After Jharkhand’s tableau, based on the art and culture of ‘Maluti Temples’ of Dumka for the first time, bagged second position during the Republic Day function at the Rajpath this year, the temples are awaiting for a facelift. In order to develop it as a tourist hotspot, the Tourism Department claimed that proper steps were being taken for the development of the temple village.
located at about 55 km from district headquarters on Dumka-Rampurhat Road; Maluti still remains isolated in terms of tourist influx due to the lack of basic infrastructure and facilities. Despite being identified as a potential tourist spot, barring two guest houses being run through an NGO, no other hotel or eatery could be found in the village due to unavailability of electricity, water and other basic amenities.
According to the district officials, transportation facility to the temple village located on the borders adjacent to West Bengal, could not be improved as it needs to be taken up by up at the inter-state level. “Facility of transportation could not be improved as long as the process of issuing permit can only be done at the level on mutual understanding with the Government of West Bengal,” said Dumka Deputy Commissioner Harha Mangala.
Moreover, the condition of temples in the village is really in a very bad shape which immediately needs a revival, he added. “These temples have barely been highlighted till date and needs to be restored properly by roping in some agency in order to put these remnants as attraction before the tourists visiting the place,” said the DC.
Maluti villagers on the other hand, after being neglected for years by the State Government are looking towards a better future. “It is definitely a proud moment for us, but at the same time also have grievances from the State Government that despite promises made by the earlier Governments, this place still lacks minimum basic facilities for the people living here as well as for those who are visiting the place,” said a local businessman Badshah of Maluti.
There is no proper transportation available to this place coupled with truncated electricity supply, drinking water and staying facilities. “People are reluctant to visit this place as there is no proper transportation available to this place as one has to hire vehicle for the day or two in case he wants to stay here,” said the villager.
Though, some steps had been taken in this regard in the past also. According to the State tourism officials, Maluti definitely needs a revamp to showcase tourism potential of the place before the world. “In order to make it a tourism hot-spot, it requires accessible roads with safety measures, proper staying and transport facility along with the basic necessities like electricity and water supply and food for the tourists,” said Tourism Secretary Avinash Kumar. Solid foundation work was also being done by the State Art and Cultural Department, he added.
Kumar who also served as a Deputy Commissioner in the past however, said approval for several projects were given by the State Government since the last few years like installation of solar street lights as well as training programme for locals in the field of hospitality and other service industries catering to the development of Maluti as a tourist hotspot. “Installation of solar lights was sanctioned for JEREDA and Rs9.60 lakh was allotted to train local people in hospitality industry,” said Kumar.
Kumar further added that since road is on the top of the priority list of the present Government, roads will not be a problem anymore. Kumar also claims that Maluti Temples were never neglected by the State as it also has archeological importance and steps have been taken to revive the place from time to time. The temple village of Maluti under Shikaripara block is known for its 16th century temples. It has 72 old temples built under the Baj Basanta dynasty. These temples are edifice to the kings of the Pala Dynasty. They portray various scenes from Hindu mythology including the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.