Anjani Kund and Chameli Van regaining their old world grandeur
A Braj Foundation Initiative in Haryana

At the outskirts of Faridabad District lies the historic site Anjani Kund. Here every Tuesday and Saturday a huge crowd of Hanuman devotees collect at the adjoining ancient temple of Lord Hanuman.  Anjani Kund is situated in the Chameli Van (forest) of Hodal district. Due to decades of neglect and misuse, the Kund had been reduced to a pitiable state, its banks lying in ruins, its water body stagnant and decaying, reduced to a mere sludge tank and its water source silted up and forgotten.

According to legend, during the Maha Raas, when Krishna disappeared, the gopis of Braj came to this place in his search.

Chameli Van is an integral part of the famous Braj chaurasi kos yatra. Since the past few years the Braj Foundation has been actively engaging its resources, local administration and the community in the revival and restoration of the sites of historic and traditional significance, related to Krishna’s life and times. So far almost 33 water bodies like the Anjani Kund, which had been neglected and forgotten are in the process of being restored through the active efforts of The Braj Foundation.

In December 2007, the restoration of the kund began amidst traditional Vedic chanting. In a short span of five months 2 earth mover machines of The Foundation were employed day and night to desilt and dig the base of the kund structure deeper by three meters. The digging continued till the water source beneath the kund was unearthed. The fertile soil that came out of the excavation was spread in the adjoining Chameli Van as a result of which the quality of the soil in the forest improved.  Post desilting done by The Foundation’s Team, the water retention capacity of the kund has been augmented by more than one hundred times. Now the entire water body has been filled with water from the adjacent Ujjina canal. Project Co-ordinator Raghav Mittal, a young IITan who has been with the Foundation since its inception, says, “The filling of Anjani Kund, will prove to be instrumental in restoring the ecological balance of Chameli Van forest which is abode to a rich variety of flora and fauna. The dying Kadamba trees will also get revived.”

The embankments surrounding the water body have been renovated and constructed. The financial support for this whole process is being extended by CMD of Gannon Dunkerley Group Shri Kamal Morarkaji, who is also the chairman of The Braj Foundation. 

he Foundation plans to revive the grandeur of Anjani kund and its home Chameli Van. For this The Foundation seeks full cooperation from the residents of the village Bhalwana and Tourism Department of the Haryana Government. CEO of The Braj Foundation, Shri Vineet Narain recently presented a development plan for this region to tourism secretary of the Haryana Government, Shrimati Keshni Anand. With the cooperation and support of the Tourism Ministry, this grand plan for the revival and reconstruction of Chameli van and Anjani Kund can be successfully completed. Tourism experts and industry insiders are of the view that if being in the close vicinity of Delhi and at a strategic location on the Delhi Agra highway, this area has immense potential for tourism if it is developed with a consistent and aesthetic vision. This is what The Braj Foundation is looking forward to do.