2,700-year-old Ramtal is the most historic finding of Braj in recent times.
Vrindavan 2017.01.17 (Prawal Krishna): Three kilometers from Vrindavan, Ramtal is the oldest historic finding of the Braj region dedicated to the nation by The Braj Foundation. The site presents a magnificent look at the ghats of an ancient water body called Ramtal. The unique feature of having a steel sheet all along the base of this newly-discovered site has attracted archaeologists and media from far and wide.
Dedicated to the restoration of the cultural and environmental heritage of the Braj region in the Mathura district of UP, The Braj Foundation has developed this site as a Heritage Tourism destination.
Addressing a press conference, Mr. Vineet Narain, Chairman of The Braj Foundation, said, “We started this project like many other similar projects of restoring water bodies in Braj – a mission we have undertaken since 2003. The initial plan was to develop Ramtal as a huge water reservoir. However, after digging 15 feet deep, the ancient foundations suddenly emerged as a pleasant surprise to all of us. Therefore, in order to benefit Archaeology students, historians and tourists, the original plan was changed into developing this site like the Indus Valley Civilisation sites in India.”
Now Ramtal has beautiful landscape and tourist facilities, with an upcoming Lilly pond in its centre. A yagyashala (place for fire ceremonies) has been added to revive the legend of the place, which is associated with Saubhari Rishi of Satyug. He finds mention in the most revered Hindu scripture, Shrimad Bhagwatam. Ramtal was his place of meditation and so his stone figure has also been installed, in a most aesthetic way, under a 1000-year-old Banyan tree. The site is 3 Kms away from Vrindavan on the Sunrakh village road and is already attracting large number of tourists throughout the day.
(Tourists interested in visiting Ramtal may log on to www.brajfoundation.org)
Legends of Ramtal
Ramtal is the place where Shaubhari Rishi performed austerities for 1,000 years during Satyuga. He also peformed a fire ceremony (yagya) on the request of the then -king of Ayodhya, King Mandhata, to fight a long drought in the region by pleasing the rain god, Indra.
Shaubhari Rishi also provided shelter to many species of snakes here, in order to protect them from Garuda, the carrier (vahan) of Lord Vishnu. He also used to feed the fish in the Yamuna River, which used to flow by Ramtal then. This also explains the use of steel in Ramtal’s foundation so as to protect it against erosion of the kund’s floor by Yamuna riverwater. It further makes Ramtal a unique site so far discovered anywhere else in India.
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