Jammu Tourism & Travel - Know Before you Go!

Jammu Tour & Travel Guide at WeAreHolidays

Surrounded by Udhampur district in the north and northeast, and Kathua district in the east and southeast, Jammu is located on a hillock and boasts a skyline dotted with gleaming spires of temples. This beautiful ‘City of Temples’ embraces all her visitors with love and warmth and spells her charm on everyone who visits her. Settled against the beautiful backdrop of snow-capped Pir Panjal Mountains, Jammu acts as a transition between the Himalayan range in the north and the sandy plains of Punjab in the south. Amidst these two extremes lie a chain of river valleys and forested mountain ranges surrounding numerous microclimatic regions that extend from Akhnoor in the south-west to Kishtawar in the north-east, and the ancient town of Poonch in the north-west to the boundaries of Kangra in the south-east region. The rivers Ravi, Tawi and Chenab also make their way through the hilly terrains of Jammu. Trek, Ski, eat, explore, relax and just come back with some beautiful memories, and bags full of some amazing handicrafts, of course, Jammu knows exactly how to please her patrons.

Trekking

Soft trekking options are available throughout Jammu, and summers are the best time to pack your bags for short adventure treks in Jammu. Apart from that Jammu also has some excellent camping sites. Those interested can rent trekking equipment from one of the many shops in Jammu and Kud, owned by The Tourism Department.

Picnic at Jajjar Kotli

Merely 35 Km off Jammu, Jajjar Kotli tourist Complex is situated on the National Highway leading towards Srinagar. Built on the banks of the Jajjar brook, the place is popular among picnickers and family travellers. The crystalline water at Jajjar Kotli attracts many travellers during summer time. Jhajjar also features a tourist cafeteria, a small bar and a cosy bungalow.

Paragliding

Paragliding is another adventure activity that you can do while you are in Jammu. Sanasar has emerged as a popular paragliding spot over the past few years. Equipment can be rented from the tourist office in Jammu. The best time to go paragliding in Sanasar is in the months of May to June.

Salal Dam and Lake Excursion

Salal Dam and Lake is situated 95 Km off Jammu towards the west of Holy Vashnodevi temple. With an installed capacity of approx.400 mw of electricity, Salal Dam is so far the largest Hydroelectric Project commissioned in Jammu. The 33 km long lake behind the Dam is another attraction that can also be visited with permission from project authorities.

Amar Mahal Museum

The Amar Mahal Museum is a lovely, French chateau look-a-like structure designed by a French architect in the 1890s. The museum is as much popular for its intricately designed interiors as it is for its combination of French architecture and Indian art works. The museum also houses one of the largest libraries in the world with a huge collection of over 20,000 books from various authors.

The Bawey Wali Mata Temple

The great premises of the Bawey Wali Mata Temple have been inviting people for more than 30 years now. Believers from various religious and cultural backgrounds highly regard this ancient temple. It is believed that Bawey Wali Mata has some mystical powers and that she is the presiding deity of Jammu.

Ranbireshwar Temple

Situated on Shalimar Road opposite the New Secretariat, this historic temple, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva was built in 1883 AD by Maharaja Ranbir. The temple houses a 7.5 ft high central Shiva "lingam" and 12 crystal "lingams" measuring from 15" to 38". The temple also features several galleries with beautifully carved stone slabs.

Amarnath Cave Temple

The holy Amarnath Cave Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is one of the most popular Hindu shrines of India. Surrounded by snowy mountains, this shrine is said to be some 5,000 years old. A large number of Hindu devotees from around the world visit this place during summers because the cave opens for visitors around that time. According to a Hindu Legend, Lord Shiva explained the secrets of life to Goddess Parvati inside this cave.

Bahu Fort

This fort is not just grand in its demeanour but also has an equally impressive story about its origin, attached to it. It is one of the most ancient forts found in Jammu, and was built around three hundred years ago by Raja Bahulocham. A regal garden, known as Bagh-e-Bahu with wide flowery lawns is a hot-spot among locals as well as visitors. Bahu Fort is the best place to relax and spend some time amidst nature. The famous Bawey Wali Mata Temple, dedicated to Goddess Kali is also placed in interiors of the fort. Those visiting Bahu Fort make it a point to pay a visit to this renowned attraction.

Surinsar Lake

Sunrinsar Lake is another popular attraction located in the proximity of Jammu. Situated amidst the hilly terrains, the Surinsar Lake is bounded by thick forests. This scenic tourist spot is frequented by visitors as well as locals. Floating Lotus flowers make the Lake look like a watery lotus garden during summers. Hindu mythology also points connects the origin of the lake with the legendary warrior Arjuna. It is believed that the legendry warrior Arjuna shot an arrow to the Mansar land and the arrow went piercing the earth, thus forming Surinsar.

Peer Baba

The popular durgah of Peer Budhan Ali Shah, the renowned Muslim saint is located behind the Civil Airport. During Thursdays, the dargah is frequented by numerous Hindu and Sikh devotees.

Vaishno Devi Temple

Shri Maa Vaishno Devi Shrine in Jammu is one of the oldest and most popular Hindu Shrines of India. Located at an altitude of 5300 ft on the sacred Trikuta Hills of the Shivalik Hill Range, the Holy cave of Vaishno Devi is located at a distance of 13 Km from base camp Katra. Katra is small town, 50 km off Jammu. Situated on the folds of Trikuta hill in Jammu, this temple is considered as one of the "shakti peethas" of Goddess Vaishno. This pious abode of Goddess Durga witnesses a huge flood of devotees from across India.

Dogra Art Gallery

Bounded by the Pink Hall of Mubarak Mandi complex, Dogra Art Gallery boasts a huge collection of precious manuscripts. The museum also features a rare range of ancient paintings. The walls of the museum are adorned by the art works of renowned painting schools like Kangra and Basoli. Some other popular highlights of the museum include the gold-plated antique bow of the famous Mughal emperor Shah Jehan and several ancient carpentry tools.

Jammu has numerous eateries to suit every budget and taste. Famous for its quick service and delicious food, is the Imperial Grill. While you are at Imperial, do try out Atta Chicken, Nalli Gosht, Dal Makhni, and Lal Maas. Apart from that, Imperial Grill is also popular for its Thai and Chinese range. Some other high-end eateries popular for Indian and Chinese cuisines that need a mention here are ""The Earthen Oven"" in Fortune and Falak (revolving restaurant) at KC residency. Some more Chinese and Indian restaurants are scattered around Hari Niwas Palace Hotel and Hotel Asia. The lovers of Kashmiri cuisines can try out Premier Hotel on the residency road. Also visit J&K TDC's Wazawan & Vegetarian Restaurants on Vir Marg. Those interested in fast food can come to Jewels fast Food at Gole Market or KC Plaza on Vir Marg. Some other popular choices are Premier Victoria Junction and Jewels on the Jewel Chowk. Paras Ram di Hatti near Panjtirthi in old city is a must for the lovers of non-vegetarian foo Some other recommended multi-cuisine restaurants are KC Food Junction, Pavilion Hotel and Shakuntala Bar and Restaurant.

Jammu has a subtropical climate and hence it is generally cool and pleasant throughout the year. Summers are usually hot and sweaty, and winters are very cold. Temperature may vary from humid 45 degrees in Summer to freezing 4 degrees during Winters.

When To visit

Autumn (September to November)

Air

Jammu Airport, also known as Satwari Airport is the major Airport of Jammu. Travellers to Jammu sometimes prefer getting down at Srinagar Airport. Daily flights to Jammu and Srinagar are available from all the major cities of India. Special coach services between the airport and the city are also made available by the J&K State Road Transport Corporation.

Rail

The nearest railway station for Jammu/Srinagar is Jammu Tawi where trains arrive from Delhi, Calcutta, Mumbai, Kanyakumari, Pune, Ahmedabad, etc. It is important to get your tickets booked in advance during peak season.

Road

National Highway 1-A, connects Srinagar with Jammu. Those interested in traveling by road can follow route. Many state buses also connect Jammu with other nearby destinations including Jajjar Kotli, Kud, Batote, Qazi Gund, etc. One can also hire taxis for travelling around places. Other than that, Mini bus is the post popular mode of transport that provides services to the entire city as well as some fixed routes in the suburban areas. Auto rickshaws are also easily available for local travels.

On one hand you can browse through some age-old dry fruit shops and on the other you can also check out some designer boutiques featuring latest trends in fashion. Shopping in Jammu is famous for its handicrafts and woollens. You can check out Raghunath Bazaar, Hari Market and Vir Marg for quality handicrafts, traditional Dogra jewellery and dry fruits, mainly walnuts and almonds. Jammu is also popular for the superior quality of 'asmati' rice and red kidney beans (rajma). Those looking for tangy 'aampapad' (dried and candied mango peel), 'anardana' (dried pomegranate seeds) or milk sweets will also find a delightful variety in Jammu markets. You can also check-out these markets for a good range of souvenirs. If you want to purchase authentic Kashmiri handicrafts, don' forget to visit the J&K Government Arts Emporium on Residency Road. The state-owned emporium sells a wide range of handicrafts, including Kashmir's famous Pashmina shawls and delicate hand-woven silk and woollen carpets.

Sanasar

Located at a distance of 129 Km from downtown Jammu and exactly 19 Km from Patnitop is this small satellite resort of Patnitop called Sanasar. Sanasar is a quiet-little holiday spot with a cup-shaped meadow which has now been modified into a golf course. Those interested in paragliding will find this place all the more exciting. Rock climbing, long treks, and camping facility services are also available in and around Sanasar. For the trek-trails, one can also hire ponies with attendants. One can also hike up to Sansar straight from Patnitop via Jungle Gali, Jasarkote, or Sundarani. This one is an easy trail as there are no steep climbs.

Patnitop

Located at a distance of 112 km from central Jammu, Patnitop is one of the most popular tourist spots of Jammu. Perched on an isolated plateau, Patnitop is looming high at an altitude 2024 metres. Surrounded by pine trees and lush green meadows, Patnitop is a serene-little place for chilling-out, picnics and leisure-walks. Winters at Patnitop witness a large number of skiing enthusiasts for the mountains are generally covered with a white carpet of snow. Those interested in taking Skiing classes can also enrol themselves for the same during the months of January and February. Madhatop, another skiing spot, which is around 5/6 Kms from Patnitop also offers excellent possibilities for Skiing. Instructors are available for the beginners.

Ladakh

Enclosed by two of the world's mightiest mountain ranges, The Great Himalayas and the Karakoram, Ladakh Ladakh is a home to some of the most beautiful monasteries one will ever come across. During summers the temperature doesn' exceed 27 degree and during winters it can easily dip to minus 20 degrees. "Moon-land view" is one of those "must-visit" sites in Ladakh. Padum Valley, Zanskar Valley, Parang La Trek, Kang Yaste, etc. are some of the best options for trekking. The months of June and July see the whole Ladakh coming alive with festivals and events. So if you are planning to visit Ladakh around that time, make sure you reserve a place for yourself, well in advance.