Sightseeing of Jammu
India Travel Packages - Overlooking the Tawi River on a rock face are the ruins of the ancient Bahu Fort. The oldest remaining structure in this region, the fort was renovated and rebuilt into the Mandi Palace in the 19th century by Jammu’s Dogra kings. A temple dedicated to Mahakali (the fearsome goddess), locally called Bawe-Wali Mata, sits near the ruins. Under the fort is the garden of Bagh-e-Bahu patterned on the beautiful Mughal pleasure gardens of north India. The garden has an artificial lake, fountains, flowerbeds and a cafeteria - Travel Packages of India.
Indin Travel Packages - The Mubarak Mandi Complex was the residence of the erstwhile rulers of Jammu. Dating over 150 years back, the complex has buildings around a central courtyard. Strategically located with the Tawi River on one side and Jammu city on the other, the buildings in the complex are a combination of Rajasthani, Mughal and European styles. Now used for government office and courts, the halls and galleries of the palace hosted official functions during the Dogra rule. The Dogra Art Museum (winter – 10:30 am till 04:30 pm; summer – 08:00 am till 01:30 pm. Closed on Mondays) in the Pink Hall within the Mubarak Mandi Complex, has a priceless collection of miniatures from the Kangra, Jammu and Basholi schools. In addition, there are terracotta figurines, 16th century terracotta heads and sculptures. The gold painted bow and arrow of Mughal Emperor Shahjahan and some valuable manuscripts are also displayed here. The Museum however, is not very well maintained - Indian Travel Packages Asia.
Travel Packages to Jammu - Off Srinagar road sits the curiously European Amar Mahal Museum (winter –10:00 am till 12 noon and 03:00 pm till 05:00 pm; summer – 05:00 pm till 07:00 pm; Sundays – 10:00 am till 12 noon, closed on Mondays), was once the palace of Maharaja Amar Singh. Built in the early 20th century, the red sandstone palace had been designed by a Frenchman who gave it the distinctive sloping roofs and turrets - Jammu Travel Packages.
Travel Packages of Jammu - Only four rooms in the palace are open to public viewing. The museum has a portrait gallery, a collection of valuable paintings of the Pahari style, and royal articles. A 120 kgs gold throne with carved lions that was used by the king is on display in the museum. A library with a collection of some 25,000 books is also housed in the building. Close to the Dogra Art Museum is the Ranbireshwar Temple, known to be the largest Shiva temple in northern India. The temple has a huge 7 feet tall black stone lingam (phallic symbol of Lord Shiva) and many tiny crystal lingams surrounding it. These bona (dwarf) lingams are said to have been brought from the holy Narmada river in central India. Built by Maharaja Ranbir Singh in 1883, the temple also has the Nandi Bull (Shiva’s carrier), Ganesha (elephant god) and Kartikeya (the warrior son of Shiva mounted on a peacock) - India Travel Packages.
Travel Packages of India - In the centre of old Jammu sits the Raghunath Temple, a massive complex consisting of 17 temples. One of the grandest temple complexes in north India, it is named after the main deity Rama, who was also the patron god of the Dogra rulers. The interiors of the shrines are embellished with gold and the architecture has a strong Mughal influence. A portrait of Ranbir Singh and a sculpture of Hanuman (the monkey god) stand at the entrance to the temple. A Sanskrit library within the complex has a collection of rare Hindu manuscripts - Indin Travel Packages.
Indian Travel Packages Asia - Maharaja Gulab Singh had the Gadhadharji Temple constructed after his installation as ruler of Jammu & Kashmir. The temple located near Mubarak Mandi, is dedicated to Narayana (form of Vishnu) and Lakshmi (Vishnu’s consort) - Travel Packages to Jammu.
Jammu Travel Packages - There are several other shrines around Jammu. They include the Aap Shambhu Temple at Sathrian, where cows were fabled to have milked onto the lingam on their own, the Panchbakhter temple which is one of the oldest shrines dedicated to Shiva, Purmandal Temple on the banks of the Devika river, and the snake temple of Nagbani, where the Maharaja Hari Singh Agricultural Institute is now located - India Travel Packages.
Travel Packages of India - Jammu also has several shrines dedicated to Sufi saints who were venerated by both Hindus and Muslims. About 8kms from Jammu is the shrine of Baba Buddan Shah, a saint who was born in Punjab. The tomb of Baba Roshan Shah Wali is located on Gumat hill. This Arabian saint travelled to India in the 6th century AD and settled on the outskirts of Jammu. The tomb of Mir Mitha, next to a mosque, is situated in the centre of town. The tomb is named after the saint who accepted a handful of sugar (mitha – sweet) as offering. Away from the Maharaja’s palace on the road to Srinagar is the dargah (mausoleum) of Panch Peer or five saints. The five holy men are said to have meditated at the place where the dargah stands today. Both Hindus and Muslims venerate the dargah of Garib Shah at Samba. The saint Garib Shah was believed to have great powers, and Hindus take care of his tomb - Indin Travel Packages.
Indian Travel Packages Asia - A cave shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva sits amidst rocky terrain and acacia forests to the north east of Jammu. The shrine, known as Jamawant cave, is said to be amongst the oldest in the Shivalik range. The Gurudwara of Shri Guru Nanak Devji is located near the Mubarak Mandi Complex. An important Sikh shrine, the Gurudwara has a three feet high white marble statue of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. A memorial to Maharani Chand Kour, wife of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s successor Sardar Kharak Singh sits at Gumat, near the Tawi River - Travel Packages to Jammu.
