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Learn About Places Jammu Kashmir > Jammu


Jammu

Jammu

General Information :: Nestling in the foothills of the Himalayas, with the river Tawi flowing alongside, is the place that Raja Jambu Lochan discovered one day while he was on a hunting trip. Legend has it that he came upon a clearing where he saw a sight that left him wonderstruck. A tiger and a goat stood side-by-side, drinking water from the same place in the Tawi River. He was so struck by this unusual sight that he decided to build a city on this land where no living creature seemed to bear enmity towards each other. Little is known of Jammu’s subsequent history until, in 1730 AD, it came under the rule of the Dogra king, Raja Dhruv Deva. The Dogra rulers moved their capital to the present site and Jammu became an important centre of art and culture, especially the Pahari school of paintings.Today, as if in testimony to Raja Jambu Lochan’s vision, the city of Jammu has come to be known as the ‘City Of Temples’. Innumerable temples and shrines, with glittering ‘shikhars’ soaring into the sky, dot the city’s skyline, creating the ambience of a holy and peaceful city.

City Information
Area     20.36 sq.kms
Altitude     305 m
Temperature
Summer, Winter    
Max         Min
43.0 C      23.4 C
26.2 C      4.3 C
Rainfall     107 cms (July to September).
Best Season     September to April.
Clothing     Summer: light cottons
Winter        woollens
Population     6,98,674 (as per Census 2001)
Languages     Dogri, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu and English


Forts and Palaces

On the opposite bank of the Tawi river, on an upland plateau, is situated the majestic Bahu Fort, the oldest edifice extant in the region. Looking at this fort one can imagine the wars fought, invasions prevented, and yes, even the grandeur the royal family must have enjoyed at the time. Today it is surrounded by a lush green terraced garden, with waterfalls and flowers of just about every kind and colour. It is a favourite picnic spot for the city folk.

The Amar Mahal Palace :: The Amar Mahal Palace a sight to behold, is on an eyrie overlooking the Tawi river. This grand palace, with sloping roofs and tall towers, so characteristic of continental castles, reminds one of France. The palace has been converted into a museum which also houses the city’s finest library of antique books and paintings. An entire series of miniatures on the epic Nal-Damayanti can be seen in the museum.

Jammu Festival
Lohri (13 January) ::This festival heralds the onset of spring and is also known as Makar Sankranti. The whole region wears a festive look on this day.Kud dance on the eve of a festivalThousands take a dip in the holy rivers. 'Havan Yagnas' light up nearly every house and temple in Jammu. In the rural areas it is customary for young boys to go around asking for gifts from newly-weds and parents of new-borns.A special dance called the 'Chajja' is held on the occasion of Lohri. It makes a striking picture tosee boys along with their 'Chajjas' elaborately decorated with coloured paper and flowers dance on the street in a procession. The whole atmosphere comes alive with pulsating drumbeats.

Baisakhi (April 13 or 14) :: The name Baisakhi is taken from the first month of the Vikram calendar. Every year, on the first day of ‘Vaishakh’, the people of Jammu, like the rest of northern India, celebrate Baisakhi. Also known as the "harvest festival", it is considered auspicious especially for marriages. Devotees who take a ritual dip every year, throng the rivers, canals and ponds. Many people go to the Nagbani temple to witness the grand New Year celebration.The occasion is marked by numerous fairs and people come in thousands to celebrate the beginning of the New Year and watch the famous ‘Bhangra’ dance of Punjab. For the Sikhs of Jammu, Baisakhi is the day their tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singhji, formed the Khalsa sect in 1699. The Gurudwaras are full of people who come to listen to ‘kirtans’, offer prayers and feast on the ‘prasad’ from the common kitchen.

Bahu Mela (March-April & September-October) :: A major festival is held at the Kali Temple in Bahu Fort, twice a year.

Chaitre Chaudash (March-April) :: Chaitre Chaudash is celebrated at Uttar Behni, about 25 kms from Jammu. Uttar Behni gets its name from the fact that the Devak river (locally also known as Gupt Ganga) flows here in the northerly direction.

Purmandal Mela (February-March) :: Purmandal is 39 kms from Jammu city. On Shivratri, the town wears a festive look and for three days as people celebrate the marriage of Lord Shiva to Goddess Parvati. The people of Jammu also come out in their colourful best to celebrate Shivratri at Peer Khoh, the Ranbireshwar Temple and the Panjbhaktar Temple. In fact, if one visits Jammu during Shivratri, one finds a celebration going on almost everywhere.

Jhiri Mela (Oct-Nov.) :: An annual fair is held in the name of Baba Jitu, a simple and honest farmer who preferred to kill himself rather than submit to the unjust demands of the local landlord to part with his crop. He killed himself in the village of Jhiri, 14 kms from Jammu. A legend has grown around the Baba and his followers congregate at Jhiri on the appointed day from every corner of North India; they revere him for his compassion, courage and honesty.
Navratra festival at Katra

Navratra Festival (Sept-Oct) :: Though the yatra to the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is a round-the-year event, the one undertaken during the Navratras is considered the most auspicious. In order to showcase and highlight the regional culture, heritage and traditions of the area during this period, the State Tourism Department has instituted the Navratra Festival as an annual event to be held during September / October for all the nine auspicious days of the Navratras. A large number of tourists pay their obeisance to the deity during this period. This festival showcases the religious traditions as well as the popular culture of the region among the millions of pilgrims who visit the Vaishnodeviji Shrine during this period.

sight seeing

Temples and Shrines

Amongst the temples in Jammu, the Raghunath Mandir takes pride of place being situated right in the heart of the city.Temple skyline of Jammu city town The Temple skyline of Jammu cityIt consists of a cluster of temples and is the largest temple complex in northern India. Its inner sanctums contain gigantic statues of deities and numerous ‘lingams’. It contains representatives of almost the entire Hindu pantheon, which make it a rare site to behold.

BaweyWali Temple :: The famous temple of Bawey Wali Mata is inside the Bahu Fort where, every Tuesday and Sunday, pilgrims throng to worship the goddess.A little further away, on a spur opposite the Bahu Fort, overlooking the river Tawi, stands a temple dedicated to Mahamaya, a Dogra heroine who lost her life fourteen centuries ago fighting foreign invaders.The Peer Kho cave temple overlooking the Tawi river, the Panchbakhtar temple and the Ranbireshwar temple are the other well known Shiva temples in Jammu.

Ranbireshwar Temple :: Each has its own legend, its devotees and specific days of worship. In Ranbireshwar Temple, there are twelve Shiva ‘lingams’ of crystal measuring 12" to 18" and galleries with thousands of ‘saligrams’ fixed on stone slabs. Other important temples in Jammu are the Lakshmi Narayan temple, Duda Dhari temple and the Panj Mandir in Gandhi Nagar.It is said that if the Bawey Wali Mata is the presiding deity of Jammu, the ‘durgah’ of Peer Budhan Ali Shah or Peer Baba as it is known, is the shrine that protects the people of this city from mishaps and evil spirits.

Peer Baba Shrine at Satwari :: A friend of Guru Gobind Singh, Peer Baba is said to have lived his entire life on milk alone and lived to the age of five hundred. On Thursdays, Hindu and Sikh devotees vastly outnumber their Muslim brethren at this shrine; such is the faith of the people in Peer Baba. Most VIPs make it a point to visit this ‘durgah’ when they come to Jammu.

Shrine of Peer Mitha :: Peer Mitha is another famous Muslim shrine in Jammu. Peer Mitha was a contemporary of Ajaib Dev and Ghareeb Nath - both saints were famous for their prophecies and miracles.‘Mitha’ means ‘the sweet one’, for the Peer would accept nothing more than a pinch of sugar in offering from his devotees.

Other places of worship

St. Marry's Garrison Church

Christian
Garrison Church, Satwari.
St. Paul’s Church, Wazarat Road, Jammu.
St. Peter’s Church, Christian Colony, Jammu.
 
Jamia Mosque Jammu

Muslim
Jamia Masjid, Talab Khatikan.
Jamia Masjid, Ustad Mohalla.
Jamia Masjid, Gole Market.
Ibrahim Masjid, Wazarat Road.

Gurudwara :: Gurudwara Singh Sabha - Nanak nagar

Sikh
Sunder Singh Gurudwara, Gurudwara Road.
Tali Sahib Gurudwara, Talab Tillo.
Maharani Chand Kaur Gurudwara, below Gumat.
Gurudwara Singh Sabha, Nanak Nagar.
Kalgidhar Gurudwara, Rehari.
Singh Sabha Gurudwara, Raghunath Bazaar.
Ranbir Canal :: A small garden along the Ranbir Canal, which runs through the city outskirts, provides a cool picnic spot during the summer. The canal branches off from the river Chenab at Akhnoor, 32 kms away. Its water remains icy-cold throughout the year and its banks serve as good viewpoints and walkways.

Bahu Fort & Gardens :: Situated 5 kms away from the city centre, Bahu Fort stands on a rock face on the left bank of the river Tawi.
View of Bahu Gardens (Bagh-e-Bahu) Perhaps the oldest fort and edifice in the city, it was constructed originally by Raja Bahulochan over 3,000 years ago.The existing fort was more recently improved upon and extended by the Dogra rulers. Inside, there is a temple dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali. An extensive terraced garden, known as Bagh-e-Bahu, has been developed around the fort.

Aquarium Bagh- I- Bahu. :: The subcontinent's largest underground aquarium in Jammu's Bagh-I-Bahu area is drawing a large number of tourists ever since it was opened to the public. Besides students, the aquarium has become a centre of attraction for tourists, giving them an opportunity to revel in the exotic aquatic world. The aquarium has attracted large number of tourists visiting the State.
The aquarium-cum-awareness centre comprises of 24 aquarium caves including 13 small caves for holding freshwater fishes, two large caves for holding marine water fishes and nine medium sized aquariums for holding marine and fresh water fishes. It has state-of-the-art equipment, a public gallery, museum, laboratory and a multimedia conference hall. The entrance is designed in the shape of the mouth of a fish and the exit in the shape of a fish tail. The aquarium houses a museum where 400 varieties of freshwater and marine fish are on display.

Mahamaya Temple and City Forest :: On the bypass Road, behind Bahu Fort, the city forest surrounds the ancient Mahamaya temple overlooking the river Tawi. A small garden surrounded by acres of woods provides the best view of the city.

Mubarak Mandi Palace :: The oldest buildings in this palace complex date back to 1824. The architecture is a blend of Rajasthani, Mughal and even baroque elements. The most stunning segment is the Sheesh Mahal. "The Pink Hall" houses the Dogra Art Museum which has miniature paintings of the various Hill Schools.

Museum and Art galleries

Amar Mahal Palace Museum, Ramnagar. :: Open 10 a.m to 12 noon & 3 p.m to 5 p.m (winter); 5 p.m to 7 p.m. (summer); Sundays: 10 a.m to 12 noon. Closed on state holidays and Mondays. click here for more informationThe exhibits include Pahari paintings, family portraits of the rulers of Jammu and Kashmir, and a library. The museum building itself, a former palace designed like a French Chateau, is of architectural interest. The museum also conducts a "heritage walk" programme for interested student to familiarise them with the history of Jammu. Check with the museum management for details.

Dogra Art Gallery, Mubarak Mandi Complex
Art Gallery Exhibits in the Dogra Art Gallery Open 10:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m (winter); 8 a.m to 1:30 p.m(summer); Monday closed.Exhibits include fine miniatures of the Jammu and Basohli School of painting.

Excursions

Patnitop-Sanasar Circuit :: About 112 kms from Jammu, the famous hill resort of Patnitop is perched on a beautiful plateau, at an altitude of 2024 m, across which the Jammu-Srinagar highway passes. Enveloped by thickly wooded forests, Patnitop offers beautiful picnic spots, peaceful walks and breathtaking views of the valley of the Chenab basin and the Pir Panjal range beyond. In winter (mid Dec. to mid Feb.), the resort is generally covered with snow, thus providing opportunities for arious winter sports including amateur skiing.

Alpine huts at Sanasar :: Further ahead, at a distance of about 19 Kms from Patnitop, is Sanasar (2079 m), a satellite resort of Patnitop, with a cup-shaped meadow surrounded by gigantic conifers. A place for a quiet holiday, the meadow has now been developed as a golf course.

The Sanasar meadow :: There are several walks in the surrounding hills. The resort itself is ideal for paragliding, which is being promoted by the Tourism Department. Tourists with own vehicle can go on to Sansar from Patnitop and return by the evening.

Accommodation & Facilities:

The JK TDC has a large number of deluxe, two-bedroom and one-bed room huts, and a 20-roomed Tourist Bungalow at Patnitop. Also, there are a number of huts and a Tourist Bungalow at Sanasar.

Patnitop in summer :: In addition to the J&K TDC accommodation, there are several private hotels at Patnitop, that provide accommodation to suite every pocket and preference.

Batote :: Situated at about 125 kms from Jammu, on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, is the resort of Batote (1560m), straddling the forested slopes of the Patnitop mountain range and overlooking the spectacular Chenab gorge. Accommodation is available in J&K TDC’s 2-bed room huts at Rs.700/- and rooms in the Tourist Bungalow at Rs.300/- to Rs.350/- per day.
Landscape between kud & Batote
Landscape near Kud

Kud  :: Located 103 kms from Jammu, on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, this popular resort is situated at an altitude of 1738 m. Accommodation is available in the J&K TDC’s Tourist Bungalow-I and Tourist Bungalow–II. The tariff is Rs.350/- for a regular room and Rs.450/- for a VIP room in the Tourist Bungalow-I, while in Tourist Bungalow-II, a room costs Rs.300/-. In addition, a number of private hotels also offer various types of accommodation. (Refer to the Jammu Hotels List for details.)

Gauri Kund

Gauri Kund :: Some distance short of Sudh Mahadev is the legendary spring where the Goddess Parvati used to bathe before commencing her daily prayers at Sudh Mahadev. This spring came to be named after her as 'Gauri Kund'.


Mantalai ::Situated a few kilometers further away from Sudh Mahadev, Mantalai is surrounded by lush deodar forests at an altitude of 2000 m. The place is associated with the legend of the marriage of Lord Shiva with the Goddess Parvati.

Mansar Lake :: Situated 62 kms from Jammu, Mansar is a beautiful lake fringed by forest-covered hills, over a mile in length by half-a-mile in width. Besides being a popular excursion destination in Jammu, it is also a holy site, sharing the legend and sanctity of Lake Mansarovar. Newly weds consider it auspicious to perform three circumambulations (‘Parikarma’) around the lake to seek the blessings of Sheshnag, the lord of serpents, whose shrine is located on its eastern bank. There are also some ancient temples on the lake’s shores, which are visited by devotees in large numbers. Mansar is also ideal for boating for which the Tourism Department provides adequate facilities. For the convenience of visitors a well lit flagstone walkway has been laid all around the shores. The J&K TDC has excellent accommodation in its Tourist Complex and self-contained huts. The tariff is Rs.350/- per day for a double room, Rs.600/- per day for an air-conditioned suite and Rs.500/- per day for a 2-bed room hut. A Tourist Office has also been established at Mansar for providing information and assistance.

Surinsar Lake :: This is a picturesque spot with a lake surrounded by wooded hills, situated 42 Kms away from Jammu.

Shiv Khori :: This holy cave is nearly a kilometre long and houses a 4 ft high, naturally formed ‘Shivling’. It is considered second only to the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in religious importance. There are stalactites and stalagmites dripping milky limestone water. Situated at a distance of about 100 kms from Jammu and about 75 kms from Katra, Shiv Khori hosts a major fair during the ‘Shivratri’ festival every year.

Purmandal Temple :: Purmandal About 40 kms from Jammu, just off the national highway leading towards Pathankot, is the Purmandal Temple Complex on the banks of the sacred and mostly underground Devak river.Often referred to as 'Chhota Kashi', its main temple is dedicated to 'Umapati', while the other temples worship Lord Shiva. These ancient temples are associated with the Shaivite Hindus of the Kashmir Valley. Regular bus service connects the town with Jammu. Accommodation is available in pilgrim ‘sarais’.
Krimchi Temple

Krimchi :: Krimchi, site of three of the oldest temples of Jammu, can be reached by taking a short detour of about 20 kms along a side road that branches off from the National Highway 1-A, about 8 kms short of Udhampur. The architecture of the temples shows distinct Greek (Hellenic) influences. Some distance further ahead in the hills is Pancheri, a beautiful hill resort.

Jajjar Kotli :: On the national highway leading towards Srinagar, is the Jajjar Kotli Tourist Complex, built on the banks of the Jajjar rivulet, 35 kms away from Jammu. The crystal clear, cool waters of Jajjar attract picnickers in large numbers during summer. The J&K TDC has a tourist cafeteria with a bar and a small tourist bungalow to provide facilities to the visitors here.

Akhnoor :: Situated 32 kms to the west of Jammu, the historic town of Akhnoor is situated on the banks of the mighty Chenab river. This town is associated with the legendary love story of Soni-Mahiwal. Ruins of the Indus Valley civilisation are to be seen along the riverbank

What to do

Trekking :: A range of soft trekking options is available in the Jammu area. Summer is the season when all the routes are open, but some trekking routes are open in winter as well. There are excellent camping sites in the wilderness. Contact the adventure wing of the office of the Director Tourism, Jammu Province, for information and brochures.The Tourism Department has shops that hire out trekking equipment at Jammu and Kud where local and imported trekking gear is available at fixed rates. The equipment available includes 4-man tents, 2-man tents; sleeping bags; carry mat; jackets; Windcheaters (Indian); rucksack, and trekking boots. The equipment is issued against a cash security deposit equivalent to the cost of the item or against a guarantee letter from any officer of the rank of Deputy Director, Tourism/Deputy Secretary of the State or Central Government.Some travel agencies in the city can also organise trekking expeditions in different parts of Jammu. Details are available with the Tourist Office in the TRC.

Skiing :: Ski courses are conducted at Patnitop during the winter months every year. The gently graded ski slopes of Patnitop are suitable enough for beginners. Madha Top (5-6 kms from Patnitop on the Sanasar Road) has good possibilities for all levels of skiing. After the newly planned ski lift becomes operational, Madha Top will offer skiing options for both trained skiers as well as beginners.For beginners and for people who want to brush up on their skills, the Tourism Department provides ski instructors. Accommodation is available in the huts of J&K TDC at Patnitop, Kud and Sanasar, for skiing enthusiasts There are also several private hotels in Patnitop and Kud.
Paragliding at Sanasar
Paragliding at Sanasar

Aero-Sports ::The J&K Tourism Department has introduced paragliding inSanasar. Equipment can be hired from the tourist office in Jammu city. May to June and September to October are suitable months for paragliding in Sanasar. The resort is 19 kms from Patnitop and a road connects the two. Sansar can be reached by bus or taxi from Jammu, via Kud and Patnitop. Accommodation is available in J&K TDC huts for aero-sport enthusiasts.

Getting there

Air ::Indian Airlines operates scheduled services between Jammu & Delhi and Jammu & Srinagar/Leh.

Rail ::Jammu Tawi is an important railhead of the Northern India. The main trains operating to/ from Jammu are:Malwa Express, Super Fast, Jammu Mail, Jammu Express, Shalimar Express, Sealdah Express, Jhelum Express, Himgiri Express, Himsagar Express, Lohit Express, Sarwodaya Express, Sarvodaya Rajkot Express, Happa Express, Navyug Express, Gorakhpur Express, Barauni Express, Madras Express, Rajdhani Express and Ferozpur Express.

Road :: Jammu is on National Highway 1-A and is connected by the highway network to all parts of the country. Some important road distances from Jammu are:Amritsar- 243 kms Chandigarh- 436 kms. Delhi- 586 kms.Katra- 48 kms Srinagar- 305 kms Manali- 428 kms. Patnitop - 108 kms Mansar - 62 kms

Bus Service :: Daily bus services of all classes operate to and from Jammu to Delhi, Amritsar, Ambala, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Pathankot, Shimla, Manali and Haridwar.Besides the J&K State Road Transport Corporation (J&K SRTC) the road transport corporations of Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Chandigarh also operate bus services between Jammu and various cities in north India. All interstate bus services operate to and from the Jammu General Bus Stand. Super deluxe, deluxe/ video coaches and A-class buses to Srinagar operate from the railway station and the Tourist Reception Centre. B-class buses to Srinagar leave from the General Bus Stand. Besides, some travel agencies also operate deluxe / video coaches on the main routes.

Local Transport :: The J&K Tourism Development Corporation (J&K TDC)and the J&K State Road Transport Corporation (J&K SRTC) operate luxury coaches. For reservation and bookings, contact the J&K TDC/SRTC offices at:
 Tourist Reception Centre: SRTC Tel: 576562 J&K TDC Tel: 579554; Fax: 546412, 549065.  Railway Station, Jammu: SRTC - PP: 476078 J&K TDC - PP. 476078.

Other Transport :: The widely used mini buses cover the entire city and suburban areas on fixed routes. Autorickshaws are also easily available from all points in the city at negotiable rates.