Jammu, borders Kashmirtothe north, Ladakh to the east, and Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south. A Line of Control in the west, separates the region from the Pakistan area called Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu, the second largest city of the district becomes the administrative capital during winters due to the heavy snowfall in Srinagar. Jammu is named after King Jambu Lochan, who is said to have established it in 9th century BC. Beautiful lakes, bewitching valleys and a diverse terrain make the entire region a distinct one.
Typically a traditional city, Jammu has several ethnic communities, who are engaged in agriculture or small-scale industries. Along with a number of Temples a few mosques can also be seen in the region. The people of Jammu are called Dogras and they speak the Dogri language.
m Getting there
^ By Air: The Jammu airport is 7 km from the city center and can be reached within 45 minutes, while the Srinagar airport is 14 km from the city. Jet Airways and Indian Airlines operate flights to and from Leh connecting Srinagar, Jammu, Chandigarh and Delhi. The frequency of flights increases during the peak season.
By Rail: The Jammu Tawi Railway station (5 km) is the main rail head in Jammu and Kashmir. It is linked with Delhi through
overnight trains. The city is connected to all major Indian cities by both superfast trains. The newly opened Udhampur railway station is partially operational and is the nearest railway station to Srinagar.
By Road: The National Highway (NH 1A) between Jammu and Srinagar is considered the most beautiful and picturesque in the country. Jammu and its surroundings are well connected to Delhi by both the private and public transport. Jammu can be reached from Delhi via Jalandhar and the distance between the two points is 586 km. The distance between Jammu and Srinagar is 293 km.
Places of interest Amar Mahal Palace Museum: This beautiful red sand stone palace was once the residential palace of Raja Amar Singh and has now been converted into a museum. The highlight of the museum is the splendid golden throne, a 120 kg pure gold sofa, which is ornamented by the golden lions embedded into it. The museum stands amidst the most picturesque surroundings of Jammu. There is a gallery in the museum that exhibit paintings known as Nal Damyanti along with other Pahari paintings and family portraits of the rulers of Jammu and Kashmir. The library in the museum has a good collection of books on various subjects. The building of the museum itself is a visual treat and is designed like a French Chateau.
the path is difficult during winters. Trekkers can choose the route via Himkoti which is not only short and less steep, but also worth due to its beautiful surroundings. The Vaishno Devi Yatra begins at Katra. The distance from here to the Darbar is 13 km and can be covered by foot. On the way, at a distance of one km from Katra is Banganga where Mata drew out water by shooting an arrow into the ground. The holy cave at Adhkawari is 6 km away. The temple draws around 50 lakh devotees every year, who pay obeisance regardless of their caste or creed, for Mata Vaishno Devi is above all such barriers. While on Himkoti route, take a mix of stairs and spiral routes to avoid extreme leg pain. The uphill journey takes approximately 4 hours and the downhill 3 hours.
Vaishno Devi Temple: Nestled in the mighty Trikuta mountain, 61 km north of Jammu at an elevation of 5,200 feet is the Vaishno Devi Shrine. Although visited throughout the year,
Raghunath Temple: Built in 1857, the Raghunath Mandir takes the pride of location in the heart of the city and is also the largest temple complex in northern India. Work on the temple was started by Maharaja Gulab Singh and was completed by his son Maharaja Ranbir Singh in 1860. The main temple has its inner walls covered with gold sheets on three sides. The main sanctum is dedicated to Lord Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The temple consists of seven shrines and has rich collections of ancient texts and manuscripts in its library. A glimpse of Mughal artistry can be seen in the architecture of the Raghunath Temple. The carvings and arches are beautiful enough to draw the immediate attention of devotees. The temple can be reached by local bus or autorickshaw from Jammu.
Peer Kho Cave Temple: This temple is about
km from the city center, and is located in a cave on Circular Road. It is one of the oldest temples of Jammu and holds a lot of reverence among the local people. These two caves are at a depth of about 20 to 30 feet from the temple complex. The first cave can be reached through a flight of marble steps. At the end of this cave tunnel there is a larger cave. The naturally formed black coloured Shivalingam is the focal point of this pentagonal cave which is 12 feet in height. A copper vessel is kept hanging to pour water continuously on the lingam.
being the Thajiswas Glacier. The J & K Tourism Development Corporation can arrange ponies for day trips to many beautiful spots including the Thajiswas Glacier.
The strategic location of Sonamarg with several trekking and hiking trails makes it an ideal base for exploring the surrounding regions. It is the main gateway to the fascinating region of Ladakh. Sonamarg is also surrounded by numerous lakes, like the Vishansar, Gadsar, Satsar, Gangabal and Kishansar. The scenic Nichnai Pass presents an excellent vantage point to see these lakes.
Nandini Wildlife Sanctuary: Sprawling over 34 sq. km, this Wildlife Sanctuary is the natural habitat of pheasants. Among the other avifauna are the Indian mynah, blue rock pigeon, Indian peafowl, cheer pheasant, chakorand red jungle fowl. The wildlife found here includes the leopard, wild boar, grey langur, bharal and rhesus monkey