DH NEWS SERVICE
jammu, Oct 26
Shri Ram Sena J&K-UT President Rajiv Mahajan has urged the Union Government and the Jammu and Kashmir administration to accord greater national prominence to the historic Sudh Mahadev Temple in Udhampur district and ensure its systematic, time-bound development as a major pilgrimage destination.
Mahajan questioned why the shrine, revered by devotees of Lord Shiva and associated with the ancient spiritual heritage of the Duggar region, had not received the sustained promotion, infrastructure development and national visibility it deserves. He also urged BJP legislators representing Jammu to raise the issue with the concerned authorities and pursue concrete action rather than limit themselves to assurances.
Located near Chenani, Sudh Mahadev is an important religious destination associated with Lord Shiva. According to the traditional accounts cited by the Udhampur district administration, the shrine houses a Shivling believed to be around 3,000 years old, along with representations of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and a sacred trident associated with Lord Shiva.
Nearby Gouri Kund and Mantalai also hold religious significance in local traditions concerning Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. “Sudh Mahadev is not merely a local religious destination. It represents the spiritual and cultural heritage of Jammu and deserves greater recognition on India’s national pilgrimage map. Those who speak of safeguarding Jammu’s interests must work collectively to preserve and promote its historic temples,” Mahajan said. He called for a comprehensive assessment of existing infrastructure and the time-bound completion of any outstanding development works. Priority areas, he said, should include approach roads, parking, clean drinking water, hygienic public toilets, accommodation, resting facilities, medical assistance, public transport connectivity and effective crowd management during major religious gatherings.
Mahajan also stressed the need for facilities suited to senior citizens, persons with disabilities and families travelling with children. He said all development activities should respect the shrine’s religious sanctity, historical character and surrounding natural environment, with conservation experts involved wherever necessary.
Emphasising the potential of an integrated pilgrimage circuit, Mahajan said Sudh Mahadev should be developed in coordination with Gouri Kund, Mantalai and the wider Chenani–Patnitop area. According to local religious traditions, Gouri Kund is associated with Goddess Parvati’s worship of Lord Shiva, while Mantalai is traditionally believed to be connected with their marriage.
He proposed a coordinated development plan covering connectivity, sanitation, accommodation, heritage conservation, visitor facilities and joint tourism promotion. He also called for improved digital publicity, reliable online visitor information, pilgrimage calendars and collaboration with religious organisations, tour operators and tourism bodies to attract devotees from across the country.
The Union Ministry of Tourism sanctioned a project for developing tourist facilities at Mantalai and Sudh Mahadev under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme in 2016–17. The Ministry subsequently stated in a February 2026 release that all six tourism projects sanctioned for Jammu and Kashmir under the Himalayan Circuit during 2016–17 had been physically completed.
In this context, Mahajan called for an updated public status report detailing the facilities created, their operational condition, maintenance arrangements and any remaining infrastructure requirements. He urged the administration to assess how effectively the completed works serve pilgrims and explore further assistance under appropriate tourism development schemes.
“Physical completion of a project must translate into better facilities for visitors. The administration should ensure proper maintenance, assess gaps and make the existing infrastructure fully useful for pilgrims,” he said.
Mahajan said the development of Sudh Mahadev and its surrounding religious destinations could also generate livelihood opportunities for local residents, including shopkeepers, transport operators, hoteliers, guides, artisans and small business owners. He stressed that local communities should be involved in planning and implementation, while environmental protection, waste management and traffic regulation remained integral to responsible tourism.
Concluding his statement, Mahajan urged Jammu’s elected representatives, the Union Government and the J&K administration to adopt a coordinated, transparent and time-bound action plan for the shrine and its associated pilgrimage destinations.
“The people of Jammu deserve sustained efforts to preserve and promote their ancient religious heritage. Sudh Mahadev must receive the recognition, facilities and connectivity it deserves, while Gouri Kund and Mantalai should be developed as part of an integrated pilgrimage circuit. The objective must be meaningful conservation, improved pilgrim services and tangible economic benefits for the local population,” he said.
