SRINAGAR: The recent spell of torrential rains across the Jammu region has left not only homes and farmlands battered, but also dealt a devastating blow to its historic legacy, with over a dozen heritage monuments suffering extensive damage.
According to reports appearing in the media, the most severe destruction has been recorded at the iconic Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex, the former royal seat of the Dogra dynasty and a symbol of Jammu’s regal past. Several towers and walls have cracked, ceilings have collapsed and intricately carved stonework has eroded under the relentless downpours. Officials associated with the conservation work told Excelsior on condition of anonymity that “the latest scene of several portions of the complex resembles a battlefield of rubble and ruin”.
Mubarak Mandi has been undergoing phased restoration for years, with portions conserved by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Engineers and experts quoted in reports said that immediate debris removal could destabilise adjoining walls, warning that rushing repairs could cause irreversible damage. “Structures built with lime mortar and mud plaster are highly vulnerable to moisture. Unless they dry naturally, any intervention might worsen the cracks,” experts said.
The damage, however, has not been limited to Mubarak Mandi. Reports from different districts suggest that forts, temples, shrines and step-wells (bowlis) across the region — many of them state-protected monuments — have been badly hit. In Udhampur, the Ladden Kotli Fort has lost an entire wall, while the historic Charai Muttal Bowli Complex, comprising six step-wells, has seen its walls cave in, weakening the site.
The Zorawar Singh Palace in Reasi, already deteriorating due to neglect, has suffered fresh collapses. In Samba, Mahorgarh Fort has been severely affected, while one of the extreme walls of the Samba Fort has also given way. In Ramban, the Godha Gali heritage site has seen its boundary wall collapse, with flooding washing away several sculptures of archaeological value.
Other protected monuments have also been damaged. The centuries-old Jalandhra Devi Temple in Udhampur has developed seepage in its walls and roof, while the Jaffer Chak Masjid has continued to deteriorate due to successive natural calamities and the absence of timely restoration.
Heritage activists, quoted in media reports, described the destruction as a cultural tragedy. “These monuments are not just stones; they are the living memory of Jammu’s past. If we lose them, we lose our identity,” one activist said. They urged the government to declare emergency measures for protection, including temporary covers, chemical treatment for exposed surfaces and round-the-clock monitoring of fragile structures.
“The rains have reminded Jammu of a painful truth: heritage is fragile, and without care, centuries can vanish in days,” they added.
