Daily Times

THARPARKAR: The ancient Jain temples and a historical mosque in Nagarparkar area of Thar Desert are in worst conditions and are waiting for renovation.

This historical Bhudesar Mosque, Gorri temple and others are near devastation and will be converted into symbol of history, if renovation not done on urgent basis. Every year during the rainy season, thousands of visitors have to come here to visit these historical sites and to know about the rich civilization and ritual of this land.

The Bhudesar Mosque is a small, white marble mosque, which was built, according to the locals, by Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah of Gujarat in 1505 AD. It is built in the Hindu and Jain architect style. The mosque is located 5 kms from Nagarparkar city.

Bhudesar temple, 3 miles from Nagar, was the region’s capital during Sodha rule. The oldest temple, was built in the classical style with stones without any mortar, built around 9th century. It is built on a high platform and reached by a series of steps carved into the rock. It is perhaps the most spectacular of the monuments in Sindh. The two other Jain temples are said to have been built in 1375 and 1449 built of red stone, with fine carvings and corbelled domes.

Gorri temple, some 23 Kms north -west from Virawah, contains a very fine old lain temple measuring 38 meters by 15 and built of marble. It was for several times plundered due to its popularity for abundances in wealth. It is a symbol of unique ancient construction.

A temple is there in the main bazaar of the Nagarparkar town. It was apparently in use until the partition, and possibly for some years even after that. There is also a ruined temple outside of the town.

These are popular tourist attractions and the ancient heritage sites in the Nagarparkar are put down in careless condition because of negligence of Archaeology Department.

G.R.Junejo, a young social activist and journalist was of the opinion that prehistoric legacy is going to smash up just because of carelessness of Archaeology Department. These heritage sites should be improved on urgent basis. It is a responsibility of concerned department and provincial government to look after these legacies and also establish a rest house and hotel to provide the basic facilities for visitors to promote the tourism.

Shahab Nohrio, renowned writer and poet said that after 18th Amendment of the constitution, the Department of Antiquities was created to look after the archaeological, historical and physical heritage of province. Heritage, Conservation and Archaeology are three wings to look after the different related sections. But despite the fact that there is no any restoration work has been done.

Civil society, educationist, researchers and locals have expressed that these ancient heritage will be vanished, if early action for the renewal not been taken in this regard. Thus Government should take immediate action to save these inheritances from any further destruction.