Srinagar: ‘Chinar Dharohar’, an 8th century heritage site rejuvenated in Badamibagh by the Kashmir-based 15 Corps of Indian Army was accorded recognition by the National Monuments Authority in a glittering ceremony today.
“This heritage conservation project hosts several excavated figurines in the form of two large monolithic rock Shivalingas, seven gandhara style sculptures and a huge rock carving of the feet of a monolithic statue. From April to July 2021, the Chinar Corps diligently restored excavated sculptures, created a heritage park themed to display them and with technical assistance from SPS Museum, Srinagar recreated scaled replicas of seven more stone figurines excavated from the site in 1926,” said PRO (Defence) Srinagar.
The ceremony was presided over by Mr Tarun Vijay, Chairman National Monuments Authority and ex-Member of Parliament, who presented a Citation plaque to Lt Gen DP Pandey, GOC Chinar Corps in recognition of the exemplary research, restoration and rejuvenation of ancient Pandrethan monolithic rock statues at ‘Dharohar’ and for conserving the ancient ‘Meruvardhanswami Temple (6th CE) in all it’s ancient splendour. “Truly the Indian Army is the defender of the Nation, it’s heritage, culture and faiths,” he said.
Lt Gen DP Pandey, thanked the National Monuments Authority for recognizing this humble effort of Chinar Warriors and reaffirmed the Indian Army’s pride in our glorious civilisational ethos and heritage.
