Master Plan

(Assar-i-Sharief Hazratbal )

History:

Assar-i-Sharief Hazratbal is the most revered among all the shrines in Jammu and Kashmir. The shrine holds the sacred relic of prophet Mohammad (SAW). For centuries devotees from all over India with high degree of reverence and respect come over here to pay their obeisance. Tourist from India and abroad also visit this shrine due to its historical background, architectural beauty, picturesque location, tourists from all over India and abroad visit this place.   

                                This shrine has remained the centre of socio-political activities in the valley. Loss of the holy relic in1963, galvanized whole state which subsequently turned into a mass political movement. This has not only changed the government of the time but also gave new life and direction to politics in J&K state.

Expansion   and   Beatification   Programme:

                       People in lacs turn up at Hazratbal shrine for prayers and viewing holy relic on special occasions.  The number of devotees is increasing day by day. Being  located  in  a  congested area on the  western  shore  of  dal  lake , accommodating  and  managing  lacs  of  devotees  was  always  a  problem. Over  the  years  management of  the  Auqaf  Trust as  well  as  Government  took  various  measures  to  increase the area  of  the  shrine  complex but  the  problem  persisted  and  it  was  difficult to  manage ever  increasing  crowds. To address  this  problem an “Integrated   Circuit  Development   of  Assar-i-Sharief, Hazratbal Shrine Beautification Plan”   was  conceived  and  approved  by  the  Government. All  the  problems  of  space, law  and  order, security and  above  all  beautification    to   boost  pilgrimage  tourism    were  addressed. Under  the  plan  Government  has  proposed  to  expand the  shrine  area  by  way  of  removing  the  surrounding  residential  houses, paying  the  compensation and  rehabilitant  the  displaced  families    at  suitable  locations. A high  powered  Committee  under  the  Chairmanship  of  Divisional  Commissioner   is  already implementing   this  project  which  will be  completed  in  three  phases.

The first phase of the Project has already been completed on the  southern  side as many as structures have been acquired families rehabilitated in the adjacent  Botabagh.

The 2^nd phase of the project has recently been started. For  rehabilitating new displaced  families, 93  kanals  of  land  has been  transferred  to  R&B, Circular  Road Division, at  Malabagh   Zakoora,  after  the  completion  of  phase  2^nd , the  whole  area  from  engineering   side  will be  added  to  shrine  premises, which  will  not  only  give  much  needed  relief  to  the  devotees  but  open   a  panoramic  view    of  Dal  lake  to  the  public  from  the  upper  lawns    of  the  shrine. In  this  phase  some  chronic  bottle necks    are  being  removed  which  were  cause  of  much  inconvenience  to  the   public.

Under  the  third  and  final phase  rest  of  the  residential  area    upto  Sher-i-Kashmir Park on  the  northern  side will  be  acquired and area  developed  under  the  beautification  programme .   

                       Side  by  side  with  addition of more area a  comprehensive  programme  for  development  of  lawns, beautification and adding facilities was  taken  up so far.  Keeping in view the increasing rush of Zaireens and visitors the cost of Rs.220.45 lacs have been spent on various works so far.

     For  the  convenience of  devotees  need has arisen  to  develop  some  additional facilities  in    and  around  the  complex.

a) Baitul Zaireen:- During Urs and other special occasions devotees coming from far  off places have to face lot of difficulties and have to wander in the locality for the night  stay. For security reasons, devotees are not permitted to stay inside the shrine complex. This has necessitated creating suitable accommodation for the stay of devotees. In the vicinity. There is a chunk of land available with the Wakf Board at Botabagh just outside the Shrine Complex. It  will  also accommodate Urs  offices,  which are otherwise  established  in  tents   during  Urs  days  in  all  seasons  of  the  year,  causing  lot  of  inconvenience to  workers  in  performing  duties.

b)  Noor khana  (Ladies  Mosque):-  There  is  no  sufficient accommodation  for  ladies in  the  main  shrine. It  is   proposed  to  construct  an  additional  ladies  single  storey mosque   to  meet  the  increasing  rush  of  ladies  .

c) Dallan on the two sides of Gulshan Bagh:- There were two long wooden Dallans on  the  two  sides  of  the  Gulshan  Bagh  from  the  Dal  side  stretching    upto    the  main  shrine  .they  were  gutted  in  the  devastating  fire. These  wooden  dallans  were  used  by  devotees  during  rains, snow  and  intense  heat.  It is proposed to construct    such   concrete Dallans for ladies as shelter.

d) Media   Centre:-   As tourists  from  all over  the  country  and  abroad visit  this  shrine, they  are  showing  keen  interest  to  know  more  details about  this  and  other  shrines   as  there  are  scores  of  such  shrines, mosques  and  khankahs  historical  and  architectural value, we can motivate tourists  and  devotees  to  visit  these  places   .being  the  central  place, we  intend  to establish   a  media  centre  at  the  shrine  complex     where  all  the  information  both  in  print  and   electronic  medium  will be available   tourists  who  show  interest  in  visiting  other  shrines  and  mosques  will be  provided  transport  facilities

e) Library/Reading Room:- Hazratbal  had  the  distinction  of  having a rich  library  possessing  thousands  of  rare  books  and  manuscripts named   after  the  legendry  leader, Sher-i-Kashmir library was  attached  with  Madinat-ulAloom, an  Oriental  College  of  national  repute   was  gutted  in  a devastating  fire  in 1990.  It  is  proposed  to build  a library  block with  a reading  room  facility so that rare  manuscripts    and  books   on  all  subjects  will  be  kept  available  in  the  library for general public reviving the old tradition.

 f) Ornamental  Fencing  on  the  shores  of  Dal Lake:-   A small  portion  of  Dal  Lake has  been  enclosed  to  keep  off  pollutants  from  the  Dal  as  the  devotees  use  this  area  for  ablution  purposes. However the present   wooden fencing   gives a shabby look. As  the  beautification  of  lawns  is  in  progress therefore  the  area  towards  Dal Lake  requires  special  attention. It  is  proposed  to  erect  ornamental  fencing  inside  the  Dal Lake with  two  Light  Minars  on  two  flanks  which  will  add to  the  beauty   of  the  complex  .      

g ) Control  Room:-  Construction  of estate  of  the  art  control  room    is  an  urgent  requirement. As this huge complex   spread over 100 kanals requires effective coordination and monitoring. There is a vast arrangement   of public   address system     and need for uninterrupted    power supply.  This requires round the clock monitoring. Besides there  is  a fool  proof security  system  in  place    for  the  security  of  the  holy  relic and  also  close  circuit monitoring  system  in  place. This  calls  for  a latest    model  electronic  facility both  for  the  safety  and  security  as  well  as  effective coordination and control under one roof.

h) Other Allied Works:- As a part  of   the  expansion and  beautification  programme, some  reconstruction  and  repair  works    are  required  to  be  taken  up  on  priority basis:-

1. Providing/laying of Devri Stone/marble in the court yard in front of the main  shrine.
2. Development of the acquired land under the expansion programme.

3.      Installation of Central Heating System   to the main  shrine.

4.      Construction of two Mehrab  gates on  the  southern side of  the shrine.    

Estimated Budget

                                                                                    S.A.Sayeed

                                               Chief Executive

                                       J&K Wakf Board, Srinagar.