Jammu (The City Of Temples)

Romantic green meadows, majestic mountains, bewitching lakes and valleys..... yes , Jammu has the uncanny ability to surprise you at every turn. Tucked snugly between glittering 'Shikhars' on ancient temples and holy shrines perched atop hill sides, lie the most picturesque scenes you can ever imagine. But, these fascinating places have to be discovered . Quietly, gently, patiently. For when they do reveal their inherent beauty, you will indeed be swept of your feet. in fact you won't believe your eyes. 

Temples And Shrines: Among the temples in the city, the Raguhnath Mandir takes pride of the place, being situated right in the heart of Jammu. It consists of a cluster of temples which makes it the largest temple complex in Northern India. The inner sanctums of the temples contain gigantic statues of Gods and Goddesses and numerous 'lingams'. It contains representatives of almost the entire Hindu Pantheon, which makes it a rare sight to see. The famous temple of 'Bawey Wali Mata' is inside the Bahu Fort, where every Tuesday and Sunday, pilgrims through and jostle one another to worship the Goddess. A little further away, on a hilltop opposite the Bahu Fort, is a lovely sport overlooking the river Tawi, where a temple dedicated to Mahamaya has been constructed. 

It is said that if Bawey Wali Mata is the presiding deity of Jammu, the Dargah of Peer Badhan Ali Shah (Peer Baba) is the other shrine that protects its people from mishaps and evil spirits. A friend of Guru Gobind Singh, Per Baba lived all his life on milk alone and was 500 yaers old when he died. On Thursdays, you can find Hindu & Sikh devotees vastly out numbering their Muslim brethrens at this shrine; such is the faith that people have in Peer Baba. Most VIPs make it a point to visit this Dargah when they come to Jammu. The peer Kho ave Temple, overlooking the Tawi river, the Panchbaktar Temple and the Ranbireshwar Temple are the other well-known Shiv temples in Jammu. Each has its own legend, its devotees and specific days of worship. In Ranbireshwar temple, there are 12 Shiv 'Lingams' of crystal measuring 12" to 18" and galleries with thousands of Saligrams fixed on stone slab. Peer Mitha is another famous shrine in Jammu. Peer Mitha was a contemporary of Ajaib Dev and Ghareeb Nath. Both saints were very famous. 'Mitha' means the sweet one for this Peer would accept nothing more than a pinch of sugar from his devotees. Other sinificant temples are the Laxmi Narayan Temple and Panj Mandir in the posh Gandhi Nagar locality of Jammu. 

Forts And Palaces: On the opposite bank of the Tawi river at an upland plateau, is situated the majestic Bahu Fort. Looking at the Fort, one can imagine the wars fought, invasions prevented and yes even the grandeur the royal family must have enjoyed once upon a time. Today, the Fort is surrounded by Lush green terraced gardens, waterfalls, and followers of just about every kind and color. A favorite picnic sport for the city folk, you can hear a lively chatter all day long on weekends. 

The Amar Singh Palace is a sight to behold. This grand Palace reminds one of a dreamy French castle, with sloping roofs and tall towers. Now open to tourists, the Amar Mahal which has been converted into a museum, 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.