VerinagOne of the largest springs in India, Verinag, which lies in the Kothar district, is 78 km south-east of Srinagar (via Anantnag), and is easily accessible through a by pass from the Jammu – Srinagar high way. Verinag is the commencing point of Jhelum River - Jhelum Main is deemed to extend up to Verinag (more on this...) Oct 17, 2007: Verinag spring to get new lease Statesman News Service
JAMMU, Oct. 17: After 18 years, the beautiful and famous Verinag Garden, source of the state’s main river Jhelum, will be restored to its previous glory. Chief minister Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad has announced relocation of security forces from the famous garden and development of the area.
Mr Azad, who was in Verinag yesterday, said the relocation will begin today and be completed within a fortnight.
Verinag spring, with its deep blue waters, emanates from the base of a spur. Both the quantity and quality of the crystal clear waters gushing out of the foothills of Peer Panchal have been affected because of unabated access to the spring. The latter has been reduced to a ghat where people wash their linen and utensils.
Verinag is about 26 km from Anantnag. Emperor Jehangir had built a garden and a pleasure house there.
The embankments have given the spring and its surroundings a unique shape. The architects were brought from Iran.
During the years of turmoil, the garden was occupied by security forces. The locale was also used for film shootings. The area used to be out of bounds for tourists during the first 10 years of turmoil as it was infested with terrorists. A security forces' camp was set up outside the main gate.
The spring is losing its splendour in the absence of care by the tourism authorities and archeology department.
Mr Azad inspected the newly constructed, four, double-storeyed barracks, a mess and an administrative block about 1.5 km from the garden.
“By setting up a Tourism Development Authority for Verinag, the government has opened the floodgates of development,” he said, announcing the release of funds worth Rs 4 crore for a feeder road.
Mr Azad said the road between Verinag and Jawahar Tunnel will be upgraded. The two projects, he said, will be completed next year. Mr Azad also announced Rs 30 lakh for upgradation of the Verinag-Kapran road and an equal amount for the completion of the Kapran Bridge.
Mr Azad said 80 per cent of tourists arriving through the Jawahar Tunnel will enter Kashmir through Verinag. Recently, after 18 years, Kashmiri Pandits celebrated the birth of the river Jhelum (Vitasta) in Verinag.
The waters of many springs nearby, collectively known as Sapta Rishi, have their confluence at Sangam where people bathe during festival days. The birth of the river is celebrated annually with a fair. Apr 2006: Muslims want their town to be Hindu pilgrimage base camp for Amarnath yatra. Read more...
About Verinag: Verinag is named after Nila Nag, the son of the wise saint, Kashyap Rishi, who reclaimed the Kashmir valley, the original shape of this spring was in the circular form of a kund. In 1620, the Emperor Jahangir had the shape changed into the traditional Mughal octagonal. The spring, which has a circumference of 80m in enclosed today by a brick wall under which are vaults. These lake – like waters have a limpid clarity in which the verdant surroundings of pine trees are mirrored. Fish swim in the cool depths and this picturesque setting that so captivated the Mughal emperors has lost none of its pastoral charm over the centuries. The lawns around the spring are a beautifully manicured green, and banks of massed flowers add splashes of colour to this symphony of greens and browns.  | Interesting and new: |
A Shaivite shrine just outside the complex draws pilgrims every year, who come for a ritual dip in the spring of the first day of the year according to the lunar Hindu calendar.
Some 2 km away is Veravurthur, supposed to be the source of the Jhelum. The waters of the many nearby springs, called collectively, Sapta Rishi, have their confluence at Sangam, where people bathe on festival days. The birth of the river is celebrated annually with a fair.
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