6 Beautiful Places to visit in Jammu is best known for the temple of the Goddess Vaishno Devi. But Jammu has much more to offer for the travelers who wish to explore this region with an open mind.
Jammu is a newly declared Indian Union Territory and is less popular compared to the neighboring region of Kashmir. Kashmir has always captivated the minds of the people because of its unparalleled beauty. But Jammu is often overlooked due to the lack of information about the many destinations it has to offer.
Jammu is located in the joint state of ‘Jammu & Kashmir’ in the northernmost region of India. Jammu is particularly popular because of the Vaishno Devi temple for the people who have not even been here. The tourism opportunities that are available in Jammu are immense. There are enough places to visit in Jammu for travelers of all budgets and interests, 6 Beautiful Places to visit in Jammu.
The Jammu region is blessed with gorgeous mountains with many trekking trails and adventure sports to experience. Some of the major Jammu attractions include some lesser-known travel destinations as well. This region of India has a lot of cultural importance for many communities in India.
We have compiled a comprehensive list of the major tourist attractions available in Jammu to explore. The list includes some of the popular tourist places in Jammu along with a few offbeat places to visit in Jammu. These offbeat destinations are often popular for adventure tourism.
Vaishno Devi Temple
Located at about 5200 ft. above the sea level, Vaishno Devi is one of the most sacred Hindu shrines in the world. The cave-styled sanctorium is devoted to goddess Mahalakshmi and is visited by millions of devotees every year with a belief that whatever they wish for will come true if they visit there with a pure heart.
Reaching the Bhawan from the foothills is an experience in itself. There are a few options available, you can either trek from base camp to the temple, book the helicopter service which starts from Katra on the foothills and the flight will drop you at Sanjichhat, or hire the Pony, Porter, and Palanquin services to ease your journey.
One of the most common questions that pop up in people’s minds after completing the pilgrimage is what are some other places to visit in Katra besides Vaishno Devi temple or what are some other places to visit in Jammu & Kashmir other than Vaishno Devi? Well, there might be not a lot to do in Katra but you can visit the mall road which is the perfect place for devotees and tourists to buy a few souvenirs, 6 Beautiful Places to visit in Jammu.
BEST WAY TO TRAVEL – If one is preferring to travel by air, then the Jammu airport, located at 50 kms is the nearest airport. Alternatively, Udhampur railway station is the closest railway station from which cabs can take directly to Vaishno Devi. Also, deluxe buses and cabs are available from Jammu Tour Packages.
Shivkhori
Shivkhori is an important cave shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the district of Udhampur. This shrine is an important site for Hindu devotees who worship Lord Shiva. The naturally formed ‘Lingam’ is considered to be a sacred phenomenon and a representation of Shiva himself, 6 Beautiful Places to visit in Jammu.
The 3-kilometer long trek to the shrine is quite challenging and for the devotees, it is all worth the effort. Many devotees feel elated when they reach the shrine and prostrate in front of the idol. This shrine holds immense importance in the hearts of the devotees of Lord Shiva.
The path to the shrine offers a wonderful view of the mountains and lush forest surrounding the area. The spiritual vibe within the shrine is something unforgettable for the devotees who are devoted to the spiritual aspect of Shiva. Shivkhori continues to be one of the most important religious tourist places in Jammu.
Raghunath Temple
Amidst the heart of Jammu, lies the Raghunath Temple. This is an important shrine that belongs to the eighth incarnation of Vishnu- ‘Rama’, who is considered the patron deity of the Dogra community. The cluster of temples in the nearby area has been dedicated to the Gods and Goddesses related to the epic Ramayana, proudly making it the largest temple complex of North India. For the completion of the entire build, it took nearly about 25 long years from 1835 AD to 1860 AD. The prime architects were Maharaja Gulab Singh and his son Maharaja Ranbir Singh.
You will be able to steal a glimpse of the Mughal architecture that can be noticed on the carvings and arches of the temple. Drop by the Sanskrit Library located inside the premises of the temple that offers a rich reserve of various manuscripts relating to stories and incidents from the golden chapters of the epic Ramayana 6 Beautiful Places to visit in Jammu.
The temple comprises of seven shrines, each with a tower of its own. The morning and evening ‘aartis’ are conducted daily since its inception. There are 17 other shrines nearby including the Panjbakhtar Temple and Ranbireshwar Temple.
This Rama Temple was a huge place of worship for the royal family of Dogra. There are several statues of deities and shiva lingas along with religious inscriptions. A figurine of King Ranbir Singh is also placed at the entrance, besides the several Hindu gods and deities, 6 Beautiful Places to visit in Jammu.
Mansar Lake
Mansar Lake is located around 62 kilometers away from Jammu city. Surrounded by lush green forest and surrounding hills in the background, Mansar Lake is the top Jammu sightseeing destination for many. The place is ideal for a picnic with your family and friends, 6 Beautiful Places to visit in Jammu.
Mansar Lake and Surinsar Lake are twin lakes with spiritual significance for many people. For the local community, it is a site of pilgrimage for many people. The Wildlife Sanctuary of Mansar is another tourist attraction nearby that is worth visiting. Many rare species of flora and fauna can be found here.
The natural setting of this lake brings about a sense of peace and calm. There are two important Hindu temples located near Mansar Lake. These temples are the Narasimha Temple which is dedicated to one of the forms of Lord Vishnu and another one is the Umapati Mahadev Temple. Both these temples attract Hindu devotees from all over the country.
Bahu Fort
To choose Jammu as a holiday destination to escape the mundane city life is essentially a good decision. Among the top tourist places in Jammu, Bahu Fort is surely in the top 3. This majestic fort is more than 3000 years old and is considered the most important landmark in the Jammu region.
Bahu Fort is only 5 kilometers away from the city and is culturally the most important monument in Jammu. According to history, the king called Raja Jambu decided to establish his kingdom by constructing this fort. Bahu Fort became the foundational landmark around which the Jammu was developed, 6 Beautiful Places to visit in Jammu.
Bahu Fort is built around the popular Tawi River. The most popular attraction in Bahu Fort is the temple dedicated to Goddess Kali. The temple is culturally very important for the local people.
Natha Top
This hill station is a beautiful winter destination popularized by the adventure tourism activity of Paragliding. Natha top is one of the top places to see in Jammu for its pristine beauty especially during the months of winter when the snow brings out the best of its landscape.
Natha top is quite close to the famous Patnitop hill station and is located at a height of around 2700 meters above sea level. Another popular adventure sport that is being practiced here is that of Skiing. Skiers and Paragliding enthusiasts from all over India choose Natha top as their adventure destination, 6 Beautiful Places to visit in Jammu.
For photographers and nature lovers, Natha top is one of the top Jammu sightseeing destinations. The Pir Panjal mountain range provides a beautiful view that is indescribable in words. During the summer season, the Natha top hill station is equally beautiful. The summer season brings in hundreds of tourists from all over India.
