratap
Sagar (PongDam)Tourism
Development Project. Located at an elevation of 2000 feet above sea level,
Heritage Village Pragpur is ideally suited to explore the
Kangra
Valley.
The area
has several streams that drain into the river Beas -the
mythological river Vipasa meaning release from bondage. Many
places of historic, religious and cultural importance are
within easy reach. In the distance, the Dhauladhar mountains
make a stunning backdrop. With its equitable climate, easy
access, safe passage and a rich flora and fauna, Pragpur and
its surroundings offer an ideal location for Village Tourism.
Heritage
Zone:- The ambience of the Heritage Zone of Garli -Pragpur
is zealously protected by the local residents. In their
endeavour that Garli -Pragpur retains its unique character,
panchayats preserve their heritage buildings and advise on new
construction. Several heritage structures are now being
restored using original techniques but with modern facilities
to facilitate tourism. |
PLACES
OF INTEREST :-
THE
TAAL
 |
Dating before 1868, the Taal or pond forms the core of
Pragpur village and serves as a recreational space for young
and aged alike. It was constructed by the village brotherhood
known as the Nehar Committee, which has records of its
meetings since 1864. This body continues to be responsible for
the maintenance of this ancient water
system. |
The Taal is surrounded by many heritage structures
-the NEHAR BHAWAN (nearly 250 years old); NAUN (dated around 1864),
a drinking water facility by the Nehar Committee; DHUNICHAND
BHARDIAL SERAI (village inn) and RADHA KRISHNA
MANDIR.
BUTAIL NIWAS
This
is a unique building. Over a hundred years old, it was built by Lala
Buta Mal, a scion of the Chaujjar Sood clan. It includes six
identical apartments built for his six sons. These lie around a
sunken courtyard. In warmer weather, this courtyard is flooded with
water to provide cooling. The water for this has been brought by the
Butails from the nearby Nalsuyah Khad and provides drinking water to
several villages along the way.
NAKKI
This
is the one of the entrances to Heritage Village Pragpur. Since
ancient times, the Rerumal family provided a water point for common
use, the overflow of which falls into small tanks where the village
people bathed and washed.
THE
JUDGE'S COURT
 Completed
in 1918, this is a splendid country manor designed in Indo- European
tradition. The visionary behind this bold structure was Justice Sir
Jai Lal. It stands in 12 acres of greens, and is just a short walk
from the village core and the Taal. It is now run by the owning
family as a heritage hotel. Other places of interest within
Heritage Village Pragpur are LALA RERUMAL HAVELI built in 1931 by a
Rais of Pragpur which has a Mughal style garden, pleasure terrace
and a large water reservoir; BUTAIL MANDIR; CHAUJJAR MANSION;
COURTYARDS of the Sood Clans, an ancient SHAKTi MANDIR bearing
inscriptions in the largely obsolete Tankry script; and ATIYALAS or
public platforms. The area is inhabited by many crafts people
-weavers, basket makers, silversmiths, painters, musicians and
tailors etc. The residents of Garli -Pragpur are hospitable. There
is always a warm welcome for tourists and the area provides a safe
passage.
 Around
Pragpur, River Beas with its unspoilt beaches (6 kms). offers a
possibility of boating, swimming and angling during season. SERI and
Naleti
(4 kms) are epitome of pastoral tranquillity. Natural underground
seepage feeds both Garli and Pragpur. Lovely country walks radiate
from Garli and Pragpur. These include meandering country paths
through rolling hills and valleys with gurgling brooks and a
meadow where mint grows wild. Rakkar
(6 kms) and Pir , Salui (20 kms) are both old Sood settlements.
Other places worth visiting are Kalesar
( 16 kms by road / 6 kms by walk) on the banks of river Beas. It is
famous for its panchtirthi waters and parasmani
(touchstone).Image Dadasiba Temple
DADA
SIBA TEMPLE
(22 kms) has beautiful wall paintings and is reached via CHINOR ( 17
kms) that has a temple and water mills. Dangra
(2 kms) has an old temple.
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Wall Paintings Dadasiba Temple |
Ceiling Dadasiba
Temple |
MASROOR
(57
kms) is known for its Ellora styled rock-cut temples. PONG DAM (8
kms) is a national wetland and is renowned for its bird life. More
than 240 varieties have been identified. Comfortable day excursions
are possible to DHARAMSHALA (60 kms), McLEODGAN) (68 kms) -residence
of his Holiness Dalai Lama and PALAMPUR (95 kms) with a vista of
green tea estates and the artists' complex of Andretta. HARIPUR
GULER (27 kms), the cradle of Kangra school of paintings, is nearby.
The indomitable KANGRA FORT is easily achievable. For the
spiritually inclined, Pragpur offers the ancient altars of worship
of BRIJESHWARI (40kms), JWALAMUKHI (25 kms), CHINTPURNI (25 kms) and
BAGULAMUKHI (35 kms). The BAJNATH TEMPLE beyond Palampur is amongst
the oldest Shiva shrines. Kangra Valley is served by the beautiful
narrow gauge train system that runs from Pathankot to Jogindernagar.
GULER and RANITAL stations are nearest to Garli-Pragpur (30 kms).
ACTIVITIES
The
beautiful landscape of Pragpur region offers ample opportunities for
cycling, trekking, nature walks, bird watching, fishing or simple
relaxation. Visits to weavers, silver- smiths, tailors, shoemakers
and the Village market can be enchanting.
Kalesar: 6
km from the Judge’s Court. Local lore traces the origins of this
temple complex to the exile of the Pandavas, an episode from the
ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata. By the banks of the river Beas,
this has some ancient temples and water pools. It is also quite a
scenic spot for picnics.
PLACES TO STAY
PWD Guest House
Heritage Inn: 01970-245146;
Kamal Guest House: 01970-245145;
The Judge's Court: 01970-245035, 245335;
River View Resorts: 01970-234267,234268;
Shah Dhuni
chand Bhardial Serai: 01970- 245168, 245468;
Radha Krishna Thakurdwara Temple Serai: 01970-245006 and
several heritage homes and guest houses.
SEASONS
TO VISIT
:-All
seasons and all year round, especially January and September when
the Lohri and Wrestling festivals are celebrated.
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