Mansar Lake is the lake fringed by the forest covered hills. This natural lake is situated 62 km from Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir). The stretch of the Mansar Lake is over a mile in length by half-a-mile in width.
Mansar Lake acts a popular excursion destination in Jammu and this lake has its mythological values also. The legend of Mansar Lake is closely associated with Lake Mansarovar. On the eastern bank of the Mansar Lake there is a holy place of Hindus dedicated to Sheshnaga, a Hindu mythological snake with six heads. The Hindu shrine comprises a big boulder on which are placed a number of iron chains, which is representing the diminutive serpents waiting on the tutelary deity of the Sheshnaga, the mythological snake.
The two ancient temples located near Mansar Lake are the temples of Umapati Mahadeva and Narsimha and the temple of Goddess Durga. The tourists take a holy dip in the water of the lake on festive occasions. The newly married couples consider this place to be auspicious to perform three circumambulations or Parikarma around the lake to seek the blessings of Sheshnaga, the Lord of Serpents, whose shrine is located on its eastern bank of the Mansar Lake.
There are some Hindus communities in India who perform the Mundan ceremony of their male infants near the Mansar Lake. There are also some ancient Hindu temples on the shores of Mansar Lake, which are visited by devotees in large numbers. Mansar Lake is also ideal for boating for which the Tourism Department of Jammu and Kashmir provides adequate facilities to attract the tourists. With all religious beliefs and heritages behind the Mansar Lake, the lake is also picking up its fame among the tourists with all its flora and fauna. The lake has cemented path all around with required illumination, with projected view decks to enjoy iridescent of seasonal birds, tortoise and fishes of different species. There is a small wild life sanctuary housing jungle life like Spotted Deer, Nilgai etc. besides other water birds such as cranes, ducks are also present there. One can also see the conventional and typical and distinct folk life style of Gujjar community and Gujjar Backarwals community. The ethnic costume, living in open Kullhas around on the hills of Mansar Lake is the additional beauty for the tourists
Visiting Information
Mansar lake road joins to the road that directly links Pathankot, which is located in Punjab to Udhampur, which is situated in Jammu and Kashmir.
