JAMMU, Oct 17: Constructed somewhere around 1000 BC, Bahu Fort is one of the oldest monuments of J&K and the historians believe that the history of Jammu City is linked with this Fort which is located on the left bank of the Suryaputri, Tawi River.
As per the historians, this fort was constructed by Raja Bahulochan probably in 1000 BC .
According to the legend, Raja Bahu Lochan, the brother of Jammu’s founder, laid the first brick of the Bahu Fort, which became a symbol of the region’s resilience. Bahu Fort has also been declared as the heritage site by the Government of India.
As per historians, the Maharaja of Parmar Rajputs constructed the ancient Bahu Fort on the banks on Tawi River. It is believed to have been repaired by Bahu Lochan – brother of the founder of Jammu, Jambu Lochan.
It is believed that the first renovation of this fort was undertaken during Dogra Rule in the 18th century.
This fort is a religious place, and within its precincts is a temple dedicated to the Hindu goddess Maha Kali. The temple is known locally as the Bawe Wali Mata temple.
The building of the city of Jammu and the Bahu Fort are linked to a legend, according to which, Raja Jambu Lochan, on a hunting trip, witnessed a curious scene of a tiger and a goat drinking water side by side at the same location in the Tawi River, without the tiger attacking the goat.
The Raja considered this a divine message and he decided to establish his new capital here in Jammu, as the scene he witnessed at the site represented peaceful coexistence. His brother, Bahu Lochan, is credited with building the fort.
The forest area that surrounds the fort has been developed into a well laid out park called the Bagh-e-Bahu, from where a commanding view of the city of Jammu could be seen. The garden attracts a large number of visitors.
The fort, the temple, and the Bagh-e-Bahu garden are located 5 kms from the Jammu city.
The earliest historical recorded link to the fort is that of Raja Jambu Lochan and his brother Bahu Lochan, sons of a powerful ruler Agnigarbha II of the Jammu dynasty of Suryavanshi kings.
Bahu, the eldest of Agnigarbha’s 18 sons, is credited with establishing the Jammu city and building the Bahu Fort.
The earlier fort structure was modified over the years to a stronger fortified structure. The present fort was rebuilt, probably at the same location as the ancient fort, by Autar Dev, the grandson of Kapoor Dev in 1585.
Over the years, the fort underwent demolitions and reconstructions from time to time, until during Sikh Empire when the then new Governor/Raja of Jammu Maharaja Gulab Singh reconstructed the present fort in the 19th century, which was further refurbished during the rule of Maharaja Ranbir Singh.
They first established temples for their tutelary deities; the image of Mahakali deity in the temple in the fort was brought from Ayodhya.
The fort structure is located at an elevation of 325 meters (1,066 ft), opposite, to the old town of Jammu.
The fortified structure has thick walls made of sandstones built with lime and brick mortar. It has eight octagonal towers or turrets connected by thick walls.
The towers have enclosures to house guards. The main entry is fit to allow passage of elephants into the fort.
A pyramidal structure on the right flank (with very thick walls to withstand any gun attack) of the fort was an ammunition store.
An underground chamber here was used as a prison. This chamber has a secret exit to escape from the fort in case of any emergency. The first floor is lavishly built with arches and decorated with floral designs like a Baradari or a palace.
To the right of the temple, there are a few halls which were used in the past as assembly halls and offices of the Quiledar (master of the fort).
The royal stables were also located within this fort. Substantial renovation and additions to attract visitors have been added during recent years.
In the past, animal sacrifice was practiced at the Bahu Temple temple, which has since been discontinued. Nowadays, a priest performs a few rites uttering some religious incantations and sprinkles holy water over the animal (usually a sheep or goat) and then lets it go free.
