Vaishno Devi Temple – A Popular Site
Timings: 5 pm – 12 pm, 4 pm – 9 pm
Famous for: Being the most important pilgrimage site in the Union of Jammu and Kashmir
Vaishno Devi Temple is one of the most visited Hindu temples in the world, millions of pilgrims visit this temple every year. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Mahalakshmi and according to the belief, whatever you ask for here is fulfilled. This cave style temple is situated at an altitude of 5200 feet above sea level, so people have to trek from a point to the top. Apart from walking, you can also opt for helicopter services, pony rides or palanquins to reach the Vaishno Devi Temple, which is one of the best places to visit in Jammu. Apart from this, there are many places to visit in Jammu.
The Mahabharata, which gives the account of the Pandavas and the Kurukshetra War, does mention the worship of goddess Vaishno Devi. Before the Kurukshetra War Arjuna is said to have worshipped Durga by the advice of Lord Krishna for the blessings. Pleased by his devotion, Mother Goddess appeared in front of him in the form of Vaishno Devi. When goddess appeared, Arjuna started praising her with a stotra, in which a Shloka goes by saying ‘ Jambookatak Chityaishu Nityam Sannihitalaye ’, which means ‘you who always dwell in the temple on the slope of the mountain in Jambhu’ — probably referring to the present day Jammu. Former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Jagmohan says, "the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine is an ancient one whose antiquity is pre-Mahabharathan, Lord Krishna is believed to have advised Arjuna to go up in the hills of 'Jambhu' and seek the blessings of Vaishno Devi before taking up arms in the battlefield. 'Jambhu' is identified with present-day Jammu. Arjuna while worshipping Vaishno Devi, calls Her, the highest Yogin who is free from decrepitude and decay, who is the Mother of the Vedas and the Science of Vedanta and who is giver of Victory and personification of victory itself".It is also generally believed that the Pandavas were the first to build the temples at Kol Kandoli and Bhawan in reverence and gratitude for the Mother Goddess. On a mountain, just adjacent to the Trikuta Mountain and overlooking the Holy Cave are five stone structures, which are believed to be the rock symbols of the five Pandavas.
Raghunath Temple
Timings: 6 AM to 8 PM
Famous for: Temple complex that includes seven different Hindu temples
Another main attraction on our list of places to see in Jammu is the Raghunath Temple. The complex dates back to the early nineteenth century when it was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The shikhara of each temple in the complex is the same, which varies according to the height. The architectural style here is a mixture of Sikh and Mughal styles. Apart from the façade and overall appearance of the temples, the paintings inside them attract attention as they depict chapters from the Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana.
Raghunath Temple is a Hindu temple located in Jammu in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It consists of a complex of seven Hindu shrines. Raghunath Temple was constructed by the first Dogra ruler Maharaja Gulab Singh in the year 1835 and later his son Maharaja Ranbir Singh got it completed in the year 1860 During Dogra rule.The temple has many gods in its complex of shrines, but the presiding deity is Rama – also known as Raghunath, an Avatar of Vishnu. All the spiral-shaped towers have gold plated spires. The niches in the walls of the shrines are decorated with 300 well-crafted icons of gods and goddesses including those of Surya and Shiva, but most are particularly related to the life stories of Rama and Krishna. The paintings in the 15 panels of the main shrine are based on themes from Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Bhagavad Gita. The temple premises include a school and a library that preserves over 6,000 manuscripts in many Indian languages, with a notable collection of Sarada script Sanskrit manuscripts.
Bahu Fort – The walls that remain
Timings: 5 AM to 10 PM
Famous for: Goddess Kali Temple inside the fort
Bahu Fort is an important place for any Jammu sightseeing. Built in the 18th century, this fort was built by King Gulab Singh of the Dogra Kingdom. It is situated at an altitude of 325 meters opposite the Old Town of Jammu. The thick fortified walls of the structure are built using black mortar and lime. Although there are many attractions inside the Bahu Fort, the most famous is the Mahakali Temple which was built in the eighth century.
The Bahu Fort is a historic fort in the city of Jammu, the winter capital of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Constructed on the banks on Tawi River, the ancient fort is believed to have been constructed by Bahu Lochan - brother of the traditional founder of Jammu, Jambu Lochan. It is believed that the first renovation of this fort was undertaken during Dogra Rule in 18th century.The fort is a religious place, and within its precincts has a temple dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali. The temple is known locally as the "Bawe Wali Mata temple".