CHAMBA BUDHHA

The Bamiyaan (in Afghanistan) like huge rock sculpture of Chamba Buddha in Garpung village (Next to Apati village) of Kargil district is carved on a hillside and is six meter high and three meter wide and is evidence of the passage of Buddhist missionaries through the region during the 7th to 8th centuries AD en route to Tibet. This rock sculpture has been carved out of a single rock piece which is believed to be a very unique art. The imposing sculpture depicts a standing Maitreya (Future Buddha) Chamba Buddha adorned with jewels and a head-dress. On the sides of sculpture, miniature sculptures have also been make it more attractive. The Chamba Buddha is like the Bamiyaan buddha in Bamyan valley in the Hazarajat region of Central Afghanistan which was destroyed in 2001 by the Talibans.
 
According to tradition, Maitreya will be the fifth Buddha and his arrival will occur after the teachings of the current Gautama Buddha are less meaningfully communicated. Maitreya's coming is characterized by a number of physical events. For example, the oceans are predicted to decrease in size, allowing Maitreya to traverse them freely. These events will also enable the reintroduction of the "true" dharma to the people, in turn allowing the construction of a new world.

Gautama Buddha also referred to as Shakyamuni Buddha predicted that due to the inevitable degeneration of the times, his own teachings would last just five thousand years before disappearing from this world. People will grow more and more immoral and their lifespan will gradually decrease, as will their health, stature and fortune. The world will go through prolonged periods of famine, disease and continuous warfare. Thereupon Maitreya will appear, not in his fully evolved buddha form, but as a person of regal bearing, very handsome and taller than those around him. Maitreya Buddha will be born in a time when humans will live to an age of eighty thousand years, in the city of Ketumati (present Benaras). The scriptures say that Maitreya will attain bodhi in seven days (which is the minimum period), by virtue of his many lives of preparation for Buddhahood.

KARGIL WAR MEMORIAL

It was in Feb 1999 that Pakistani Army regulars intruded into the Indian territory and occupied winter vacated posts. The Indian Army launched Operation VIJAY in May 2009 to evict the intruders. What followed was a saga of unparalleled courage, valour and sacrifice. Fierce battles were fought by Indian soldieries to smother the nefarious designs of the enemy, in treacherous terrain. In everlasting memory of the martyrs of the Kargil War the Dras War Memorial was constructed. This memorial is a testimony of the supreme sacrifice made by the Indain soldiers while restoring the ‘IZZAT’ of our motherland.

The Dras War Memorial in its current state was constructed in November 2004. The entire structure has been designed out of ‘Chitter stone’. The names of the martyrs are inscribed on the rear wall.

Over the years, Kargil War Memorial (Dras) has become a landmark and a major tourist attraction being visited by thousands of people from across the country who come to pay the obeisance to all those fallen on path of duty and to relive the saga of bravery and courage.

Every year during ‘Operation Vijay Diwas’ which is celebrated from 25 Jul to 26 Jul, series of ceremonies are held in which Next of Kins of the martyrs and awardees besides civil dignitaries are invited.

GUMRI WAR MEMORIAL

 Gumri war memorial was constr in the memory of those brave soldiers of Indian Army who fought valiant and gallant battles between 01 Nov to 23 Nov 1948 in the hts of Zozila and Gumri forcing the Pakistani raiders out of Zozila and Gumri. Own troops advanced upto Kargil & reached there on 23 Nov 1948, thus est the vital link up with the Leh Grn. 

KIL WAR MEMORIAL

 The war memorial was constr in the memory of those brave soldiers who laid down their lives in Mushkoh valley during & after the capture of BALWAN post due to en firing and shelling.

PANDRAS MEMORIAL

The memorial was construction in the memory of those brave soldiers of Army who laid down their lives during ‘OP VIJAY’ in Dras wef 14 May 99 to Oct 99. Army fired 30124 rds during the ops. The Army made supreme sacrifice of one offr & six OR.

The war memorial was constr by Army in memory of the fwg brave soldiers, who made supreme sacrifice for the nation :-

(a) Maj CB Dwivedi, SM (Posthumous).

(b) LHav (GD) Mallaya.

(c) Nk(GD) Sarvan Kumar.

(d) NK (GD) Bishuni Ray.

(e) LNk (OPR) P Gopaiah.

(f) Gnr(GD) Raj Kumar.

(g) Gnr(GD) INC Singha, SM (Posthumous).
 

CHOUKIYAL WAR MEMORIAL

The war memorial was constr at Choukiyal in the memory of those brave soldiers of Army who laid down their lives in en shelling which carried on even after termination of Op Vijay (upto the yr 2003).

The war memorial was constr by Army in Feb 2003, in the memory of the fwg brave soldiers :-

(a) Nb Sub RG Sekaran.

(b) Gnr Venkatesan.

(c) Gnr Jai Krishnan KV.