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PRILIMINARY THESIS SYNOPSIS

NAME OF THE PROJECT

LADDAN FORT RESTORATION FOR RENEWAL OF UDHAMPUR TOURISM AND HERITAGE.

INTRODUCTION

Udhampur has a rich heritage and history. But this heritage and history is hardly known to the local

udhampurites. When asked about their local heritage and history, they are hardly aware of and reply is they

know very less. When asked if they have forts, they reply nil (contrary to fact that they have 2 intact and

used to have 2 more few decades back. They have little knowledge about how many Bowlis they have,

Archeological monuments they have and many don’t even know about the location of Krimchi group of

temples.

In order to bring back this awareness about local culture, heritage and history; specially pertaining to present

architectural heritage, this project has been selected by me so as to contribute back to Udhampur, a place

which made me feel like Indiana Jones. Laddan fort is a dream like Fort ruins where not even the people of

laddan village visit.

The site has a wonderfully preserved temple with carvings depicting the whole of Ramayana.

NEED OF THE PROJECT

“NO ONE IS THERE TO TAKE CARE OF IT, HENCE IN THE DAYS TO COME THE PEOPLE WILL KNOW IT

FROM THE HISTORY BOOKS ONLY”

• ASHOK JERATH

Author of

Forts and Palaces of the Western Himalaya

(Only book with mention of fort after Independence)

STUDIES TO BE DONE

Interviews

• Interview of Mr. Ashok Jerath and other Archaeologists & historians of Udhampur and

Jammu.

• Interview of Sh. Balwant Singh Mankotia, Udhampur MLA.

• Interview of Local residents of Laddan and Udhampur (with main focus on Elderly persons).

Literature Study

• Forts and Palaces of the Western Himalaya, by Ashok Jerath

• History of the Punjab Hill States,Vol.1&2, Hutchison and Vogel

• Archaeological Survey Reports, relevant volumes only

• Historical records of Jammu and Kashmir, if accessible

• Other relevant books, (no web study possible)

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Case Studies

• Reasi fort, Reasi

• Bahu fort, Jammu

• Other restored forts in Jammu region and Kashmir Region, if possible

• Other forts in Jammu Region

• Additional case study as suggested by faculty and archaeologists

Site study

• Detailed site study of the site and fort, including construction details and present senario

The main synopsis including the program and methodology of Thesis shall be given after

finalization of this thesis topic.

By

Navyodai Kanth

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