Hard Facts
Hard Facts (URDU)
About Jhelum
Hard Facts
Hard Facts (URDU)
Jhelum
Jhelum (Urdu, Punjabi: جہلم) (Greek: Alexandria Bucephalous) is a city locatedon the right bank of the Jhelum River, in the district of the same name in the north of Punjab province, Pakistan. Jhelum is known for providing a large number of soldiers to the British and later to the Pakistan armed forces due to which it is also known as city of soldiers or land of martyrs and warriors[3]. Jhelum is a few miles upstream from the site of the Battle of the Hydaspes between the armies of Alexander the Great and Raja Porus. A city called Bucephala was founded nearby to commemorate the death of Alexander's horse, Bucephalus. Other notable sites nearby include the 16th century Rohtas Fort, the Tilla Jogian complex of ancient temples, and the 16th-century Grand Trunk Road which passes through the city. The name of the city is derived from the words Jal (pure water) and Ham (snow), as the river that flows through the river originates in the Himalayas. There are a number of industries in and around Jhelum city, including a tobacco factory, wood, marble, glass and flour mills. (Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
ROHTAS FORT
Architecture starts from ROHTAS FORT AN ARCHITECTURL GLORY OF JHELUM RIVER BASIN. Rohtas Fort was built by Sher Shah Suri, the most illustrious Afghan General & King in history. Construction work on Rohtas Fort began in about 1541 A.D and was finished 10 years later after Sher Shah’s death - a stupendous achievement in such a short time. Qila Rohtas or Rohtas Fort is an exceptional example of early Muslim military architecture in Central and South Asia because it was built essentially for military purpose. A strong fortified complex and a strategic site about 16 kilometers north-west of the city of Jhelum. The gigantic fort is founded on steep rocks jutting unto the river Kahan, its ramparts protected on the west and north sides by the river and by high hills on its east and south. The fort is about two-and-a-half miles in circumference, within the huge terraced ramparts walls with robust bastions with 68 towers and 12 monumental gate ways. Since it was never taken by assault, it survives intact to the present day. The Rohtas Fort is now a protected monument under the Antiquities Act 1975. The fort was inscribed in the World Heritage List, by UNESCO, in 1997.
FURTHER READING:
UNESCO World Heritage Centre Web page.
Rohtas Conservation page on the Himalayan Wildlife Foundation website
The official website of Rohtas Fort
TILLA JOGIAN
Archaeology begins from TILLA JOGIAN An archaeological pride of Jhelum River Basin Tilla Jogian is a narrow ridge about 30 km west of Jhelum. The ridge joins the Salt Range on the southern side while on the north it merges into the highlands, 972 m from sea level and terminates at the summit of and isolated peak on which the monastery stands. A perfect place for contemplation, initially, Tilla Gorakh Nath, the legendary founder of the oldest religious institution in Northen India, later called as Tilla Balnath, named after prominent disciple of Gorakh Nath. This former retreat of Jogis boasts of magnificent views and the remains of a monastery dedicated to ascetic pursuits of post-Vedic civilization era. It also offers a historical gallery of colourful tales from the past.
This is where the distraught “Ranjha” is believed to have wandered around when jilted by “Heer”, the royal elephant of King Porus, who took on Alexander, fled and rushed up a hill sacred to the sun, seeking help for its master, the Pandwas from the Mahabharat took shelter during their seven years in wilderness, Raja Bharthi resigned the Throne in favour of his younger brother Raja Vikramditya of Ujjaian to become a “Yogi” and a member of the Tilla monastery and Puran Bhagat, a son of Raja Salwahan of Sialkot, is said to have joined the Jogi, fraternity on being restored to life by their head. The mystic mountain has witnessed many of invasions, expeditions and adventures like Alexander (326 B C), Fa-Hien (399-414 A D), White Huns (460 A D), Hiuen Tsiange (603-664 A D), Sultan Mehmood Ghaznvi (1000 A D), Abu Arrayhan Muhammad Ibn Ahmed Al-Beruni (1017 A D), Zaheer-ud-Din Babar (1526 A D), Baba Ghuru Nanak (early 16th century) and finally Ahmad Shah Abdali (1748 A D).
The present monastery is an irregular pile of historical, if not architectural interest, with masonry tombs, large and small, and temple-like structures. Several smaller tombs or meditation shrines are scattered on this pyramids of natures.A splendid vista of the Smadh, on the rocky pinnacle to the west of the ridge and at the summit of the hill, commemorates the visit of Baba Ghuru Nanak. A flat rock over-looking the Jhelum River Basin, on the way to monastery, marks the spot where Ranjha is reported to have sat in meditation after being initiated into the order. Near the monastery is fine masonry tank. Of the storage tanks, the biggest called “kwar sar” means “The virgin water” is an ordinary embanked pond on a large scale. Unfortunately, this is another neglected and forsaken site, last visited by camera crew, shooting a video, extolling the lost virtues of archaeology and history scattered at this mystic mountain. This is skyscraper spot, where, due to the most arduous approach, only the best determined tourists, hikers and trekkers dare to venture. A summer camp office of Jhelum during the colonial period. The Tilla formally a great place of pilgrimage continued as the centre of annual gathering until 1947 where “Kanphata Yogis” (those with pierced ears) from all over India had been congregating. They were known for their piety, cleanliness and curing powers. The slopes around the Tilla were rich with medicinal plants which the yogis picked for use in the plains. More recently, the Tilla area has been declared a National Nature Reserve to protect the Faunas and floras.
FURTHER READING:
Tilla - Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 23, p. 360
Current Social on Tilla Jogian (Hill of Jogies) Jehlum Pakistan
KHEWRA
The first rock – salt mine KHEWRA ONE OF THE NATURAL ASSETS OF THE JHELUM BASIN Nature’s beauty Inside a Mountain Historical Background of Khewra Salt Mines. The 2nd largest rock salt mine in the world is situated at Khewra in Tehsil Pind Dadan Khan, District Jhelum. Discovery of Rock Salt dates back to days of Alexander the great in 326 B.C. The licking of out crop salt by the horses of Alexander the great, who fought battle with Raja Porus on bank of River Jhelum about 35-40 km away from Khewra, led to the discovery of Rock Salt deposit at Khewra. It is a huge and one of the richest salt fields in the world. The salt range is over 186 miles (300 kilometers) long and 8 to 30 km wide with average height of 2,200 ft. It starts from Banganwala near Jhelum River to Kalabagh near Indus River. Its highest altitude at Sakesar Mountain is about 4990 ft. After annexation of the Punjab the British Government took over the administration of these mines. Dr. Wrath, a renowned Mining Engineer of U.K, laid out the main tunnel at ground level in 1872 to have an easy and direct approach to salt deposits. The reserves of Rock Salt in the mines are 220 million tonnes. Presently Khewra Salt Mines produces about 3, 25,000 tonnes salt per annum. The main tunnel at ground level developed by Dr. Wrath has been converted into a Tourist Resort.
FURTHER READING:
"Khewra Salt Mines", Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation
Books:
Jhelum: City of the Vitasta by Salman Rashid Lahore, Pakistan : Sang-e-Meel Publications, 2005. 112 p. : ill., maps ; 29 cm. Language(s): English
Tareekh-e-Jhelum by Anjum Sultan Shahbaz 2nd Edition; Published by Book corner, Main Bazar, Jhelum in Jhelum . Language(s): Urdu. Click to view book cover
