Jammu at a Glance

According to legend during one of his hunting campaigns, Raja Jamboo Lochan reached the Tawi River where he saw a goat and a lion drinking water at the same place. Having satisfied their thirst, the animals went their ways. The Raja was amazed, abandoned the idea of hunting, and returned to his companions.

His ministers explained that this meant that the soil of the place was so virtuous that no living creature bore enmity against another. He was so struck by this unusual sight that he decided to build a capital city on this land, 'Jambupura', on the right bank of the River Tawi, overlooking his brother King Bahu's fort.

This city became known as Jambu-Nagar, which later changed into Jammu. Jammu has historically been the capital of Jammu Province and the winter capital of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir princely state (1846 to 1952).

The city name figures in the ancient book Mahabharata. Excavation near Akhnoor, 32 kilometers from Jammu City, provides evidence that Jammu was once part of the Harappan Civilization. Remains from the Maurya, Kushan, and Gupta periods have also been found in Jammu.

Little is known of Jammu's history until, in 1730 AD, it came under the rule of the Dogra King, Raja Dhruv Deva. The Dogra Rulers moved their capital to the present site and Jammu became an important center of art and culture, especially the Pahari school of paintings.

Today, as if in testimony to Raja Jambu Lochan's vision innumerable temples and shrines, with glittering 'shikhars' soaring into the sky, dot the city's skyline, creating the ambience of a holy and peaceful city.

The city of Jammu has come to be known as the 'City of Temples'. Temple of Maha Kali (better known as Bahu or Bawey Wali Mata), located in the Bahu Fort, and considered second only to Mata Vaishno Devi in terms of mystical power was built shortly after the coronation of Maharaja Gulab Singh in 1822. The existing fort, as well as Manasbdar's palace inside it, was constructed in 1820.

City Information

Altitude: 327 Mts
Temperature Max in Summer: 43.0 Degrees Celcius
Temperature Min in Summer: 23.4 Degrees Celcius
Temperature Max in Winter: 26.2 Degrees Celcius
Temperature Min in Winter: 4.3 Degrees Celcius
Best Season: October to April (Summer Vacations also attract millions of Tourists)
Clothing in Summer: Light Cotton
Clothing in Winter: Heavy/Medium Woolens
Food: Tangier preparation made out of mango or tamarind popularly known as maani. Preparations of Rajmah (a special variety of red kidney beans); auria a dish of curd fermented with rye; ambal made from pumpkin, jaggery, and tamarind are favorites, especially during ceremonial cooking.

How to Reach Jammu City?
Jammu is the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir and is well connected by all three modes of transport i.e., air, rail, and road.

By Air: The city has an airport and regular flights run between Jammu and several other cities of the country. All airlines operate regular daily flights to Jammu connecting different cities.
By Rail: Jammu Tawi is an important head of the state J&K and is connected with important towns and cities of the country by express and super fast trains. Jammu Tawi to Kanyakumari is the second longest rail route in India that touches some of the important cities of the country.
By Road: One can also reach Jammu City by road. National Highway 1A runs through Jammu district connecting the rest of the state including the summer capital Srinagar. Daily bus service is available from Jammu to almost all towns of North India.

Where to Stay in Jammu?
Several hotels are available in Jammu suiting every pocket. Jammu city lies at uneven ridges of low heights at the Shivalik hills. It is surrounded by the Shivalik Range to the north, east, and southeast while the Trikuta Range surrounds it in the north-west. The city spreads around the Tawi River with the old city overlooking it from the north (right bank) while the new neighborhoods spread around the southern side (left bank) of the river. There are five bridges on the river, and the city is built on a series of ridges.

List of Hotels and Contact Details in Jammu

M/S Asia Hotel, Nehru Market, Jammu
PNo: 0191-2435774
Email ID: centralreservations@cygnethotels.com
Website: www.cygnethotels.com
M/S Jammu Ashok Hotel, Opposite Amar Mahal, Jammu
PNo: 0191-2543571
Email ID: jammuashok@ashokgroup.com
Website: www.ashokgroup.com
M/S Hari Niwas Hotel Resorts (P) Ltd. Palace Road, Jammu
PNo: 0191-2543303/180
Email ID: saleshnp@hotmail.com
Website: www.hariniwaspalace.in
M/S K.C. Hotel (P) Ltd. Residency Road, Jammu
PNo: 0191-2520770-2
Email ID: kcr@kcresidency.com
Website: www.kcresidency.com
M/S Country Inn and Resorts Hotel (P) Ltd. (Jehlum Resort Opp. Bahu Plaza, Jammu)
PNo: 0191-2470079
Email ID: reservations.cjam@countryinn.com
Website: www.countryinn&suites.com
M/S Muskan Hotel (P) Ltd. By Pass Road, Channi Himat, Jammu
PNo: 9419100887
Email ID: trehannirdosh@yahoo.com
M/S Hotel Fortune Inn Riviera
PNo: 9018081000
Email ID: innriviera@fortunehotels.in
Website: www.fortunehotels.in
M/S Skyline Hotel, Narwal Chowk, Jammu
PNo: 9622211190/0191-2490400
Email ID: info.jammu@radisson.com
Website: www.radissonhotels.com
M/S Hotel Ramada Jammu City Centre (A unit of K.C. City Center Pvt Ltd, Jammu)
PNo: 0191-2740050
Email ID: resv@ramadajammu.com
Website: www.ramadajammu.in

Jammu Shrines
The Jammu City abounds in a large number of shrines which testify to the deep devotional spirit of the people. An increasing stream of pilgrims from all over the country and even abroad visit these shrines every year. While Jammu is famous as the City of Temples on account of numerous temples - old and new - which dot the landscape, the City however also has a fair number of shrines of other faiths. The shrines of Jammu City make it a glowing example of secularism and inter-religious harmony.

Shri Raghunathji Temple

Raghunath Mandir is perhaps the most famous of the Jammu Temples. It is the largest temple complex in Northern India. Situated in the heart of the city in Raghunath Bazar, the temple was built in 1857 by Maharaja Ranbir Singh. The main temple has the idols of Lord Rama, Mata Sita, and Sri Lakshman Ji placed on a raised platform. The inner walls of the main temple are covered with gold sheets on three sides. There are many galleries with lakhs of saligrams. The numerous other temples in the complex are dedicated to various Gods and Goddesses of the Hindu Pantheon. The Temple also houses a Sanskrit Library containing rare Sanskrit manuscripts.

Shri Ranbireshwar Temple

The temple is named after its founder Maharaja Ranbir Singh. The construction of the temple was started in 1863 AD and was completed in 1878 AD. It is the Biggest Shiva Temple in North India. The temple houses a huge Shiv lingam measuring seven and a half feet in height surrounded by ten 2 feet high billaur (crystals) lingas and galleries with 1,25,000 tiny Shivlingas brought here from the river Narmada. The Temple is located on the Shalamar Road about a kilometer from the Raghunath Bazar.

Panchvaktar Temple

The temple was constructed by Raja Guje Singh of Jammu (1687 to 1703) and is considered one of the oldest in Jammu. It is linked to the visit of Shankaracharya in the 9th century AD. The temple, constructed much later, is considered sacred because of the self-originated Shivalinga (Svayambhuva Shiva Linga). One of the most revered Shiva Shrines in the city, the Lord is worshipped here in the Swachananda from having five faces representing the totality of Shiva in his most abstract form. Hence it is known as Panchvaktar. The temple is also popularly known as 'Rupay Wala Mandir' as coins have been embedded in the floor slabs. It seems there were also inscriptions in Dogri Script on the exterior of the surrounding walls. The Temple is situated in a lane off the Residency Road barely a kilometer from the Raghunath Bazar.

Peer Kho Temple

During the reign of Raja Bikram Dev of Jammu (1454 to 1495) a famous mendicant Jogi Guru Garib Nath belonging to the Guru Gorakh Nath order came to Jammu and resided as Peer Kho. Kho means cave in the local dialect. He came to be known as Peer-i-kho and thus with time, the cave got its name. The cave is also known as the Jamwant Gufa (cave) as the bear hero of Ramayana is believed to have meditated here. A Shivalinga is established inside the cave. Devotees throng the cave on Purnmashi, Amavasya, and Ekadashi and during Shivratri. The temple is situated on the Circular Road about half a kilometer from the Peer Kho temple.

Rani Kalhuri Devi Temple

The temple was constructed probably in 1889 to 1890 AD by Rani Shuba Devi of Kalhur state wife of Maharaja Ranbir Singh and hence is known as Rani Kalhuri Devi Temple. The Temple houses the idols for Lord Rama and Sita on one side and Shiv Parvati idols on the other side. The temple is situated on the Circular Road about half a kilometer from the Peer Kho Temple.

Bhagwan Gopinath Ji Ashram

Bhagwan Gopinath Ji Ashram is located at a distance of 5 km from Jammu Bus Stand near Udaywala Bohri. The Ashram houses the marble statue of Bhagwan Gopinath Ji, the most venerated Kashmiri Pandit Saint. It also has a large library with a collection of spiritual and academic books. A heritage gallery showcases the life and teachings of Bhagwan Ji in the form of relics, models, and pictures.

Jammu Heritage
The built heritage of Jammu dates back to the 2nd century AD. Evidence of this is the Buddhist Stupa at Ambaran near Akhnoor, the ninth to tenth-century AD Temples at Krimchi, Babor, and ancient Forts, Palaces, and Temples built in the Middle Ages. The important historical and heritage sites of Jammu are;

Amar Mahal Palace

Amar Mahal Palace is an architectural gem located on the National Highway towards Srinagar. Built like a French Chateau on a hill overlooking the river Tawi, is a beautiful palace of red sandstone which stands amidst the most picturesque horizons of Jammu. Once the residential palace of Raja Amar Singh, the palace has been converted into a museum and is looked after by Hari-Tara Charitable Trust. The museum has the golden throne on which Maharaja used to sit, which was made up of 120 kg of pure gold. The museum has a gallery of paintings and a library in which about 25,000 books on various subjects and disciplines have been preserved.

Mubarak Mandi

Mubarak Mandi also called the Royal Dogra palaces has a history of more than 150 years. A very beautiful architecture, blended with Baroque, Mughal, Rajasthani, and European styles, attracts tourists in large numbers to this spot. The most striking sections of the complex are Sheesh Mahal, Rani Charak Mahal, the old Army Head Quarter, the Foreign Office, and the Grey Hall where the Maharaja used to hold his Darbar.

The Mubarak Mandi Complex includes the famous Dogra Art Gallery situated in the erstwhile Pink Hall. The museum is a treasure house of miniature paintings from the traditional Hill Schools of Art especially the Jammu School of Art, Kangra School of Art, and Basohli School of Art. The collection includes hundreds of rare pictures, a gold bow and arrow of the Mughal king Shah Jehan, and also hand-written Persian manuscripts of Shahnama and Sikandernama. This complex surrounds a beautiful courtyard and a fabulous garden.

Bahu Fort

The ancient Bahu Fort in Jammu is believed to have been originally built by Raja Bahu Lochan about 3000 years ago. It was refurbished by the Dogra rulers in the 19th century. The fort is a religious place and within its precincts is a temple dedicated to the Hindu Goddes Kali, the presiding deity of Jammu. The temple is known locally as the "Bawey Wali Mata Temple". Just beneath the fort is the terraced Bagh-e-Bahu Garden laid in the style of Mughal Gardens which affords a panoramic view of Jammu city and an underground fish aquarium.

Akhnoor Fort

The Fort was built during the early 19th century and commands a towering view along the right bank of Chenab. The present fort was probably started in 1762 AD at the behest of Raja Tegh Singh as an autonomous principal state. A devastating famine is said to have broken in the country during this time. To provide work to his famishing people Raja Tegh Singh started the construction of the Akhnoor Fort and palace on the banks of the Chenab River. He supplied food to the workers for 2 years and thus saved the principality. His son Alam Singh completed the Akhnoor fort in 1802. On the eastern side, there are steps leading down to the River Chenab. Though constructed in the 18th century, most of the steps are in a good state of preservation. The ghat served as an important spot for the performance of religious rites by the people of the region. The turrets or Burj are still intact and are called the Kishore Singh Burj after Maharaja Gulab Singh's father who was a close associate of Guru Gobind Singh the 10th Sikh Gukh. There are traces of paintings on the walls of the rooms of the fort.

Ambaran

Ambaran also locally known as Pambaran, is a village of Akhnoor tehsil in Jammu district and is said to have been founded by Amba Jagdev Pawar. A scion of the Pawar dynasty of Dhar Ujjain which seems to have been the original capital of Akhnoor. It was named Ambari after the family deity Amba, one of the names of Goddess Durga. The name was changed gradually into Ambaran. Ambaran is the 8th place in the world, where relics of Buddha have been found in a stupa. Historians think that the place might have been an important center of Buddhism between the 1st and 7th century BC. A cultural sequence of four historical periods has already been unraveled at Ambaran. It is believed to be the only early Buddhist site in Jammu region. Excavations have unearthed terracotta figures, small sculptures, pottery, and brunt brick structures dating back to pre-Kushan and post-Gupta periods.