The Hindu Business Line : Ramayan’s Kashmir connection

Hoping to cash in on the renewed interest in the Ramayan, Jammu and Kashmir is trying to push one of its sleepy villages, Sutti Harran, on the country’s religious tourism map on the basis of a widely-held belief that Sita was abducted by Ravan from this very place.

Sutti Harran is believed to be a distortion of ‘Sita haran’ (abduction of Sita). It is said that Ram and Sita during their 14-year exile lived in the lush jungles of Kashmir. The State Government now wants to develop Sutti Harran as a tourist spot. Surrounded by the mighty Pir Panjal range of mountains, this picturesque village is situated in the central district of Budgam, about 61 km from Srinagar. At the forefront of these efforts is Hakim Yasin, State Transport Minister and MLA of the Khan Sahib Assembly constituency, under which Sutti Harran falls. Terming the place as one of the most important historical places in Kashmir, Yasin says, “It is the place where Ravan abducted Sita and was the turning point of Ramayan.” Some of the springs and other places in the region are also associated with Ramayan, he adds.

The Minister also says that a full-fledged survey has been completed and a detailed project report submitted for approval to authorities concerned. The project is expected to cost around Rs 11 crore. Besides creating basic infrastructure and amenities, the report suggests construction of a park, guesthouse and other accommodation facilities for tourists.

The Government also plans a massive advertising campaign to highlight the natural beauty and religious significance of the village. “We will be inviting tour and travel operators from around the country,” says Yasin.

Sutti Harran also has an added advantage of being close to Tosa Maidan, the vast meadow that is being developed as a tourist destination along the lines of Gulmarg and Pahalgam. The village has a spring called Sita Nag (Spring of Sita), from which Sita is believed to have fetched water during her exile. Recently the water works department fenced off the spring and laid a pipeline to supply water to the local population. Locals also believe that a rock on an adjoining mountain is the remnant of a larger one from which Ram used to watch over Sita as she fetched water from the spring. Unfortunately, the rock was blasted during the pipe-laying work of the water works department.

Pari Zampan (fairy’s palanquin), a stone structure with seven enclosures, is located on a mountaintop and is said to be the place where Ram and Sita lived. The place can be reached through a three-hour trek from Sita Nag. Alternatively, one can travel along a horse-track which takes five hours to arrive at the Zampan. Locals want the Government to step in and restore the structure, which is currently in a dilapidated condition. Among other local lore associated with Ramayan is the belief that Ravan’s father, Pulasti Reshi, lived in Kashmir. A highly revered stream in Poonch district is named after him. Besides, the Goddess at Kheerbhawani temple in Ganderbal district is said to have come from Lanka during the battle of Ramayan.

Alongside Sutti Harran, there are plans to develop the shrine of Sheikh Noor-ud-din Wali (popularly known as Sheikh-ul Alam), a highly revered 14th-century saint of Kashmir, says Deputy Commissioner of Budgam Farooq Renzo.

The State’s tourism department sees good potential for arrivals at Sutti Harran. The State currently receives around eight million tourists on the religious circuit, which includes the shrine of Mata Vaishnodevi, Amarnath cave, Mata Kheerbhawani temple and Hanuman Raghunath Mandir. “Sutti Harran would obviously be a crowd-puller not only for devout Hindus but also for other visitors, due to the significance attached,” says a tourism official. But some villagers fear the region is not adequately prepared for such tourist activity. “I think the rush would be too much to handle for the small village and government needs to invest at least ten times more than what it currently plans to do,” says Abdul Faheem, a tourism operator.

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Ramayan’s Kashmir connection