JAMMU
ABOUT JAMMU:
- Winter capital of the State sprawls on the banks of river Tawi with Trikuta mountain range in the backdrop.
- Antiquity if this city of ancient temples and magnificent palace is shrouded in myths and legends.
- Raja Jambu Lochan, a Rajput king of later Vedic period founded his capital here and named it as Jambupura.
MODE OF COMMUNICATION:
- Airport: Satwari Airport, Jammu (IXJ), 6 kms away from Jammu city centre.
- Rail: Jammu Tawi Railway Station, Jammu, 5 kms away from Jammu city centre.
- Road: Well connected with NH 1A.
SIGHTSEEING AT A GLANCE:
SCENIC SITE
|
Patnitop
|
HOLY CENTRE
|
Raghunath Temple Ranbireshwar Temple Peer Khoh Bahu Fort Patnitop Vaishno Devi
|
FORT & MONUMENTS
|
Bahu Fort Amar Mahal Museum & Library Mubarak Mandi Palace Complex
|
MUSEUM & AUDITORIUM
|
Amar Mahal Museum & Library Mubarak Mandi Palace Complex
|
LAKE
|
Mansar Lake
|
FAIRS & FESTIVALS
|
- Lohri
- Baisakhi
- Bahu mela
- Chaitre chaudash
- Purmandal mela
- Jhiri mela
|
For more information visit https://jammu.nic.in/tourism/
ATTRACTIONS OF JAMMU
Raghunath Temple:
- Magnificent temple complex set in the heart of the city.
- One of the most important and the largest shrines of northern India.
- Construction was started in 1835, by Maharaja Gulab Singh, the founder of Jammu and Kashmir kingdom.
- Completed by his son Maharaja Ranbir Singh in 1860.
- Complex consists of 17 temples and the main shrine is dedicated to Lord Raghunath (Rama).
Ranbireshwar Temple:
- Biggest Shiva temple in North India was built by Maharaja Ranbir Singh in 1883.
- Enshrines a large number of Shivalingams.
- Central lingam in black stone is seven and a half feet high and the twelve crystal lingams measure from 15 cms. to 38 cms.
Peer Khoh:
- Ancient cave temple on the circular road.
- A naturally formed Shivalingam, which is highly revered by the devotees.
Bahu Fort:
- Ancient fort set majestically on a rock face, overlooks the gently flowing Tawi River.
- Well known for the temple of Goddess Maha Kali, which is considered net only to the famous Mata Vaishno Devi Temple.
- Beautiful Baghi bahu garden is located at the base of the fort.
Amar Mahal Museum & Library:
- Magnificent red-brick palace is perched elegantly on a hill overlooking the Tawi River.
- It was built by Raja Amar Singh.
- Now houses a museum exhibiting excellent miniature paintings from Kangra School, paintings of contemporary Indian artists and portraits etc.
- The highlight of the museum is the 120 kg solid gold Dogra throne, which was used by the erstwhile Maharaja.
- Library at the palace has a collection of over 25000 books.
Mubarak Mandi Palace Complex:
- Palace complex is a blend of Rajasthani and Mughal styles of architecture with influence of even Baroque European style.
- Affords a fine view of the Tawi River on one side and the city on the other and had served as the residence of erstwhile Dogra rulers.
- Pink Hall now houses the famous Dogra Art Museum with a rich collection of rare paintings.
ATTRACTIONS AROUND JAMMU
Patnitop:
- 112 kms away from Jammu on the Jammu-Srinagar highway.
- Panoramic Patnitop sprawls on a lush plateau, at an altitude of 2024.
- Charming resort amidst thickly wooded forests is probably the best developed tourist centre of Jammu.
- Commands awe-inspiring views of the scenic surroundings and is dotted with a number of beautiful picnic sites.
- During winters Patnitop receives good snowfall and provides opportunities for various snow games like skiing.
- 600 year old temple of Naga (cobra) at Ishadhari is highly revered by the devotees.
- Three must visit sites on the outskirts of Patnitop are – Chinar Garden, Picnic Spot and Skating Garden.
Mansar Lake:
- 60 kms away from Jammu.
- Lovely lake amidst thickly wooded forest is a popular excursion point.
- Boating facilities are available here.
- A food and crafts festival is also organised here by J & K Tourism around the festival of Baisakhi.
Vaishno Devi:
- Sacred abode of Goddess Vaishno Devi is perched at a height of 5,200 ft. on the holy Trikuta Hills.
- Cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is regarded as one of the holiest Hindu Temples of the country.
- Katra, 48 kms from Jammu is the base camp for visiting the holy cave.
- From Katra, one has to trek a distance of 13 kms to reach the shrine.
- Holy pilgrimage formally commences from Darshini Deori, at the northern end of the old Katra Bazar.
- Journey has to be undertaken by foot, ponies or on palkhis or dolis (palanquins).
- Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board manages the shrine and the yatra with great efficiency, making the pilgrimage an unforgettable experience.
- Holy cave enshrines three natural rock images (pindian) of the Goddess (Mata) in her three forms – Maha Saraswati, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Kali, which represent creative, preservative and destructive aspects of the divine energy.
- According to legends, the darshan of Mata is rendered incomplete without visiting the Bhairon Temple, located 2.6 kms from the main sanctum.