
Jammu is the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir, lies at a height of 1,127 ft in the foothills of the Himalayas. It is one of the three governmental divisions within the state. This city is also called as the "City of Temples", as there are many sacred temples and shrines creating a perfect ambiance of a sacred and serene holy city. Jammu has two distinct areas. The old town lies at the top of the hill overlooking the River Tawi and the new town is at the bottom. Jammu houses numerous holy shrines like Amarnath and Vaishno Devi. That is why this city is known as one of the most popular pilgrimage tourist spots of India. Over the years, Jammu has emerged as a main economic center of the state of Jammu and Kashmir because of moderately better infrastructure. Jammu is renowned for its ancient temples, forts, gardens, Hindu shrines and castles. For instance, the sacred Hindu shrines of Vaishno Devi and Amarnath attracts thousands of devotees from different regions every year. It is also a popular adventure tourism spots in the South Asian region. The historic monuments of
Jammu reflect a unique mix of Hindu and Islamic style of architecture.
Vaishno Devi shrine is one of the major attractions of Jammu. It is located at Katra, close to Jammu. It is nestled at a height of 1700 m on top of Trikuta Hills. The 'Mondi Palace' that was built during the 1880s, now houses the High Court. Balanced high over the river, it is entered via a large quadrangle, and there is a huge reception room to its right. The verandah outside the small reception room commands fine scenic views. The Amar Singh Mahal built in the early 20th century by Maharaja Sir Pratap Singh in an elegant classical Art Deco style, as a successor to the 'Mondi Palace'. The palace museum has a portrait gallery and an important collection of paintings. Other popular buildings of Jammu include the 'Dogra Art Gallery' that has a notable collection of miniatures from the local schools of painting. It is located in the Gandhi Bhavan, next to the New Secretariat. To its north is the 'Prince of Wales College', memorializing the visit of George V in the year 1905 before he became king.
Bahu Fort is another well renowned historic monument of Jammu city. It serves as a religious temple and is situated on the left Tawi River. It is the oldest fort of Jammu city and was built by Raja Bahulochan almost 300 years ago. There is a temple inside this fort that is devoted to Goddess Kali. This fort is beautifully surrounded with a terraced garden.
Raghunath Temple is located at the heart of Jammu city and is a famous monument. It was constructed in the year 1857.
Jammu, a renowned tourism site among the travellers from various parts of the world, is popular for its several historical monuments and scared shrines
(Last Updated on : 01/08/2013)