Places To Visit In Jammu

Jammu the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir lies in northern India. Jammu is the capital of Dogra Dynasty once and it became a part of the domain of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the 19^th Century. The city is the home to the University of Jammu and Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology and also several Hindu Temples like Vaishno Devi, Raghunath Temple. The surrounding areas produce Wheat, Rice, Corn and Barley.

How To Reach:

Jammu Tawi railway station to Jammu – 4 KM

Jammu Airport to Jammu – 8.5 KM.

Jammu Bus Station to Jammu – 2 KM.

Address:

Jammu, Jammu District, J&K 180001.

Best Time To Visit:

March to May (Summer)

June to August (Monsoon)

November to February (Winter).

Places To Visit In Jammu:

1. Amar Mahal Palace Museum:

Amar Mahal Palace was one of the places of stay of Raja Amar Singh. The palace is constructed by a French Architect which resembles the chateaus of France. The palace is made of red sandstone. It is the beautiful palace at a great location between Shivaliks and Tawi River.

The palace is now transformed into the Museum. Dr Karan Singh donated the palace to the charitable trust of Hari Tara. Present the trust maintains the Museum.

Amar Mahal Palace Timings:

Morning: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM.

Evenings: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM.

Amar Mahal Palace Entry Fee:

Children – Rs 5.

Adults – Rs 10.

Foreigners – Rs 50.

Photography:

Allowed.

Address:

Amar Mahal Museum and Library, Palace Road, Karan Nagar, Jammu Tawi, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir 180001.

2. Mubarak Mandi Palace:

Mubarak Mandi is the palace in Jammu, India. The palace used to be the home of Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir from Dogra Dynasty. The palace till 1925 is the main seat till Hari Singh Maharaj move to the palace of Hari Niwas in the northern part.

The architecture of the palace is the detailed blend of Rajasthani, Mughali and European style. Nowadays the palace houses government offices, courts and the Dogra Art Museum. The palace is surrounded with several courtyards and includes various palaces and buildings like the Pink Palace, Darbar Hall Complex, Gol Ghar Complex, Sheesh Mahal, Nawa Mahal, Rani Charak Palace, Toshakhana Palace, Hawa Mahal and Royal Court buildings.

Dogra art museum is located within the Pink Hall and has a rich collection of miniature paintings of various styles of the region. The miniatures belong to the Kangra, Jammu and the Bosholi art schools.

Amar Mahal Palace Timings:

10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Amar Mahal Palace Entry Fee:

Free Entry.

Photography:

Allowed.

Time To Be spent:

2-3 Hours.

Address:

Panjtirthi, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir 180001.

3. Bahu Fort:

Bahu Fort has located only 5 km from the central part of the city, the Bahu Fort stands tall and well built on the left bank of the Tawi River. While Raja Jambu Lochan is ruling the region he went for hunting and he was surprised to see that Tiger and a goat drinking water in Tawi River without any attack by the tiger, he thought that the place is divine location and wanted to establish his new capital here. Later, Bahu Lochan, his brother built the mighty Bahu Fort here. The fort is very famous for Goddess Kali temple, one of the incarnations of Goddess Parvati. Most of the people in Jammu worship Kali Mata. This temple is situated inside the Fort.

How To Reach:

Tawi Railway Station to the Fort – 4 KM.

Bahu Fort Entry Fee:

Rs 10 per Adult.

Rs 5 per Child.

Photography:

Allowed.

Bahu Fort Timings:

5:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

Time Required:

2-3 Hours.

Address:

Bahu Fort, Gorkha Nagar, Jammu – 180006.

4. Mansar Lake:

Mansar Lake is bordered by dense forest, temples, low lying hills, small parks, together with its twin lake Surinsar. The lake is a popular picnic spot, excursion site and pilgrimage site. The lake shares the legend and sanctity of Lake Mansarovar.

The Lake is also the home of 2 temples- Umapati Mahadev & Narasimha and temple of Durga. The temple encompasses a big rock on which some iron chains symbolizes the deity of the Sheshnag.

Newly married couple feel it as auspicious to perform three Parikarmas around the lake to seek the blessings of Sheshnag. Apart from all the religious and holy activities, Lake Mansar is also famous for its flora & fauna and the perfect natural environment. The lake is home for various species of fishes, tortoise and seasonal birds. The lake is also house for 207 species of algae, seven species of fish and 15 species of waterfowl.

The Surinsar Lake is famous as the twin of Lake Mansar. Visitors can also see the beautiful blooming lotuses and buffaloes paddling in the placid water of the Lake. A wildlife sanctuary is a proximity to Mansar Lake and is house for variety of spotted deer, Nilgai, Cranes and Ducks.

Mansar Lake Timings:

7:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Time To Be spent:

1-2 Hours.

Entry Fee:

Free entry, Parking- Rs 50.

Photography:

Allowed.

Address:

Mansar Lake, Buttal, Jammu & Kashmir – 182127.

5. Peer Kho Cave:

Peer Kho Cave is located close to Tawi River of Jammu. The cave has a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the oldest temples in the city. The cave temple complex consists of 2 caves of around 20-30m depth each. The first cave is paved with number of marbles and one has to bend to get in to the cave. The second cave being a larger one, devotees can stand comfortably inside. The shivlinga located here is believed to be self-manifested.

Festivals:

Navratri, Raksha Bandhan, Shravan Punarmashi, Amavasya and Ekadashi.

Mansar Lake Timings:

5:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

2:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

Photography:

Cameras and Mobiles are not allowed into temple premises.

Mansar Lake Entry Fee:

Free Entry.

Address:

Tawi River,Jammu, J&K – 180012.

6. Purmandal Temple:

Purmandal is also known as the Chota Kashi in Jammu and is located on the Devika River in Samba District. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Parvati Devi. The river is formed by the request of the Rishi Kashyap. On the request of Rishi Goddess spoke with Lord Shiva and asked him to come along with her where she’s forming as the River. She told to Lord Shiva that “I can go and will go down to earth but I will stay hidden from the plain sight and wherever it is that I come out, there should be a temple of yours”.

History of Purmandal Temple:

The King of Kashmir used to hunt for many days and would travel long distances. After several stops along the way of hunting, the king reached Pur near Mandal and shot an arrow which hit the female Jackal head; the hit jackal did not die immediately but went to the kund to drink water and died there. The King did not have children a girl child is born from long time and she used to cry all the time. When she grew up it was found that the child is suffering from severe headache. After complete check-up the doctors told the king to check the horoscope of the child.

The priests asked the King’s horoscope and told him that he will not have any child, for killing the animal that has died at the spot of Lord Shiva. That’s why the child used to cry all the time. They also said to find the spot where the animal is dead and perform its rites.

The King immediately ordered his people to find the spot and the soldiers found the skeleton of the animal with the arrow deep into its head. After the soldiers removed the arrow from its head the child headache stopped. The king performed the rites and decided to build a temple there in the name of Lord Shiva. The initial structure of Purmandal temple is almost 2600 years ago. The statue of Female Jackal is behind the main temple and is believed the wishes will be fulfilled once the devotees visit and pay obeisance to the Jackal.

During the Monthly mela, number of people offer water to the Shivlinga but the water level remains the same in the kund.

Purmandal Temple Timings:

5:00 AM to 9:30 PM

Purmandal Temple Entry fee:

Free Entry.

Address:

Purmandal Shiv Temple, Purmandal Dristrict Samba Purmandal Jammu and Kashmir, 181145.