Lalit Gupta
Dansal (Jammu District):
It is a large village in a Dun (long hill valley) which continues from some miles northwest of Dansal to Basohli on the southeast, a little to the west of Ramkot. The village is 1800 ft above sea level and is situated on a branch of the river Tawi. It was once a transit station on the old Banihal Cart Road. It was passed on as jagir to Mian Mota. Dansal, along with Kha Pota and Jandrah, constitute a sub-regional stronghold of Dogra culture. In present times, Dansal stands immortalised by the Dogra folk singer Gulam Mohammad Dansalia. A shining symbol of composite culture, he was a household name in the Jammu region for his devotional songs in praise of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi and other Hindu Gods and folk deities. On who inherited folk music tradition from his father, Chirag Din, a folk master musician of Duggar, Gulam Mohammad was bestowed with a national award by Sangeet Natak Akademy, New Delhi and a State Award.
Darhal (Rajouri District): A Valley of Harmony and Heritage
Located 23 km north of Rajouri and about 180 km from Jammu, Darhal Malkaan is a scenic valley, surrounded on three sides by sloping mountains, giving it the appearance of a natural amphitheatre. The Darhal River, originating from the upper reaches, flows down towards Rajouri.
The name Darhal comes from Darra, meaning a mountain pass. The area, popularly called Darhal Malkaan, is primarily inhabited by the Maliks, a Muslim Rajput community believed to have Mughal ancestry. Over time, however, Darhal has evolved into a symbol of communal harmony, with diverse communities residing here in peace for centuries.
Darhal consists of 23 panchayats spread across 11 villages, including Chowkian, Sagrawat, Thanamang, Bari Darhal, Dodaj, Topa, Nadian, Leeran, Mulhot and Ujhan. A stronghold of Pahari culture, the Darhal valley depicts a blend of Punjabi, Dogri, Gojri and Kashmiri cultures.
Darhal’s Jama Masjid is the central place of worship and gathering. The spiritual life of the valley is deeply influenced by Sufi traditions, with numerous khanghahs (shrines) dedicated to revered saints and mystics. Among the most prominent are the shrines of Peer Rasool Shah in Chowkian, Sain Ganji Badshah, Peer Mastan Shah Sahab in Arot, Bari Darhal, and Peer Jamadar Sahib in Topa. The Khanghah Panthal, near the Dodaj bus stand, and the larger shrine of Sain Ganji Badshah, located approximately 10 kilometres from both Darhal and Rajouri towns, also attract visitors and devotees from far and wide.
The ‘Sata-Mata’ (seven Goddesses) shrine, sacred to Hindus, lies in the Thanamang area. The widely scattered traces of Buddhism and Hinduism in the area reflect upon Darhal’s pre-Islamic Pan-Indian religious heritage. The Khoriwali village waterfall, just a few kilometres away from the main town, is a serene spot for nature lovers. Darhal stands today as a rare blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and interfaith harmony-a valley where heritage and peace continue to thrive.
Deval (Reasi District):
A historic settlement, Deval is in the Mahore block of Gool, of Gulab Garh tehsil in the Reasi district of Jammu division. It is connected with Mahore. On the way to Deval, first comes the village of Agrala, followed by Nohaj and then Deval. Jahangir, in his biography, mentions that Delhi’s ruler Firoz Shah Tuglak, after conquering Rajouri and defeating Khasa Raja Ramchand, had attacked Deval, which in those days was ruled by a Hindu feudal lord. Deval is also connected with Kashmir, and many invaders passed by it on their way to Kashmir. According to local historian Abdul Rashid Zone, a few decades back, while cleaning a spring, the locals had found bundles of arrows. Some old sculptures have also been seen here. The village is inhabited mostly by Gujjars and a few Kashmiris. There is one group of inhabitants who, for their well-built and tall bodies, are said to belong to the Naga race. Amongst the sub-castes of Gujjars settled here are the Dedha?, Boka?a, Khatana, Pashual, Khari, Bana, Leyival, Bajad, Mandad, etc.
Dayavan or Dyaoni (Samba District):
A small village south of Samba, in the suburbs of Ramgarh, Dyaoni, was given by Sikh Maharaja Ranjit Singh as a fief to Mian Kishor Singh, father of Gulab Singh. Dayavan was one of the small Jagirs that the Dogra Rajas of Jammu inherited from Surat Singh, the younger brother of Maharaja Ranjit Dev, which was bequeathed to them through Mian Zorawar Singh and Mian Kishor Singh.
Doda (33.1457° N, 75.5480° E):
Doda is the headquarters of the district Doda. Located in the north-east of the River Chenab in the middle of a hill, the upper part of which is called Lal Dramman, Doda was the winter capital of the Kishtawar rulers, whose boundaries extended up to Banihal.
Doda is the cultural centre of Siraj. Grierson (1919) records another etymology which is no longer heard-Shiva’s kingdom (Shiv + Raj = Shivraj- Siraj). The other most widespread folk etymology is ‘So’ (hundred)+ Raj (kindoms)= Soraj, the area of hundred kingdoms.
The old name of Doda was Nagar or Nagari. Today a mohalla called Nagari, carries the memory of its old name. As per local lore, the present name Doda is named after ‘Doda’, the fruit of the opium plant for which the land of Doda is very suitable. Another version links Doda to one Mand, a craftsman (thathera) who had come from Multan.
Another name of Doda is Faridabad, which was based on the name of Hazrat Farid-ud-Din Bagdadi, who, on his way to Kishtawar, halted here and stayed for five days at a place near Nagari. During his stay, the locals hosted him, and the Nambardar married his daughter to the Saint. The Nagri Mohalla was named after him as Faridabad. But the name did not gain currency.
Situated at a height of 3800 above sea level, Doda is the third largest district after Leh and Kargil, extending over an area of 11,691 sq. km. The district comprises 406 inhabited villages, seven tehsils, namely Banihal, Ramban, Doda, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Thathri and Gandoh. The district has 19 blocks, namely Marwah, Warwan, Kishtwar, Inderwal, Padder, Thathri, Banihal, Bhalessa, Bhaderwah, Doda (Ghat), Assar, Bhagwah, Ramban, Ramsoo, Marmat, Gundana, Chatroo, Drabshalla and Nagesni. The area is rugged and mountainous with important tehsils, Ramban and Kishtwar of Doda district.
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