Jammu Tourism | Places to Visit | Things To Do

Jammu – a land of temples, tales and teeming travelers. Jammu is famous as the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir as well as the city of temples as it is home to many Hindu shrines. Jammu is a combination of everything; weather, food and of course, the picturesque locations.

Jammu holds a special place when it comes to spirituality and serves as an access way to India’s most popular pilgrim destination Vaishnav Devi in Katra which is almost 50 kilometers away from the city. The numbers of places to visit in Jammu are endless; the most notable one being the Bahu fort which also serves as a religious temple. Bahu Fort, where the founding bricks of Jammu were first laid by King Bahulochan; an ideal place where one can kick start their journey in the city. Set in a beautiful location, the fort overlooks River Tawi. It is also renowned for the Temple of Hindu Goddess Kali as well as the scenic gardens of Bagh-e-Bahu encircling the fortress. One should also witness the palace of Maharaja Mandi Mubarak of the Dogra Dynasty. Built in 1824, this palace holds an extravagance of Rajasthani and Mughal architectural designs. Though it has been sabotaged and shaken over the centuries, it still serves as a symbol of authentic Jammu heritage and personified resilience. The Pink Hall and the Sheesh Mahal (Palace of Mirrors) nestled in the complex shouldn’t be missed.

The Ragunath temple takes pride in being in the heart of the city. Another famous place for tourists is the Peer Kho cave which boasts of housing thirteen Shiva lingams in total. Other places of attraction are the Amar Mahal palace, Mubarak Mandi palace, Bage Bahu and temples like Raghunath Temple, Bawa Wali Mata temple etc. Other than these attractions, Jammu is famous for its stopover before taking the Vaishno Devi Pilgrimage as well as the Amarnath Pilgrimage. Jammu’s temples’narrate tons about Jammu’s divine history and sacred beliefs and faith people hold. A perfect peek inside, describing the life and times of the Gods and their long lasting relationship with the people of this country.

Jammu is a wonderful place for getting a taste of different cuisines and cultures all at once. Popular dishes consist of Sund panjeeri, patisa, rajma with rice and Khalari cheese. Dishes made with potatoes, pickling items and chaats are also very famous. All in all, this city is pure gold. It has the best of everything and proves that it is worthy of a trip. So the next time my friend when that extended weekend poses unabashedly in your calendar, extend it a bit more, GET OUTSIDE and visit Jammu.