Jammu

Places of Attraction
Katra, Jammu, Patni Top

Jammu, otherwise known as Duggardesh, is one of the most visited destinations of India. During winters, Jammu acts as the administrative capital of Jammu & Kashmir because of heavy snowfall in Srinagar. This region had been named after King Jambu Lochan who is believed to have founded Jammu in 8th century BC.The numerous temples found all over Jammu has earned it the title of ‘City of Temples’.

The region is also popular as a pilgrimage tourist destination because of the presence of one of the most renowned Hindu shrines, the Vaishno Devi.It is, however, not only the pilgrimage sites that attract tourists from different parts of the world to Jammu but also the region’s scenic beauty.

Jammu is located to the south of the great Himalayan range and north of the plains of Punjab. While the lower areas of the region are covered with forests of chestnut and oak, further north, at higher altitudes, the vegetation transforms to that of deodar and pine trees.

Tourists planning to visit Jammu must not miss visiting the Vaishno Devi Temple, the Raghunath Temple, the Mubarak Mandi Palace, the Mansar Lake, the Bahu Fort, and the Amar Mahal. The Vaishno Devi Temple is a cave temple dedicated to the Hindu Mother Goddess, Vaishno Devi. The main attractions of this shrine are the idols depicting the 3 forms of Vaishno Devi, namely Mahakali; the Hindu goddess of time and death, Mahasaraswati; the Hindu goddess of knowledge, and Mahalakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and fortune.

Places in and near Jammu

Mubarak Mandi

Mubarak Mandi is a palace in Jammu, India. The palace was the royal residence of the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir from the Dogra Dynasty. It was their main seat till 1925 when maharadja Hari Singh moved to the Hari Niwas Palace in the northern part of Jammu. The palace is located in the heart of the old walled city of Jammu and overlooks the Tawi river.

The complex is grouped around several courtyards and includes various buildings and palaces like the Darbar Hall Complex, the Pink Palace, Royal Courts buildings, Gol Ghar Complex, Nawa Mahal, Rani Charak Palace, Hawa Mahal, the Toshakhana palace and the Sheesh Mahal. The halls and galleries of the palace were used for official functions and ceremonies.

Bahu Fort

The fort, originally built by Raja Bahulochan some 3,000 years ago, was refurbished by the Dogra rulers in the 19th century.[1] The fort is a religious place, and within its precincts has a temple dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali, the presiding deity of Jammu. The temple is known locally as the "Bave Kali Mata temple.

The fort is located on a high plateau land overlooking the Tawi River on its rocky left bank.The forest area that surrounds the fort has been developed into a well laid out park called the “Bagh-e-Bahu”, developed on the lines of the Mughal gardens from where a commanding view of the city of Jammu could be seen.The garden attracts a large number of visitors.

Mansar Lake

Besides being a popular excursion destination in Jammu, it is also a holy site, sharing the legend and sanctity of Lake Mansarovar. On the Eastern Bank of the Lake there is a shrine to Sheshnag, a mythological snake with six heads. The shrine comprises a big boulder on which are placed a number of iron chains perhaps representing the small serpents waiting on the tutelary deity of the Sheshnag. Two ancient temples of Umapati Mahadev & Narsimha as also a temple of Durga are situated in the vicinity of the Mansar lake. People take a holy dip in the water of the lake on festive occasions.

Newlyweds consider it auspicious to perform three circum-ambulations (Parikarma) around the lake to seek the blessings of Sheshnag, the lord of serpents, whose shrine is located on its eastern bank.

Vaisnu devi:

A pilgrimage to the Holy Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji is considered to be one of the holiest pilgrimages of our times. Popular the world over as Moonh Maangi Muradein Poori Karne Wali Mata, which means, the Mother who fulfills whatever Her children wish for, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji resides in a Holy Cave located in the folds of the three peaked mountain named Trikuta (pronounced as Trikoot). The Holy Cave attracts millions of devotees every year - the number of Yatris visiting the Holy Shrine annually now exceeds ten million. This is due to the unflinching faith of the devotees who throng the Shrine from all parts of India and abroad.

The Holy Cave of the Mother is situated at an altitude of 5200 ft. The Yatris have to undertake a trek of nearly 12 km from the base camp at Katra.

Raghunath Temple

Raghunath Temple consists of a complex of seven Hindu shrines, each with its own Sikhara. It is one of the largest temple complexes of north India. During the reign of the rulers of Jammu Shivaliks, after 1765, there was a spurt in temple building activity in Jammu area, which continued during the early period of the 19th century. The rulers built spiral shaped temples with brick and crowned each tower with bright Kalashas in the shape of sikhara (rising tower). One such temple complex was started in 1822 by Gulab Singh, the ruler of Jammu and was dedicated to his guru Baba Prem Das. Its construction was completed in 1860 by his son Maharaja Ranbir Singh. However, according to an inscription in Brahmic script (Takri) at the entrance of the temple, Gulab Singh and his brother Dhyan Singh are credited with building the temple in 1827 in honour of Mahant Jagannath.

Patni Top

Patnitop is located in the Lower Himalayan Range close to the Pir Panjal range, 47 km (29 mi) from Udhampur and 112 km (70 mi) from Jammu. This famous hill resort is perched on a beautiful plateau, at an altitude of 2024 m across which the Jammu-Srinagar Highway passes. The towns of Kud and Batote are nearby. Kud is a very small town where sweet shops make fresh Patissa (a sweet). It may be bought hot and melts in one's mouth. Batote is known as a place for quality rajma or the kidney bean.

Enveloped by thickly wooded Cedar/Deodar forests, Patnitop offers beautiful picnic spots, peaceful walks and views of the mountainscape of the Chenab basin. In winter, the resort is generally covered with a thick mantle of snow thus providing opportunities for various snow games including skiing. It is the closest winter resort to Jammu and to Udhampur and is second to none in its natural charm, climate, pine forests and lush green cover. J&K Tourism as well as the army have some holiday homes here.