Trip to Tanot Mata Mandir and Indo - Pak Border, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India

Tanot Mata Mandir and Indo - Pak Border

Today I found my Rajasthan trip pics that we visited last December ( 2023).No no... I am not giving details of our trip; neither I share all our pics to bore whoever is seeing my post,  nor I give details of Rajasthan tourism, as all can get online in details!!

I wanted to show my son Provab and husband Balaji the historic place is  "Tanot Mata Mandir" and Indo pak Border, i.e., Thar desert ( Jiyai, Cholistan Desert, Jaisalmer).

As per the oldest Charan literature, Tanot Mata is an incarnation of divine Goddess Hinglaj Mata and as many other Goddesses of the region such as Temde Rai, Karni Mata, Deg Rai and Khodiyar etc. She was also born in Charan caste and lived her life as warrior sage; thus Tanot Mata is a Goddess of War. Or else,  as bengali,  I can say Tanot Mata is one of Incarnation of Adishakti, i.e., Ma Parbati or Ma Durga.

 

 Tanot Mata Mandir was first attacked by the Pakistan Army during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 during which 3,000 bombs were fired towards the temple. However, as per local lore, the bombs either missed their target or did not explode. Contemporary folklore credits the temple for the outcome of the battle. After the 1965 war, India's Border Security Force (BSF) took charge of the temple and the responsibility of managing and maintenance.

A Pakistani General granted permission to visit the Tanot Mata Mandir after the 1965 India-Pakistan war to pay his respects and seek blessings from the goddess. The general was reportedly astonished that none of the 3,000 bombs dropped on the temple by the Pakistani army not exploded.

Tanot was attacked again during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, but this time the attacking tanks got bogged down in the sand, allowing the Indian Air Force to destroy them. The village is close to the border with Pakistan, and is very close to the battle site of Longewala of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. After this war, the Indian Army built a Vijay Stambha (Victory tower) inside the temple compound to commemorate the victory in the Battle of Longewala.

Post 1971 war, the fame  of Tanot Mata and her temple reached heights and BSF constructed a big temple on that site along with a Museum where the unexploded bomb shot at Indian Army were kept.

Apart from the Tanot Mandir and the museum, we also went to visit the Sadewala and Longewala posts where the 1965 and 1971 wars were fought. Later went to see Border. Tourists cannot go beyond this temple to see the Indo–Pak Border unless one gets the relevant documentation in advance from the District and Military Authorities. It is now a tourist destination at Rajasthan in India. 

 Indian side is maintained really beautiful by BSF , but unfortunately Pakistan side land neglected by them.

Situated 120km North West of Jaisalmer city is Tanot in Thar Desert of Rajasthan. We found mesmerizing sand dunes all along with small bushes and lucky enough to see herds of donkeys, sheep & goats on the way. Beautiful landscape. Total desert. Nice to see Indira Gandhi Canal full of water after Ramgarh.

Way back to Jaisalmer again, we visited Kuldhara.... another historic place. If anyone is interested about this place,  let me know by writing in comment section!