ABNTV :: News and Entertainment

Chiniot


Chiniot is at present the Sub-divisional Headquarters of Chiniot Tehsil of Jhang District in Faisalabad Division of the Punjab. According to the older and classical District Gazetteer of Jhang "the surface of the district presents three levels on the extreme west the high sand dunes of the Thal, in the centre the two low-lying river valleys and on the extreme east a portion of the Sandal Bar". Chiniot is situated on the left bank of the river Chenab. It is the richest jewel set in one of its most picturesque valleys. It stands on a rock related to an outcrop of rocks barely two miles away where the Chenab pierces its way through and in the process splits up into two giving rise to an island of unsurpassed beauty and grandeur. A grove of date palms provides cool shade. To view the rising sun from any of the surrounding rocks is an unforgettable experience. On the hill of the river bank is a temple said to have built by Maharaja Gulab Sing of Kashmir. The most conspicuous building in the town is the pillars constructed of sang-i-larzan are exceptionally beautiful. The origins of the town might go back to remote antiquity. But, unfortunately, no full-fledged archaeological excavations have ever been undertaken. It would, therefore, be fairly safe to assume that Chiniot may have been the cradle of some ancient civilisation under a Sanskrit name or at least formed part of it. The name Chiniot is a corruption of the name Chandan, a king's daughter who used to hunt in men's clothing while out hunting, she saw the site of Chiniot and was so impressed that she ordered a town to be built there. A reference in Rig-Veda to a place is constructed by some scholars as implying the town now known as Chiniot. Channiwat is said to have been mentioned in Ramayan and subsequently by Alberuni in his Kitab-ul-Hind. Channiwat, popularly known as Ajhan, housed one of the three ancient Universities in the Punjab, the other two being at Ajodhan and Taxila. Professor Lakshami Narain is credited with the theory that the Ajhan University was situated among the rocks on the bank of the River Chenab near Chiniot. The TDCP stop over and resort at Chiniot is situated at the Chenab Bridge overlooking the river. There is an operational restaurant and spacious lawns with shaded seating and picnic areas. The tourist can visit nearby Chiniot town, which is very old and famous for its woodcarvings and furniture, Mosques and buildings of Mughal period. Arts and Crafts Chiniot was once famous for the manufacture of boats and bows for both civil and military purposes. That tradition died out long since. However, it still remains a veritable centre of wood-carving and masonry. Masons from Chiniot participated in the building of the Taj Mahal and in turn learnt much from other masons and artists working there at the time. There is a long list of historic buildings both old and new, including Minar-i-Pakistan at Lahore, where artists and masons from Chiniot made their mark. The architect of the Golden Temple at Amritsar and Masjid Wazir Khan was also from Chiniot. Specimens of wood-carving include decorated doors, carved and foliated tracery for balconies and window frames. Inlay of brass is also wrought in Shisham wood of dark hue which provides an excellent base for the contrast of brass. All varieties of furniture of fine quality and requisite design are undertaken at Chiniot. Carpentry like masonry is an hereditary profession there. It has evolved into a fine art which is second to none in the world. The wonder of wonders is that Chinioti artists and craftsmen are generally illiterate. The tradition is confined to certain families who carry it on as a sacred trust.