Nestled in the heart of the beautiful northern city of Jammu is one of the most important Shiva temples, the Ranbireshwar temple. It is one of the oldest temples in Jammu and the largest temple of Lord Shiva in North India. A prime attraction of this region is the largest Shivlinga of the country. Within the shrine, one can find a great brass idol of Nandi, weighs over 1000 kgs. The famous Raghunath temple complex, one of the largest temple complexes of India, is located a kilometre away from this temple.
Timings : 6:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Time Required : 1 - 2 hrs
Entry Fee : No Entry Fee
The Raghunath Temple is a prominent temple and tourist spot that is located in Jammu. The temple is also one of the biggest complexes in entire northern India and is brimming with devotees all year round. The construction of the Raghunath Temple was started by Maharaja Gulab Singh around 130 years ago, during the period from 1822 to 1860; and was later on completed by his son Maharaja Ranbir Singh. The regal temple is dedicated to is Lord Rama, the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu.
Timings : 6:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Entry Fee : No entry fee
No journey to Katra is complete without having visited Bhairavnath Mandir. The cave temple of Bhairavnath is dedicated to Baba Bhairavnath and is constructed at the site where he is believed to have breathed his last. A steep 3km journey from the Bhawan leads you to Bhairavnath temple.
Timings : 5:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Known For : Vaishno Devi Mandir Ardhkuwari
In the hovering ranges of Himalaya lies the temple cave, Vaishnodevi. Dedicated to Mother goddess Vaishnodevi, this famous shrine allures millions of devotees from all over the world. Popularly known as Mata Rani, Vaishno Goddess is a manifestation of the Hindu Goddess Mahalakshmi. It is a Hindu temple situated in the Trikuta Mountains within the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Time Required : 2 - 3 hours
Entry Fee : No entry fee
Best Time: October to June
Shivkhori, a divine shrine of an avatar of Lord Shiva, is located in the lap of nature in the form of a cave on a hillock in Udhampur district. The 4-foot lingam was formed naturally in a cave. This self-manifested lingam of Lord Shiva is also known as Swayambhu and is of great importance in the Hindu religion. According to some, the cave is dedicated to one of the forms of Lord Shiva, which is believed to be unborn and invisible.
Timings : Summer: 5:00 AM - 7:00 PM,
Winter: 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Entry Fee : No entry fee
A little away from the city of temples, is a modest instance of religion and spirituality, a holy town, by the name of Purmandal. Also called 'Chhota Kashi' fondly, this town on the banks of River Devika gathers a lot of its significance from the frescos found in its temple. The area is known for the Purmandal Temple dedicated to Goddess Parvati and a number of temples dedicated to Lord Shiva dotting its landscapes.
Which of these temples in Jammu are you most excited about visiting? Let us know in the comments below.