Chamunda Devi Temple - Katua

 CHAMUNDA DEVI TEMPLE, KATHUA DISTRICT, JAMMU AND KASHMIR

(Source- missionkuldevi.in)

Chamunda Devi Temple is a renowned site that is considered the holy place by the devotees and is situated in Bisohli which is a small town and is located on the right bank of river Ravi in the Kathua District of the Indian Union Territory Jammu and Kashmir. This prehistorical shrine is dedicated to one of the seven mother goddesses, Chamunda Devi. The Goddess Chamunda Devi is being worshipped by the pilgrims in the form of a natural rock in this temple. The temple is reachable by bus from Kathua, Billawar, Jammu and Udhampur.

(Source- thedivineindia.com)

Billawar of Kathua District

 BILLAWAR, KATHUA DISTRICT, JAMMU AND KASHMIR

(Source- mytourmania.com)

Billawar is a Tehsil Head Quarter of Kathua District of Jammu and Kashmir. Billawar is also called Balaur. In 1598-1614 Billawar was established by King Bhopat Pal. It remained the capital of Basohli Rajas. The successors of the Royal Family are called “Billawarias”. There are few ancient monuments in the town. One of these is the most revered temple of Lord Shiva, Mahabilvakeshwar temple which was also called Hari Hara Temple. Billawar Town is located on the banks of Bhinni and Naaz streams. 

(Source- nativeplanet.com)

It is trusted that the Pandavas visited Billawar Town in the last year of their exile and was fascinated by the Bill trees in which Billawar abounds. The famous Lord Shiva Mahabilvakeshwar temple was established where Pandavas had worshipped. The Bill, later on, turned into Billawar. An ancient Hanuman Sculpture was erected on a rock in the Naaz River in Billawar. The Pin Code of Billawar is 184204.

(Source- en.wikipedia.org)

Sapt Sarober Mandir - Kathua

 SAPT SAROBER MANDIR, KATHUA DISTRICT, JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Sapt Sarober Mandir is located in the Krishna Nagar region of the Kathua District. The Sapt Sarober Temple was erected by the former minister of the state Bhagat Chajju Ram in the year 1969. Choudhary Hari Singh and Choudhary Devidutta had donated their land for the holy temple. 

(Source- nativeplanet.com)

The name of the temple is derived from “Sapt Rishis”, after the popular seven sages. There is a hollowed lake (Sapt Sarober) which is situated nearby the temple complex. The Pathshala (school) is also housed for tourists in the vicinity of the temple. A Dharamshala (rest houses for the tourists) is also being erected near the temple. 

The Sapt Sarober Mandir is accessible from the Kathua District, on the Jammu-Pathankot Highway. The closest railhead to the Sapt Sarober Temple is the Kathua Railway Station.

Dhoula Wali Mata Religious Center - Katua

 DHOULA WALI MATA OF KATHUA DISTRICT IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR

(Dhoula wali mata temple)

(Source- nativeplanet.com)

Dhoula Wali Mata temple is a religious site. Dhoula Wali Mata Temple is situated at an elevation of around 6000 ft. in the Kathua District. Dhoula Wali Mata Temple is located at a distance of around 10 kilometers away from the Jodiya Di Mata Temple. Dhoula Wali Mata temple is easily accessible by trekking. Pilgrims can trek this beautiful spot Dhoula Wali Mata Temple from Katli (Billawar). Banhore (Mahanpur), and Bhoond (Basohli). 

(Dhoula wali mata religious center)

(Source- higglu.com)

According to the Legends, a Shepherd once had a dream of Mata coming to Madhi Dhar. He went to the place where the goddess appeared and gave Darshan to him in the form of a little girl. Since then he started going regularly to Madhi Dhar for worshipping the goddess. Once there was a heavy snowfall, the Shepherd who was a regular worshiper ran to Madhi Dhar to worship the goddess. After realizing the difficulty of the Shepherd the goddess decided to go to the place where Dhouli Wali Mata is located now. The Shepherd erected the temple at that site dedicated to the goddess. A large number of devotees come and offer their prayers. Most people visit the Dhoula Wali Mata Temple during the festival of Navratras, a nine-day Hindu festival that is celebrated twice a year in the months of April and October. 

(Source- tripadvisor.com)

Bus services are also available for the devotees. They can take regular buses from Jammu, Udhampur, Pathankot, and Kathua for Billawar, Mahanpur, Basohli, and Bhoond. Sarais are also available for travelers at the temple.

Gurudwara Singh Sabha - Kathua

 GURUDWARA SINGH SABHA, KATHUA DISTRICT, JAMMU AND KASHMIR

(Gurudwara Shree Guru Singh Sabha)

(Source- tripadvisor.in)

Gurudwara Singh Sabha is a religious center, especially for the Sikh people. Gurudwara Singh Sabha is located in the center of the Kathua District and is mainly 2 kilometers away from the New Bus Stand. The site is commonly known by the name of the Gurudwara and the site is called Gurudwara Chowk. Inside this place, the office of the Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee can be found.

(Gurudwara Singh Sabha)

(Source- nativeplanet.com)

In the vicinity of the Gurudwara, there is also a Sikh Missionary College. The famous festivals of Sikhs like Prakash Utsav and Gurupurab are celebrated here with great zeal and enthusiasm. Car festival and Nagar Kirtan and other important events are commemorated in the Gurudwara. 

(Inner view of Gurudwara Shree Guru Singh Sabha) (source- worldgurudwaras.com)

(Night view of Gurudwara Singh Sabha)

(Source- Facebook.com)

ADDRESS-  Gurudwara Singh Sabha Kathua, Gurudwara Chowk Main, Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir.

PIN CODE- 184101

Vaishno Devi Temple during Navratri festival

 SHRI MATA VAISHNO DEVI TEMPLE DURING NAVRATRI FESTIVAL

(Vaishno Devi Temple)(source-Google)

‘Navratri’ or ‘Navratra’ is a united word that means Nine Nights. ‘Nav’ means Nine and ‘Ratri’ means Night so together it means Navratri or Nine Nights. This festival is known as ‘Navratri’ in the Northern part of India. During the first three days of Navratri, the Goddess is blessed as a spiritual force known as Durga who is also called Kali to demolish all our immorality, defects, and impurities.

During the second three days of Navratri, the Mother Goddess is admired as a giver of spiritual wealth called Lakshmi, who is observed to have the power of bestowing on her devotees’ unlimited wealth. She is known as The Goddess of Wealth. And the set of the last three days of Navratri is consumed in worshipping of the Goddess of Wisdom, Mata Saraswati.

Though the yatra to the temple of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji is the entire year event the one undertaken during the Navratri time it is considered to be the most favorable. To have extensive success in life, believers look for the blessings of all the three characteristics of the divine femininity during the period of nine nights in Navratri.

(Decoration of temple during Navratri)

(Source- Google)

(Aarti view of the temple)(source- Google)

To expose and highlight the heritage, regional culture, and traditions of the area during the time of Navratri the Jammu and Kashmir State Tourism Department has going to introduce the Navratri Festival as an annual event which is going to be held for all nine favorable days of the Navratris.

During the Navratri period, a large number of devotees and tourists pay their homage to the deity. During the time of Navratri, this festival exposes the religious traditions as well as the famous culture of the Jammu Region among the millions of devotees who visit the Vaishno Devi Shrine.

(Crowd during Navratri)(source- Google)

A ‘Shobha Yatra’ was departed in Katra Town, the base camp for the devotees who came to visit the temple of Vaishno Devi. According to the officials, complex arrangements have been made by the local administration and the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board for the pilgrims. On the way to the temple, sanitation facilities, and requisite water facilities have been administered. Special food will be provided at Shrine Board eateries for the devotees who are fasting in Navratri. During the Navratri celebration, tight security has been commenced on the way to the temple.

(New route to the temple)(source- Google)

(Vaishno Devi Shrine Board)(source-google)

Peer Kho Cave

 PEER KHO CAVE- the oldest one

(Peer Kho Cave Temple)(source- Google)

The Peer Kho Cave is a temple that is raised as the highlight in the tourist places list of Jammu and Kashmir. As per the archaeological records, the Peer Kho Cave Temple was established in the fifteenth century when Raja Ajaib Dev was under rule. Peer Kho Cave temple is one of the other well-known Shiva temples in the Jammu region. Acacia forests and igneous rocks set out as the backdrop to this cave temple. These trees make the environment more acceptable for God’s worship. Even though various famous legends are connected to the Peer Kho Cave Temple. The antiquity of the temple cannot yet be dated with confidence. Some people considered that this is one of the oldest historic places in the Shiwalik Region. The story of the temple goes that the Jamvant who is the bear God who played a key role in helping Lord Rama in conquering the Demon Ravana in the populous epic Ramayana had cogitated in the Peer Kho Cave temple for a long duration. That is why this temple is also called the Jamvant Cave. It is widely believed that the Shiva Lingam was established naturally in the cave of Peer Kho Temple and the people of the Jammu region began worshipping it conscientiously with a lot of respect.

Peer Kho Cave is situated around 3.5 kilometers away from Jammu City. This cave temple is located on the busy circular road but this temple is easily attainable from different corners of Jammu City.

Inside the temple, there are two natural caves each of the caves is having a depth of about 20 to 30 feet. Peer Kho Cave temple experiences the huge inundation of devotees which grows during the celebration of Shivratri and other Hindu Festivals. The Aap Shambu Temple, The Ranbireshwar Temple, and The Panjbakhtar Temple are the other temples that are situated in proximity to the Peer Kho Cave Temple.

Entry fees- None

Timings- From 5 am to 7 pm

Famous for- The splendid sight of spirituality where sadhus are totally in their zone and being the oldest temple in the Jammu city.

(Peer Kho Cave)(source- Google)

Vaishno Devi Temple

 VAISHNO DEVI TEMPLE- A Popular Site

(Vaishno Devi Temple)(source- Google)

The crusade Holy Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji is observed to be one of the holiest crusades of earlier times. Vaishno Devi temple is popular in the World as ‘ Moonh Maangi Muradein Poori Karne Wali Mata’ which means the mother who attains whatever her children wish for. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji lives in a Holy Cave which is situated in the folds of the three-peaked mountain named Trikuta which is also known as Trikoot. The Holy cave fascinates millions of devotees every year. But now the number of yatris who visit this Holy Shrine annually exceeds one crore. This is due to the determined faith of the devotees who assemblage the shrine from all parts of India and Abroad.

Since the year 1986, when the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board was established, the management of the shrine and adjustment of the Yatra has been endowed in the Board. The Board has tackled the number of developmental activities aimed at making the Yatra comfortable and satisfying for the Yatris. The Board resumes reinvesting the offerings and donations received in carrying out refinements in various kinds of Yatri facilities. 

The Call of Mata

The trip to the Holy Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji begins with the Call of Mata. It is not only the faith but also a strong experience of one and all that the Divine Mother dispatches a call to her children. Once a person receives a message of the Mother wherever he is, bound to visit the temple of the Mother to receives her unlimited love and blessings. A popular slogan beautifully expresses it- ‘Maan  Aap Bulandi’ which means that The Mother Calls Herself. It is the best experience of all the people who visit the holy shrine upon the Call of Mata. If a person needs to take just a step towards her and leave the rest to her so the journey of those people gets completed with the divine blessings of the Mother.

Simultaneously, it is also believed that the Call or Bulawa does not receive by the Mother no one can visit the temple or have her blessings.

Vaishno Devi Temple is one of the most visited Hindu Temples in the whole world. The Vaishno Devi Temple is dedicated to the Goddess Mahalakshmi. The belief over the Mother of millions of people is real. They all know that whatever you want or wish for here gets granted. The cave-styled temple is situated at an altitude of about 5200 ft above sea level. So the people have an opportunity to trek to the top from a point. For the route of climbing, there are few options other than walking are helicopter services, palanquin, or pony ride to reach the Vaishno Devi Temple.

Entry fee: None

Timing: from 5 pm to 12 pm, from 4 pm to 9 pm

Famous for- Being the most important religious site in the Indian Union Territory Jammu and Kashmir.

Phone number- 01991234053

Address- Bhavan, Katra, Jammu and Kashmir 182301