Important information Vaishno Devi

VAISHNO DEVI

The sacred aode of Goddess Vaishno Devi is perched at a height of 5,200 ft. On the holy Trikuta hills.The cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is regarded as one of the holiest Hindu templrs of the country.Katra,48 kms.from Jammu is the baes camp for visiting the holy cave and is well connected by buses.From here one has to trek a distence of 13 kms.to reach the shrine.Obtain a yatra slip from the yatra registration counter at the Tourist Reception center at the Katra bus stand,before starting the journey.The holy pilgrimage formally commences from Darshini Deori,at the northern end of the old katra bazaar.The journey has a to be undertaken by foot,ponies or on palkhis or dolis(palanquins).The holy cave enshrines three naturals rock images(pindian) of the goddes(mata) in her three forms-Maha Sarswati,Maha Lakshmi and Maha Kali,Which represntes creative,preservative and destructive aspects of the divine energy.

ROUTMAP DELHI TO VAISHNO DEVI

Important information Arround Jammu

Tourist Acctration in Arround Jammu

Patnitop (112 kms.)

Panoramic patnitop sprawls on a lush plateau,at an altitude of 2024 metres on the Jammu-Srinagar highway.The charming resort amidst thickly wooded forest is probably the best developed tourist center of Jammu.It commands awe-inspiring views of the scenic surroundings and is dotted with a number of beautifull picnic sites.

The 600 year old temple of Naga at Ishadhari is highly reverd by the devotees. The three must visit sites on the outskirts of patnitop are-chinar garden,picnic spot and skating garden.

Mansur Lake(60 kms.)

This lovely lake admist thickly wooded forest is popular excursion point.Boating facilities are available here.a food and crafts festival is also organised here by J&K Tourism around the festival of Baisakhi.

Important information Jammu

Jammu:

Jammu, the winter capital of the state sprawls on the bank of river Tawi With Triuta mountain range in the backdrop.The antiquity of this city of ancient temples and menificient palace is shroded in myths and legends.It is said that Raja jambu lochan a Rajpt King of later Vedic period founded his capital here and named it as jambupura.



Tourist Acctration in Jammu 

• Raghunath Temple
• Ranbireshvar Temple
• Peer khoh
• Bahu fort
• Amar Mahal Museum&Library
• Mubarak Mandi palace Complex

Raghunath Temple:

The magnificient temple complex set in the heart of the city is one of the most important and the largest shrines of northern India.Its consturction was started in 1835,By Maharaja Ranbir Gulab singh,the founder of jammu and kashmir Kingdom and was comleted by his son Maharaja Ranbir singh in 1860.The complex consisits of 17 temples and the main shrine is dedicated to lord Raghunath (Rama).

Ranbireshvar Temple:

This bigget shiva temple in north India was built by Maharaja Ranbir singh in 1883.It ensherins a large number of shivalingams. The centrel lingam in black stone is seven and a half feet high and the twelve crystal lingams measure from 15 cms. To 38 cms.

Peer khoh:

The ancient cave temple on the circular road has a naturally formed shivalingam,Which is highly revered by the devotees.

Bahu fort:

The ancient cave temple fort set majestically on a rock face,overlooks the gently flowing Tawi river. It is well Known for the temple of goddes Maha kali,Which is considered next only to the famous Mata Vaishno Devi Temple.The beautifull Baghi bahu garden is located at the base of the fort.

Amar Mahal Museum&Library:

The magnificient red-brick palace is perched elegantly on a hill overlooking the Tawi river.It was built by Raja Amar singh and now houses a museum exhibiting excellent miniature painting from Kangra school,painting of contemporary Indian artist and portraits etc.But,the highlight of the museum is the 120 kg.Solid gold Dogra throne,WHICH WAS USED BY THE ERSTWHILE Maharajas.The liubrary at the palace has a collection of over 25000 books.

Mubarak Mandi palace Complex: 

The palace complex is a blend of rajsthani and Mughal styles of architecture with influences of even Baroque European style.It affords a fine view o the Tawi River on one side and the city on the other and had served as the residence of erstwhile Dogra rulers.The pink Hall now houses the famous Dogra Art Museum  with a rich collection of rare paintings.

Important information Around shrinagar

AROUND SRINAGAR :

Tourist Acctration in Around Shrinag

ACHABAL : (58 kms)
Alluring achabal near anantnag was the pleasure retreat of nur jehan. Jehangir laid out the fine mughal style garden over here for hi beloved.

AHARBAL : (51 kms.)
The spectacular waterfall is formed by river veshav which plunges down from a height of 24.4 meteres in to a narrow gorge.

CHARAR-I-SHARIF : (30 kms.)
It lies on the road to yusmarg and is famous for the ziarat or shrine of sheikh noor-ud-din the patron saint of Kashmir .the architecture of the shrine is noteworthy.

DACHIGAM NATIONAL PARK : (21 kms.)
It covers an area of 142 sq. kms. With altitudes varying between 1700 and 4300 metres. The most famous inhabitants of the park are hangul or the Kashmir stag, musk deer Himalayan black bear, Himalayan marmot ,leopard, spcies of wild goats etc. exotic birds like crimson tragopan, the iridescent monal pheasant etc. Can also be seen here

GULMARG : (57KMS.)

Gorgeous gulmarg, literally the ‘meadow of flowers’ is one of the most unique hill resorts of the world. This huge grassy, cup –shaped meadow at an altitude og 2653 metres is surrounded by fir trees and majestic snow clad peaks the region of gulmarg becomes all the more beautiful as one season changes into another

Important information Shrinagar

Shinagar :

Srinagar is located in the heart of the Kashmir valley at an altitude of 1,730 m above sea level, spread on both sides of the river Jhelum. The Dal and Nagin lakes enhance its picturesque setting, while the changing play of the seasons and the salubrious climate ensures that the city is equally attractive to visitors around the year.The present town was established by pravarasena -2 and finds mention in the travelogues of huien tsang. 

Tourist Acctration in Shrinagar

• HAZARAT MOSQUE
• SHALIMAR BAGH
• NISHAT BAGH 
• PARI MAHAL
• JAMI MASJID
• CHESHMA SHAHI
• SHANKARACHARYA TEMPLE
• HARI PARBAT FORT
• CHATTI PADSHAHI GURUDWARA
• SRI PRATAP SINGH MUSEUM 
• DAL LAKE

HAZARAT MOSQUE:

The white marble mosque on the north-west shore of the dal lake, enshrines a hply hair of prophet mohammed and is regarded as one of the holiest mosques of Kashmir.

SHALIMAR BAGH                

The beautiful terraced garden was lais by emperor jehangir for his beloved wife nur jahan. It has fine fountains in between and a canal runs through the middle of the garden which is supplied with water from harwan. The fourth terrace of the garden is by far the best and was once reserved for the royal ladies.panaromic view of the garden

NISHAT BAGH :

The beautiful garden with several terraces and a central water course was built in 1633, by asaf khan, the brother of empress nur jahan on the banks of the dal.

PARI MAHAL

The grand palace perched atop a hill near the cheshma shahi garden was originally a Buddhist monastery and was later converted to a palace by dara shikoh, the eldest son of emperor shah jahan. It become a royal observatory and a school of astrology was established here by dara shikoh.

JAMI MASJID

This important mosque of Srinagar was first built by sikandar butshikan in 1402 and further additions to the structure were made by his son zain-ul-abidin. The present structure was built by Aurangzeb and is noted for its 300-plus wooden piller

CHESHMA SHAHI

The magnificent garden overlooking the city and lovely lake was built by shah jahan in 1632. It is the smallest of srinagar’s mughal gardens with three artistically designed terraces and a natural spring of water enclosed in a stone pavilion. The water of the spring is said to possess some curative properties.

SRI PRATAP SINGH MUSEUM :

It is housed in a beautiful  palace and exhibits archaeological artefacts, mammoth remains, paintings old coins and notes etc.

HARI PARBAT FORT

It ha sshrine of godess sharika. The hill was first fortified by emperor akbar in 1592-98 and was further developed in the 18th century by an afghan governor atta mohd. Khan presently the fort is in the state of ruins and the historic shrine of shah makhdum sahib on the slopes of hari parbat hill is visited by people of all faith.

CHATTI PADSHAHI GURUDWARA:

The sacred sikh shrine near kathi darwaza, in rainwari commemorates the visit of the sixth sikh guru hargobindji.

SHANKARACHARYA TEMPLE :

This ancient temple on the takht-i-sulaimanhill is dedicated to lord shiva and is said to be built on the site where the advaita philosopher saint adi shankracharya stayed during his visit to Kashmir. Historians believe that the first edifice on this site was buiel by emporer ashoka’s son julka around 200 B.C. and was later rebuilt in the 6th senctury by king gopaditya.

DAL LAKE:

Delightful dal, the largest lake of the city is indeed the icon and focal point of Srinagar. The lovely lake is divided by causeways into four parts-gagribal,lokutdal, boddal and nagin. Both lokutdal and boddal have an island in the centre –called as ruplank or char chinari and sona lank respectively.

RECHING THERE:

Airport: Shrinagar is well connected by air.

Railhead:Jammu Tawi

Road:Shrinagar connected by N.H.I.A