|
Khajjiar
is famous for the popular Khajji Naga shrine dedicated to the
serpent god from which the name is believed to have been derived.
The temple dates back to the 10th century and is
interspaced with different patterns and images on the ceiling and
wooden posts. A curious blend of Hindu and Mughal styles of
architecture is reflected in the wooden carvings on the ceilings and
wooden posts. The image carvings are said to represent the Kauravas
who were tied up here in the hideout by the Pandavas. The temple
consists of
a spacious congregation hall sufficiently enclosed by wooden
supports. The dome-shaped shrine is made of slates locally extracted
from limestone quarries. Adjoining are other shrines of Shiva and
Hadimba goddess also. The age-old tradition of sacrificing a goat is
still practiced outside the temple premises.
While
traveling to Khajjiar from Dalhousie, one is tempted to halt at
Kalatop, famous for its wildlife sanctuary. Here, one can watch the
different species of wildlife amidst their natural habitat. However,
it is sad that there is no proper racecourse, which has resulted in
soil erosion.
Moreover,
Khajjiar has an islet with a small lake surrounding it. The lake is
considered to be holy by the locals as legend associated it with
Khajinag, the deity in the Khaaji temple. The lake has been
neglected over the years and its waters, which at one time reflected
the clear blue skies, today give its resemblance to a shallow pond.
However, the Department of Environment has recently taken up the
beautification of the lake.
Whether
the original glory of the lake will be restored by means of the
beautification scheme is for the times to tell
Situated at an altitude of 6300 ft. Khajjiar is another wonderland
midway of Dalhousie and Chamba. The drive from Dalhousie is through
a busable road winding through dense forest of pines and cedar. The
distance of Khajjiar from Dalhousie is twenty miles There is a
bridal path also from Dalhousie to Kalatop and Khajjiar and one can
pleasurably trek to these places Khajjiar is a beautiful sylvan
glade about a mile in length and half a mile in breadth
picturesquely set in the midst of forest. The glade is green in its
turf and contains in its bosom a small lake heaving approximate area
of 5000 sq. yards. Its depth has been mentioned as 13 feet by Dr.
Hutchison put as per prevailing belief, the lake is fathomless and
no one has been able to measure its depth so far. Once, a saint is
said to have attempted to measure its depth with a rope for days
together but in Bain.
There is a clump of reeds and grasses exaggeratedly called an island
floating on this lake adding charm to the eye of the viewer. The
lake is so set in the midst of the grassy sward and in the back-drop
of an array of stately arranged cedars that the whole ensemble, as
Shri Thakur Sen Negi puts it, makes one think of a sapphire set in
background of gold and emerald.
The lake is unfortunately squeezing due to silting problem and the
growth of weeds which is mainly ascribed to the letting loose of
animals in the glade by the villagers for the grazing purpose. But
on the other hand the presence of animals provides a rural
background to the place and it looks so beautiful to see the herds
of animals grazing in the glade
Khajjiar was a favorite place for golf players until recent past.
The golf holes can still be seen though in abandoned state.
On the brink of lake, there is a beautiful temple of Khajji Nag fro m
where the place derives its name as Khajji. So it attached a
religious significance for the local people who celebrate a fair
every year. The Khajji Nag temple is made in pahari style and the
object of worship is 'Nagdev', carved out of stone in human from.
The images of five Pandvas: Yudhishtra, Bhim, Arjun,Nakul and Sahdev
beautiful made out of wood stand in the corners of the Mandapa of
the temple. A small temple of Hidimba also stands close by. This has
led people tp believe that the Pandavas happened to visit this place
during their exile and their period of incognito. There stands a
deodar tree near the P.W.D. Rest house having six shoots of almost
equal height. The locals believe that these six shoots represent
five Pandvas and their common wife Dropadi. But trees with many
shoots are a common occurrence in the Khajjiar forest. At a distance
of one kilometetre from Khajjiar towards Dalhousie a big deodar
trees exists having more than 13 soots of comparable height. This
trees has popularly come to be known as 'Mother Tree' of the area.
Kalatope
Located almost midway between Dalhousie and Khajjiar, Kalatope is a
beautiful forested area. A very thick and dark forest crowns the
hilltop and perhaps that is why the place has derived its name as
Kalatop which literally means a black cap. The spot really commands
a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape. One can see the
hills, snow-capped mountains, the valleys,the hamlets, the greenery
and the ruggedness standing from the place. The forest mainly
comprises of the deodar, kail, spruce,ban trees and various bushes
providing a safe habitat for wild animals. The place has already
been declared a wild life sanctuary by the government. Pheasants and
Monal and various other birds can be frequently seen in the place.
Leopards, black bear are also found by a traveller occasionally. |