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Jammu and Kashmir Temples

Hemis Monastery Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

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Hemis Monastery is a Himalayan Buddhist monastery of the Drukpa Lineage. The monastery was re-established by the Ladakhi King Sengge Namgya, in 1672. The monastery is situated 45 km from Leh City, Hemis. It is present on a mountain on the west bank of the River Indus.

Hemis monastery attracts numerous tourists each year because of its beautiful architecture. It is the biggest and most important Monastery in Leh, Ladakh. This is one of the wealthiest gompas in India. It is famous for its rich collection of ancient remnants like the copper statue of Buddha, gold and silver stupas, sacred Thangkas, murals, and various artifacts.

What is the history of Hemis Monastery?

  • Hemis Monastery existed before the 11th century.
  • In 1630 the monastery was founded by the first incarnation of Stagsang Raspa Nawang Gyatso.
  • It was constructed in 1672 AD under the reign of King Singge Namgyal.
Hemis Festival
Hemis Festival

What is the Hemis festival?

The Hemis Festival is dedicated to Lord Padmasambhava.  It is believed that he was born on the 10th day of the fifth month of the Monkey year as predicted by the Buddha Shakyamuni. It is also believed that his life mission is to improve the spiritual condition of all living beings. This day comes once in 12 years. It is believed that these sacred rituals give spiritual strength and good health. This festival attracts hundreds of tourists from around the world.

How to reach Hemis Monastery?

  • Air: There is no direct flight connectivity to Hemis. The nearest airport is in Leh. It is around 42 away from Hemis. One can drive from Leh to Hemis.
  • Train: There are no direct trains to Hemis. The nearest railway station is Katra railway station. It is 227 km away from Hemis.
  • Road: Hemis is connected to all major cities via road.

What is the best time to visit Hemis Monastery?

  • June: This is the best time to visit is during the Hemis festival that takes place in June. It is the summer season during this time. The summer starts in June and ends in September.
  • November to May: This is the is the worst season to visit the monastery. The route to the monastery becomes more difficult to cross in the winter season.

Raghunath Temple Jammu Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

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Raghunath Temple is located in Jammu and is dedicated to Lord Rama. Apart from him a many other Gods are worshipped here. The temple premises are also home to Gods like Lord Shiva. It is correspondingly a popular site for the Amarnath pilgrims. The temple overlooks the beautiful city of Jammu and is surrounded by lush green trees and mesmerizing green valley. 

The city of Jammu is home to some of the most splendid sites and temples and one of the best examples of marvelous architecture in the city is the Raghunath temple. The temple is one among the best temple complexes in Northern India and it has grand complex and extremely beautiful and splendid temple architecture in the country. The temple compound is a grand one and it consists of a total of 17 temples. The temple is huge in terms of both size and scale and it has the images of all Hindu deities that exist that are represented in a grand way inside the temple.

Raghunath Temple has been dedicated to Lord Rama who is one of the primary Hindu deities. The temple was constructed by Maharaja Gulab Singh who was the founder of kingdom of Jammu & Kashmir and the work on the temple began in 1835 A.D. After his death the work was completed by Maharaja Gulab Singh’s son, Maharaja Ranbir Singh. The construction of the temple was finished in the period of 1853-1860 A.D. The main temple’s inner wall is covered with gold sheet on the three sides of the temple. The temple also has a vast gallery which has various “lingams” as well as “saligrams” that are placed for the general public as well.

Raghunath Temple

Raghunath Temple History

The Raghunath temple has a historical significance and there are multiple temples that surround the main temple and these temples are dedicated to the multiple Gods and Goddesses that are connected with the times of the epic Ramayana. This popular temple in Jammu is renowned for the temple’s depiction of Rama Leela and also of the Krishna Leela in its beautiful paintings. Prevalent legend suggests that the temple is dedicated to Lord Rama and was originally built by Raja Jagat Singh of Kullu in order to correct a major wrong that was done by him. The main idol that is placed inside the temple was brought back from Ayodhya which is the birthplace of Lord Rama according to the Ramayana.

The temple also has peeps of the Mughal masonry that can be visualized in architectural splendor of the Raghunath Temple. The temple carvings and arches are extraordinarily resplendent that grabs everyone’s attention. The temple complex also has a library that houses rare Sanskrit books as well as manuscripts. People also visit this temple in huge numbers in order to pay their homage to their deity and to seek blessings from the Lord.

The temple has a special significance in the region of Jammu as the religious life style of the Kullu valley basically revolves around the sacred idol of Lord Raghunath whom the temple is dedicated to. The daily rituals of the temple mainly comprise a sacred bath, elaborate floral decorations of the presiding deity and the daily worship of the principal deity of the Kullu valley.

Significance of the Raghunath Temple

The major significance of the Raghunath Temple is seen with seven shrines each of which has its own “Shikhara”, (which deciphers to ‘mountain peak’ in Sanskrit and this refers to rising towers and is a special part of the Hindu temple architecture especially in northern India). This temple has one of the largest temple complexes in the entire of North India which is located in Jammu city. This temple has multiple Gods enshrined in it but has the presiding deity as Lord Ram who is believed to be an “avatar” or an embodiment of Lord Vishnu.

This temple although is a famous Hindu shrine yet it came under public glare after the intense scan the devotees were performing Pooja inside the temple complex on November 24, 2002 and many suicide bombers entered the complex and a terrorist attack took place inside the temple complex. The attack resulted in 10 deaths and several devotees were injured in the blast.

The entrance of the temple has a life size image of Maharaja Ranbir Singh who was its founder and also an image of Lord Hanuman that exaggerates this holy site. The central shrine of the temple is dedicated to Lord Ram also popularly known as Raghunath after whom the temple has been named. Lord Rama is the commanding deity of this temple.

Raghunath Temple Timings

Raghunath Temple is open all hours except from evening 8PM to morning 4AM. The temple is easily reachable and there are no restrictions as such except the genera security checking outside the temple.

Festivals Celebrated At the Raghunath Temple

The temple is popular among most Hindu pilgrims as it has a number of shrines dedicated to almost all Hindu Gods. Apart from the central shrine many other shrines of the temple encompass the various incarnations of Lord Vishnu. The other remarkable shrine is of Lord Surya or the Sun God, which houses the multiple forms of the Lord. In the inside of the temple there are some other shrines and most of these are home to the oversize statues of Hindu Gods as well as Goddesses. The temple also has another specialty which is that it comprises almost all images of the Hindu Pantheon which is one of the unusual embodiments in temple architecture.

The major event when this shrine is set up well is during the Amarnath Yatra which is a major festival here. The pilgrims take part in the long Yatra and also visit the temple to seek blessings.

Pooja and Rituals of Raghunath Temple

The temple has the usual sermons and the rituals that are common in the Hindu Temples and it also witnesses the morning and evening aarti.

How To By Reach by Rail, Road and Air

Jammu city is easily reachable by rail, road, and air. The temple being in the city is also easily reachable by cabs and taxis.

Air Travel: Many major Airlines operate from the Jammu Airport that fly to various important destinations including Delhi, Mumbai, Srinagar. The city also has helicopter service that is available for the Vaishno Devi tourists from Katra; which is the base camp of Mata Vaishno Deviji to the Mata Vaishno Deviji Bhawan.

Rail Travel: One of the main rail lines is the Jammu Tawi which is an important railhead of the Northern India. The city of Jammu is well connected to almost every major town in India and it has very frequent trains to all the major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai etc. When the rush increases during the holiday season, additional trains also operated to and from various parts of the country.

Road Travel: Jammu being on the National Highway 1-A is exceptionally well-connected by the highway network to all parts of the country. There are daily bus services of all classes that operate to and fro to the city of Jammu to Delhi, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Shimla, Manali etc. Many tourist taxies also operate between Jammu – Srinagar and Jammu – Katra.

Hotels in Jammu

Jammu being a major Indian city has many 3-star, 4-star, and 5-star hotels along with 7-star hotels and resorts. The city also has many honeymoon resorts. The major hotels are Hotel Jammu Ashok, KC Residency, and Hotel Asia. The city is fast seeing a lot of development and many more hotel chains are planning to set up in the city in the near future.

Nearby Temples

Jammu is a popular tourist spot situated on hillock and is on the bank of river Tawi. The city is bound by the Udhampur district in north and in the northeast. The Kathua district lies in the east and southeast, Pakistan (Sialkot) is in west and the Rajauri district in addition to the POK (Bhimber) are in the northwest. The city is popularly known as City of Temples as it has innumerable temples as well as also many shrines that have glittering “Shikhars” that soar into the sky. The Shikhars dot the skyline of the city and they create the ambience of holy and peaceful city.

Following are some major temple in Jammu:

  • Bave Wali Mata (Goddess Mahakali): One of the oldest forts constructed by Raja Bahulochan on the left bank of River Tawi now serves a religious temple and is mostly visited as a temple by the followers of the presiding deity Goddess Mahakali. The fort is surrounded by beautiful terraced garden which increases the rush of the temple. The temple was constructed about 3000 years ago and it is popularly known as Bave Wali Mata. The Bave Wali Mata is the presiding deity of Jammu and is a form of Goddess Kali. The temple is especially visited by the followers on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The temple is second only home to Maa Vaishno Devi of Jammu.
  • Ranbireshwar Temple: This temple is a major one among the popular Shiva temples in the Jammu region. Ranbireshwar Temple is a temple with a rich history and legend. The temple has its fixed set of devotees and also has its specific days of worship and rituals. The famous temple of the presiding deity Lord Shiva is located just opposite the Jammu & Kashmir Civil Secretariat on the Shalimar Road in the Jammu region. The temple has a stunning inside view and the temple also has twelve Shiva Lingams that are made from crystal that measures 12″ to 18″. It also has galleries that have thousands of “saligrams” that are fixed on a stone slab.
  • Panchbakhtar Temple: The meaning of Panchbakhtar is five faces and the temple is a major Mahadev Mandir that occupies unique place, in the Jammu region which is also considered as the city of temples. The temple is also one of the oldest Shivalya which means the abode of Lord Shiva of the city. It is widely believed according to the oral histories that Adi Shankryacharya had visited this site and had stayed there. The Panchvaktar Temple has an astounding inside view and it has also been connected with Shri Amarnath Yatra in the past. The temple was a camp for the Sadhus that were visiting the Holy Cave of the popular Shri Amarnathji.
  • The Peer Kho Cave Temple: It is an attractive temple that overlooks the Tawi River and is another well-known and frequently visited Shiva temple in the Jammu region. The Peer Kho Cave is located on bank of the local river Tawi and a widely believed folklore here is that the popular character of the Ramayana Jamvant (who was the bear God) had meditated for long in this cave.
  • Mahamaya Temple and City Forest: This is a major temple on bypass Road and is located behind the Bahu Fort, the ancient temple has been surrounded by the city forest, and the temple supervises the river Tawi.

Other significant temples in the Jammu region are the Lakshmi Narayan temple, Duda Dhari temple, and Panj Mandir. The city is also known for its many other tourist sites like museum and bridges.

Vaishno Devi Temple Guide – Timings, History, and Poojas

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Vaishno Devi Temple is a pre-eminent dedication to Goddess Shakti (Sati or Adi Parashakti). The shrine sits comfortably among the Trikuta Mountains in Jammu and Kashmir.

Tribes of pilgrims flock to the beloved shrine battling harsh weather and a steep climb with zeal and admiration to shower themselves with her blessings.

This cave-structured temple is a place of worshipping the Goddess in the form of a five feet rock with a three-headed peak. Furthermore, the three heads locally go by the name Pindies, which are a reflection of the three holy forms of Goddess Shakti. The Pindi on the right peak represents Goddess Mahakali, the central Pindi represents Goddess Mahalakshmi and the Pindi to the left is an avatar of Goddess Saraswati.

Facts About Vaishno Devi Temple

LocationKatra, Jammu and Kashmir
Opening and Closing DatesOpen 365 days in a year
Darshan Timings5:00 am – 12:00 pm
4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
PoojaAarti before sunrise and after sunset
DeityGoddess Shakti
Nearest AirportJammu Airport
Entry FeeNo Entry Fee
Festivals Navratri
Photography in the templeNot allowed

What are the timings of Vaishno Devi Temple?

Time of the DayDuration
Morning5:00 am – 12:00 pm
Evening4:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Temple Poojas and Rituals

Pooja at Vaishno Devi Temple
Aarti takes place in both morning and evening right before sunrise and sunset

“Atma Pooja” meaning self-cleansing by the priests marks the start of the Pooja. The Goddess is then bathed with water, ghee, milk, honey and sugar. Amidst several chants and shlokas, the Goddess dresses up in a saree, chola and chuni.

The Morning and the Evening Aarti – The Aarti dedicated to the Goddess happens twice a day. Similar rituals take place once just before sunrise and once immediately after the sunset.

The whole process lasts up to two hours. Each Aarti is done once inside the main shrine or the sanctum and then outside the cave where devotees gather to witness the divine procedure.

Hereafter she is adorned with several ornaments like bangles and sindoor (kumkum). The offering of the Naivedyam is then made to the Goddess. Hereafter, the Aarti makes its way outside the cave where all the other Gods and Goddesses are worshipped.

Pooja PlaceTimings
Individual Pooja‘Yagyashaala’ in the main BhawanBefore 8:00 am at Room No.8
Shraddha Suman Vishesh PoojaIn front of the old cage of Mata’s DarbarBefore 8:00 am at Room No.8

Vaishno Devi Temple Routes – Old and New

Vaishno Devi Temple stands at one of the three peaks of the Trikuta Mountains. The 13 km Trek to the peak of the mountain starts in Katra, passes through Banganga and then diverges into two different pathways.

One route goes via the Adhkuwari Temple and is the old one to reach the Bhawan. Moreover, this route is steep and narrow but beliefs are that it is built along the original route that the Goddess took to reach the Holy Cave at the top.

However, Considering the convenience of the devotees, the administration of the temple constructed a new route. The new route is via Himkoti. This track is wide enough with an ascendable gradient. Also, most pilgrims accompanied by senior citizens and young ones prefer this route.

Banganga makes the first stop for the pilgrims on their way to the Bhawan. However, the next stops are Charan Paduka and Adhkuwari. The Adhkuwari shrine is a mark that denotes that the pilgrims are halfway through the Bhawan.

Management of Vaishno Devi Temple is quite well. And fulfils all necessary and modern requirements of its visiting pilgrims such as food, shelter, resting places, viewing points, blankets, toilets, hot water facilities and medical facilities.

Significance of Vaishno Devi Temple

  • The shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is both popularly and controversially the most important Shakti Peetha of Goddess Sati. According to a belief, the skull or the head of the Goddess fell here after the Daksha Yagna episode. However, the other belief says it was the right arm of Goddess Sati that fell here. To support this belief, there are remains of a human hand which can still be found in the holy cave. It is popular as “Varad Hast” which means “The Hand that grants blessings”.
  • Moreover, it is a strong belief of most of the devotees that they usually receive an inner spiritual call or pull from the Mata or the Goddess to visit the Vaishno Devi shrine. Belief says that only the one who receives the call receives her blessings. Once the call comes, nothing on Earth can stop the devotee from reaching Vaishno Devi Temple.
  • The three holy Pindies here are manifestations of Goddess Shakti and arise from a single rock at the base. However, they differ from each other in aspects of colour and texture of the rock. The Pindi of Goddess Mahakali is black representing the unknown energy. Goddess Mahalakshmi’s Pindi exhibits golden yellow shade representing wealth, prosperity, and quality of life. The Pindi of Goddess Saraswati has a whitish tinge representing purity and wisdom of life.
  • Vaishno Devi Temple is the most visited pilgrimage site in the Northern half of India and it ranks second as the most visited shrine in the Tirumala Sri Venkateshwara Temple in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh.
  • It is a local belief that any devotee who passes through the Garbha Joon (Womb shaped cave at Adhkuwari) with pure devotion ends up with his or her wish fulfilment.
  • As per the Hindu tradition, there are four Purusharth or the objectives of a good human life – Dharm (righteousness or justice), Arth (Material pursuits), Kaam (Contentment) and Moksha (Enlightenment). Beliefs are that ones who undertake the Vaishno Devi Temple pilgrimage attain all four of these. Moreover, no one goes back empty-handed from this shrine.

History of Vaishno Devi Temple

The exact date or the year of the beginning of the worship of the Goddess in the caves cannot be traced. However, several references are there in Mahabharata which hint towards the holy goddess of Jamboo Mountains.

Jamboo is the ancient name of the present-day Jammu. Beliefs are that Pandavas were the original worshipers of the Goddess in the holy cave. Five stone figures probably representing the Pandavas found in a nearby mountain range giving some credibility to the association of Pandavas to Vaishno Devi Temple.

Legends Associated with Vaishno Devi Temple

There are many legends about the temple such as –

Legend of Vaishno Devi as Trikuta

According to the legend, in the Treta Yuga, Mata Vaishno Devi was born as Trikuta to Ratnakar Sagar in South India. She later became popular as Vaishnavi as she was born from the lineage of Lord Vishnu.

At the age of 9 years, she performed penance on the seashore and met Lord Rama. She threw a marriage proposal before him. But he gave her a promise that Lord Vishnu’s tenth avatar in the Kaliyuga, Kalki will marry her.

Lord Rama gave her instructions to meditate in a cave present in the Trikuta Mountains of Jammu. He instructed her to set up an Ashram at the base of the mountains. He also gave her a bow and an arrow, a lion and a small army of monkeys for her protection.

Legend of Mata Vaishnavi and Bhairavnath

A devotee of Mata Vaishnodevi, Sridhar organized a Bhandara (Community meal) in which the villagers and Mahayogi Guru GorakshNathJi along with all his followers including Bhairavnath were sent invitations as per the goddess’s wishes. Guru Gorakshnath visited the Bhandara along with his 300 disciples including Bhairavnath.

Goddess Vaishno surprised Bhairavnath with her powers. And then he wanted to test her powers. For this, he took Shiv Avatar Guru GorakshNathJi’s permission. However, Guru Gorakshnath did not recommend it but he let Bhairavnath go ahead with his plans.

Guru Gorakshnath and all his disciples enjoyed pure vaishnav food and went off. But Bhairavnath stayed back to test her powers. Then he attempted to grab Mata Vaishnodevi and she tried her best to daunt him. On failing to do so, Mata Vaishno decided to flee away into the mountains to continue her Tapasaya undisturbed. But BhairavNath chased her to her destination.

Vaishno Devi halted at Charan Paduka, Banganga, and Adhkuwari, but she observed much to her distaste that Bhairav Nath followed her everywhere. Finally, she lost her patience and beheaded him outside the holy cave. The head of Bhairon Nath fell 1.5 km away and the site became popular as Bhairon Nath Temple today.

His soul repented the incident and asked for forgiveness from the Goddess. The Goddess forgave him and granted him the boon that the devotees will have to pay a visit to Bhairav Nath’s shrine to complete her pilgrimage.

Beliefs say that the Goddess then shed her human form and took the form of a rock to continue uninterrupted meditation.

Legend of Shridhar Pandit and Mata Vaishno Devi

The cave was unknown until about 700 years ago. In a village named Hansali, near the Trikuta Mountains, lived a Brahmin Pandit named Shridhar. He was a loyal devotee of Goddess Shakti. Goddess Shakti was happy with his devotion and gave him darshan in the form of a Kanya (young girl).

Then on her request, Shridhar invited all the villagers to his humble abode for a Bhandara (a feast of food). But seeing the crowd for the Bhandara increase Shridhar was afraid if he could accommodate them all inside his hut. Also, he worried about the food availability for all his guests.

Miraculously, the girl that gave him darshan appeared and created abundant food and space so as to fulfil everyone’s hunger.

After the Bhandara, Shridhar wanted to thank the girl but she disappeared. Hence, he spent several sleepless nights. Eventually, the Goddess gave him darshan in his dreams directing him to proceed towards the cave that was her abode.

He followed the directions that he got in his dreams and eventually discovered the cave. According to the beliefs all the three Goddesses, Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Saraswati gave him darshan there.

Other Legends related to Vaishno Devi

Legends of Vaishno Devi
These three spots in the pilgrimage of Vaishno Devi have significant legends associated with them
  • The trek to the Bhawan begins at the Darshani Darwaza. As per beliefs, Mata Vaishno Devi met Pandit Sridhar in a child’s form right at this spot. One can also get a complete view of the Trikuta Mountain range from the Darwaza.
  • The legend of Banganga states that Goddess Vaishno Devi created the River by shooting an arrow in the ground. Hence, the name “Ban” meaning Arrow in Hindi and Ganga signifying the holy River Ganga. Creation of Banganga was to quench the thirst of a langoor called Veer who accompanied her to the holy cave.
  • The legend of the Charan Paduka states that it is where the Goddess Vaishno turned to check whether Bhairav Nath was following her or not. Her footprints got engraved on a stone at the location and are worshipped since then.
  • The Adhkuwari cave is a place where Goddess Vaishno did meditation and observed a penance devoted to Lord Shiva for nine months. This cave was womb-like in shape and hence became popular as Garbha Joon. During the meditation, she realized the presence of Bhairav Nath and created an exit route from the back of the cave with a Trishul. Devotees can still visit the cave and the Garbha Joon.

Dress Code in Vaishno Devi Temple

  • The Bhawan or the Holy Cave is 13 km away from Katra at an altitude of 5200 meters. Minimum temperatures of this region vary from -2 to 15 degree Celsius throughout the year. Hence, the region faces chilly winters almost throughout the whole year. Hence, devotees should dress in warm clothes. Jackets, scarves, socks, and shawls are a must. If travelling with children old people then take special care should be taken regarding their winter tolerance.
  • Months of December and January face heavy snowfall in the higher reaches of the mountains. Hence, blankets and proper shoes are highly advisable.
  • Also, one must carry a raincoat, especially during monsoons and winters. Walking sticks are helpful for the occasional steep climb. And devotees can avail them from the shops lining along the walking track.

Festivals celebrated at Vaishno Devi Temple

  • Navaratri – This festival dedicated to the Mother Goddess Shakti calls for a celebration at the Bhawan with great excitement and religious fever. The festivities continue for nine days. The first three days are dedicated to Durga or Kali who signifies the destruction of evil. The next three days are dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth and prosperity. The last three days are dedicated to the Goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. During this time the entire city of Katra is cleaned and decorated. Lightings of the main Vaishno Devi Complex and surrounding temples are done during Navratri. The Shobha Yatra of the Goddess is held during these nine days. Several cultural events like devotional singing competitions are held. The priests also conduct religious discourses throughout the nine days.
  • Besides Navaratri, Deepavali, Ram Navami, and Mahashivratri also call for a celebration here with great enthusiasm.

How to reach Katra?

How to reach Vaishno Devi Temple
Devotees can also take Helicopter rides to reach the holy destination
  • By Air – The nearest airport to the temple is the Jammu domestic airport. It is 75 km away from the temple. There are regular flights by several private airlines including Air India from cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai to Jammu.
  • By Train – The Katra railway station was built for travellers in 2014. The station is titled ‘Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra’ and the IRCTC code for it is SVDK. This station is 18.9 km away from the temple. There are trains from all major cities like New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Pathankot, Jalandhar, Mangalore, and Kalka to SVDK.
  • By Road – Katra lies 50 km away from Jammu city. There are several luxury bus operators running regular buses between Jammu and Katra. Devotees can hire private taxies at reasonable costs. However, one can hire them outside Jammu Railway Station or the Airport.
  • The trek to the Vaishno Devi shrine begins at the Banganga Checkpost in Katra. It is a journey of about 13 km to the Bhawan at the top. Devotees can take the journey n foot, on horses, on palki (palanquin) and in a helicopter.
  • Notably, the helicopter services should be booked 60 days in advance. However, the booking can also be made at the Jagjivan Ghat near the Katra Bus Stand. Nevertheless, there are limitations to these services. And they are also subjected to cancellation due to climatic changes. Online bookings of the ticket are advised as they are subjected to easy cancellation.

Related Videos With Vaishno Devi Mandir

Obtaining “Yatra Parchi” or a “Travel Slip” at the Yatra Registration Counter near the Katra Bus Stand is a must for on-foot travellers. One can also do the booking of the slip on the temple website.

Where to stay?

  • The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board overlooks the maintenance of several guest houses and Dhams located in Jammu, Katra, Adkuwari, Sanjichhat and Bhawan. Online bookings of clean and well-maintained rooms can be made via the official website of the Board. There are 3 Dhams operated by the Board in Jammu named Vaishnavi Dham, Saraswati Dham, and the Kalika Dham. Four options namely Niharika, Shakti Bhawan, Trikuta Bhawan and the Aashirwad Bhawan can be booked at Katra. The Main Bhawan provides options of both double bedded rooms as well as dormitories. One must make the bookings at least 60 days in advance. And these bookings are non-refundable.
  • Besides these options, several halls have been built for the pilgrims to take rest before heading for darshan. Blankets and medical aid are also provided here.

Where to eat?

  • Temple administration runs Bhojanalaya services both in the Main Bhawan and the Manokamana Bhawan Complex. The Bhojanalaya services are on the basis of no profit-making. Hence, they are cheap and affordable. Moreover, the food here is pure vegetarian and hygienic. Other than traditional food, pilgrims can avail mineral water, hot and cold beverages as well as milk at a fixed and nominal price.

Nearby Temples

  • Bhairon Nath Temple – This temple is 2 km away from the Main Bhawan that houses the holy cave. The temple is a dedication to Bhairon Nath. Legend says that Bhairon Nath’s head fell at this spot after Vaishno Devi beheaded him.
  • Raghunath Temple – This famous Temple holds the title of the largest Temple Complexes in India. It consists of seven individual shrines each of which has its own Shikhara or Tower. The Temple was built in 1860 by Maharaja Gulab Singh. And it is a dedication to Lord Rama.
  • Ranbireshwar Temple – This temple shelters the biggest Linga of Lord Shiva. Moreover, the Linga is 8 feet tall and is made out of black shining stone. One can also view twelve Shiva Lingas made of crystal enshrined in this temple.

Other famous temples in Jammu and Kashmir are:

  • Hemis Monastery: Hemis Monastery is a Himalayan Buddhist monastery of the Drukpa Lineage. The monastery was re-established by the Ladakhi King Sengge Namgya, in 1672. The monastery is situated 45 km from Leh City, Hemis. It is present on a mountain on the west bank of the River Indus.

If you have any questions about The Vaishno Devi Temple, please leave a comment below, and we will get back to you within one hour.

Kheer Bhawani Temple Srinagar Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

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Kheer Bhawani Temple in Srinagar is one of the most picturesque and popular temples in the northern state of Jammu & Kashmir. It has been dedicated to the locally prevalent Goddess Kheer Bhawani (originally she was revered as just Bhawani).

The temple has been constructed on a sacred spring and this is one of the major attractions of the temple. The Kashmiri Hindus universally worship Goddess Kheer Bhawani and she is among the most respected Goddesses in the community.

The famous temple is located about 14 miles in the east of the Srinagar city and is near the village Tul Mul. It is protected by the Indian Army and the soldiers ensure the name of the temple is derived from the word kheer meaning rice pudding that is a popular prasadam offered.

Many people believe that there was a mulberry tree near the holy spot of the temple and in the local language, it is called tulmul. Hence, the place derived its name. The goddess has many names as it is a custom with most Hindu deities. She is called Maharagya Devi, Ragnya Bhagwati, Ragnya Devi and Rajni.

Kheer Bhawani

Kheer Bhawani History

According to stories, the Goddess Maharagya was extremely pleased with the devotion of the demon Ravana and she appeared before him. Ravana then got the image of the Goddess that he saw, installed in Sri Lanka. But the Goddess became displeased with the brutal and wicked life of Ravana and as a result, she was no more pleased to stay in Sri Lanka. Therefore, according to a popular legend, she instructed Lord Hanuman to get her image from there and this was installed here at the holy spot of Tul Mul.

Ragniya is one of the Rupa or incarnations of Goddess Durga and the one at Tul Mul is a Vaishnav Rupa. In the Kashmir, Ragniya is known as Tripura. In Sri Lanka, the Mother Goddess was popular as Shayama. Goddess Sita (the consort of Lord Rama) is also believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Ragniya. According to Ragniya Mahatmya, those who meditate on the PanchDashi Mantra during Navreh (New Year in Kashmir), the Mother Goddess Ragniya grants all their wishes.

Another legend states that the temple is the spot where Lord Rama had worshiped Ragnya Devi while he was in his exile. Lord Rama asked his devotee Lord Hanuman to shift the Goddess form, Lanka, after the exile period was over. Hence, Lord Hanuman brought the seat of the Goddess to Shadipora first and later she was shifted to the current site.

According to popular mythology, the night during which the Mother Goddess was brought from Sri Lanka to Kashmir has been termed as Ragniya Ratriand. This is a major festival among the Kashmiri Pandits. Many shrines have been dedicated to the goddess in Kashmir at Tiker, Manzgam (Noor-abad) Bheda, Bhuvaneshvar, Lo-qraer-pur, Rai-than, Mani-gam and Baed-pur but the one at Tul-Mul has been the most famous one and so this shrine is a focus of the pilgrims. 360 springs (nagas) are believed to have gathered at this spot.

The Ragniya form of the Goddess is Sattavie form which means the form of bliss and tranquility. Kheer Bhawani has been mentioned elaborately in the Kalhana’s Rajtarangini. The texts mention that the sacred spring of the Tula Mula region is situated in a marshy ground. This spring has been named as the Mata Ragini Kund (pond). The Brahmins of the Kashmir region worship this spring and the pilgrims from all comers of the country visit here to have the pious darshan of this place and of Maharagini as the form of Goddess Durga Bhagvati.

According to the text of Rajtarangini, Tula Mula, and the Maharagya spring both have been considered extremely sacred and the region’s Brahmins of Tula Mula are considered to have immense spiritual prowess. As stated by legends, during the Samvat 4041 of the Hindu lunar calendar, when the sacred Spring of Tula Mula in Kashmir was inundated under the sway of the floods, the holy place couldn’t be seen anywhere and couldn’t be traced. It was then that Yogi Krishna Pandit of Kashmir had a dream and the Goddess appeared to him to direct that she will be swimming in the form of a snake at some proper place and asked him to demarcate the holy spot with large poles in the marsh land. The holy spot was subsequently discovered at the same spot as directed by the Goddess.

The place had also uncovered the ruins of an old temple and shrine slabs that were engraved with figures were discovered and many images were found. In the 1920s, Maharaja Pratap Singh, an ardent disciple of Goddess got the marble temple made in the middle of a spring that shines similar to a pearl in the midst of a shell.

Another mention of the temple is in the book Ain-i-Akbari where Abu’l-Fazl ibn Mubarak had mentioned the area of the Tula Mula extending over a hundred bighas (units of land area) that used to sink in marshy lands during summers. The holy place was also visited by Swami Rama Tirtha and Swami Vivekananda. When Swami Vivekananda visited the temple, during his stay, he ritually worshiped Kheer Bhavani and he communicated with the Goddess.

The sacred spring situated here is uniquely septagonal and has been dedicated to Goddess Kheer Bhawani. The spring flows from the west direction to the east. This holy spring mysteriously changes its color in various hues including red, pink, orange, and green, blue, white and this was noted by both Abul Fazal and Swami Vivekananda. The spring located at a distance of 27 kms from Srinagar, in Jammu & Kashmir of India, and is considered to be a form of the Goddess Mata Ragnya Devi.

Significance of the Kheer Bhawani Temple

Kheer Bhawani temple is highly important among the followers of the historical Vedic Religion in the Kashmir region and the followers are called Kashmiri Pandits. The area around the temple is covered with smooth and beautiful stones and large and old chinar trees that grow near the temple which is a popular place for the pilgrims to sit or sleep on the soft mats of grass. A major significance of the temple is due to the occasional change in the color of the spring water which when black or darkish is believed to indicate inauspicious times for the Kashmir region. This popular belief was reinforced at the time of the visit of Walter Lawrence, the-then British settlement commissioner for land in 1886. He visited the spring and reported the water of the spring having a violet tinge. A darkish or murky tinge was observed by the locals in the spring water just before the assassination of ex-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and during the infamous 1989 insurgency in the valley.

Kheer Bhawani Temple Timings

Kheer Bhawani Temple is open from morning 6AM to 8PM every day.

Festivals Celebrated At the Kheer Bhawani Temple

The annual festival held at the temple is the Mela Kheer Bhawani which is the time when the devotees of the Goddess Mata Kheer Bhawani gather here and fast on the eighth day of the full moon. The festival is held during the month of May/ June. The annual festival is a public holiday in the state of Kashmir. This is the time when, according to a popular belief, the Goddess changes the color of the water of the spring and this is due to the mysterious manifestations of the Goddess Mata Kheer Bhawani.

This time of the festival on the eighth day of the full moon holds high significance for the devotees of the temple’s presiding deity Ragnya Devi. The temple serves as the main venue for the annual celebrations on the occasion of Jesht Ashtami. A large number of Hindus gather at the temple and seek the blessings of the goddess. The temple also gains special visitors during the occasion of Shukla Paksh Ashtami. Many havans/yagys are performed by the holy men during the festival to please the goddess.

Poojas and Rituals at Kheer Bhawani Temple

The Kashmiri Pandits hold special reverence towards the temple and thus they perform many rituals at the temple to please the Goddess and to keep their region safe from any external danger. It is believed that there were 360 springs surrounding the main temple earlier that disappeared and the land became marshy and so the Kashmiri Brahmins for whom the Kheer Bhawani is the presiding deity perform special yagys here to protect the temple. A lot of people also visit here for a pilgrimage and chant mantras for their Goddess.

How to Reach By Road, Rail & Air

Kheer Bhawani Temple is located in the village Tul Mul at a distance of 1 hour, 14 miles in the east of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir. The temple is guarded by soldiers from all around and from a distance as many devotees visit here so while visiting the devotees first need to register near the entrance gate. Srinagar can be reached from all parts of the country through rail, road as well as airways.

By Air: There are regular flights from all the major cities of the country to Srinagar and the Srinagar Airport is the major airport.

By Train: Srinagar does not have its own railway station but the nearest railway station is the Udhampur station. It is situated 130 kms away from Srinagar and the Ram Nagar station is located 138 kms away from the city

By Bus: Regular buses can be caught from Srinagar to all other major cities of the country and back. The major bus stand is at Srinagar.

Hotels in Srinagar

Srinagar has many 3-Star, 4-Star, 5-Star hotels as well as many luxurious resorts like Hotel Akbar, The Lalit Grand Palace and Vivanta Dal View by Taj. It is also house to many houseboats and many inns, cottages and private residences.

Nearby Temples and Attractions

Srinagar is a wonderful city poised with natural beauty and nestled among mountains. The city is situated on the banks of the Jhelum and has many diverse temples of great architectural grandeur. The city has beautiful gardens and lakes. Some of the major tourist attractions of Srinagar are the Dal Lake, Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bag and Jami Masjid.

Following are some major temples in Srinagar:

  • Shankaracharya Temple, Srinagar: Adi Shankaracharya had visited this temple and hence it derived its name. The Temple is a soaring imposing structure and highly visited.
  • Sharika Devi Temple, Hari Parbat: This is a temple laced with many mystical theories from the ancient Hindu mythology. The temple’s presiding deity is Sharika Devi who is also the major deity of the Srinagar city.
  • Martand Sun Temple, Anantnag: The Anantnag temple is popular among the devotees who visit the Amarnath temple and the temple is a work of genius architectural labor. This temple was built by the King Lalitaditya of the Surya (Solar) dynasty.
  • Pandrethan Temple, Srinagar: An old stone structure, the Pandrethan temple is a major temple that is associated with Emperor Ashoka and is one of the major attractions of the city.
  • Bhuteshwara Temple, Srinagar: The temple was constructed in the 12th century and is blessed with great architecture and as a result holds great importance among the locals.
  • Jwala Mukhi Temple, Khru: The picturesquely placed temple is atop a hillock and is a popular draw for the tourists.
  • Rameshwaram Shiva Temple, Jawahar Nagar, Srinagar: The popular Shiva temple has religious significance and has associations with Hinduism, but also Sikhism.
  • Mamal Shiva Temple, Pahalgam: The popular Shiva temple is one that has exceptional popularity amongst the faithful devotees and the devotees throng the temple in spite of its ruined condition.

The Kheer Bhawani Temple of Srinagar has been a temple of special importance among the Kashmiri Brahmins and so does the city of Srinagar that is visited by many tourists. A temple is a place with immense natural beauty and thus is worth a visit.

Shankaracharya Temple Srinagar Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

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Shankaracharya Temple is located in Srinagar in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is also called the Jyesteshwara Temple as well as the Pas-Pahar by the Buddhists who visit the temple. The Shankracharya Temple has been a highly revered temple situated on the Shankaracharya Hill that is commonly called the Takht-e-Suleiman in addition to the Gopadari Hill. 

The hill is located in the Zabarwan Mountain of Srinagar, Kashmir and the temple has been dedicated to the extremely popular and admired Lord Shiva. The Shankaracharya Temple is situated on a summit that has the same name and is at the height of 1,000 feet above ground level. The temple overlooks the beautiful city of Srinagar from the height.

Shankaracharya Temple

Shankaracharya Temple History

  • The Shankaracharya Temple was built in the 200 BC but the present structure is a little recent and it dates back to the 9th century AD. The temple is also popular as it was visited by Adi Shankara which has made the temple to be associated with him. Thus the temple came to be known as the Shankaracharya Temple and this temple is also regarded sacred by the Buddhist community. The temple has a Shiv Linga that was placed in the temple during period of the Sikh in the nineteenth century. It became one of the active Hindu temples when the priests started performing regular services in the temple.  According to historians, this temple was originally a Buddhist temple that was extremely popular during the Buddhist era. The temple was then later on changed to a Hindu site and Adi Shankaracharya made it a Hindu place of worship. The Jews and Persians used to call it the Bagh-i-Sulaiman which means the Garden of King Solomon and the temple also has Persian engravings.
  • Popular legends suggest that the Hindu king “Sandiman” governed in Kashmir from 2629 to 2564 BC and he was the one who built this temple. The temple was later on repaired by King Gopaditya (426–365 BC) and then by the King Lalitaditya (697–734 AD). One the temple had been damaged due to an earthquake and Zain-ul-Abidin had repaired its roof that had tumbled down due to the earthquake. Sheikh Ghulam Mohi-nu-ddin who was a Sikh Governor from 1841–46 had also repaired the dome of the temple.
  • The Shankaracharya hill also has historical reference from the historian Kalhana who had earlier called this mountain as Gopadri. Kalhana had also said that King Gopaditya had granted the land that existed at the hill foot to Brahmins who had come from “Araya Versh.” This land grant had a religious term called the Gopa Agraharas. The same region is currently known as Gupkar. Kalhana had also mentioned another village that used to lie in the vicinity of this hill. The village is popular as it is believed that the King Gopaditya had accommodated some Brahmins who had eaten Garlic to a village next door. Kalhana has also mentioned the King Gopaditya who had built this temple on top of Shankaracharya Hill which has been built as a shrine to Lord Jyesthesvara who is a form of Lord Shiva somewhere around the era of 371 BC.
  • Abul Fazal, a famous historian mentions that the King Lalitaditya Muktapida of the Karakote dynasty had helped with some major repairs in this temple. Srivara Budsah was a king who reigned in 1420-1470 AD and he also did some major patch-up work in the temple. He had also the temple’s spike and had repaired the roof of this structure that had fallen down due to an enormous earthquake.

Significance of the Shankaracharya Temple

  • Shankaracharya Temple has a lot of history associated with it and it is also believe that Jesus Christ had visited Kashmir as well as the temple. This is also inscribed on the temple’s shrine as well as on its steps that lead to the main shrine and this has increased its popularity in the region. There were also Persian engravings on the temple and on its stairs. The historical reference to this temple also mentions the same and this has therefore become a belief of the region.
  • The temple had derived many names and the name of Takht-e-Suleiman had persisted during the periods of the Mughal, Sikh, Afghan and Dogra periods. Most of the publications that existed during the periods had all referred to this hill by the same name. The temple as well as the hill derived the name Shankaracharaya when the Governor Sheikh Mohi-ud-Din had made the repairs during 19th century. Since then the temple was not used as a temple and later on it was consecrated as Shankaracharaya temple and this is when Shiv Lingam was placed in temple. During the period of the Sikh, people started prayer services inside the temple and then the festival of Shravan Poornima was also celebrated at this temple which became a custom.
  • Gulab Singh who was a popular Dogra King of this region had also constructed the existing steps to reach the hill. The electrical installations that exist on the temple were made by the Maharaja of Mysore who had come to Kashmir region in 1925. The current statue of Adi Shankaracharaya was put in the temple in 1961 and in 1974 the J&K Government constructed the current road that takes the tourists to the TV antenna which is near the hill top.
  • The temple of Jyoteshware rests on solid rock with a 20 something foot tall octagonal base that supports the square building on the top. There is a terrace around this square temple which is reached by stone staircases that are enclosed between two walls. There is a doorway which is on opposite side of staircase and it leads to interior. The interior is a small dark chamber, which is circular in the plan. It has a ceiling that is supported by octagonal columns and this surrounds a small basin that contains the Lingam which is encircled by a snake.
  • Shankaracharya Temple is regularly worshipped by the pilgrims who visit the region during the popular Amarnath Yatra. The 243 steps that lead up to this temple area are not very steep and can be easily climbed. The temple overlooks the beautiful Srinagar town and the temple is located at height of about 1100 feet. This sacred site also offers splendid views of Kashmir valley and the splendid snow covered mountains can also be seen from here especially the Pir Panjal range. The shrine is one of the oldest in the region and in the Kashmir valley.
  • The shrine also has a circular cell which provides views of the valley below and the innermost chamber of this temple was renovated and is now covered with modern ceilings. This temple also is a very well known spot amongst the religious tourists and it is also known to have a lot of religious as well as architectural importance in the region.

Shankaracharya Temple Timings

The temple opens in morning 6 AM and the cars are allowed inside from then onwards. It is under the protection of the Army and hence the entrance is guarded by the army personnel. Cars aren’t permitted inside the temple after 5 PM but the temple does remain open till 8 PM.

Festivals Celebrated at the Shankaracharya Temple

Kashmir has been a popular seat of Shaivism. The Himalayas and the Mount Kailash are nearby and it is believed that the devotion of Shiva spread in the entire India from here, by spiritual work of great saints like Adi Shankaracharya. The Soundarya Lahari is a rich text and lyrical constructed and composed by Adi Shankara at the top of the Gopadari Hill. He had composed the same after accepting that the union of Shiva and Shakti had happened here. It is believed that when Shiva unites with Shakti, he gets the power of creating. Thus the temple has a lot of significance among Shaivaites and they celebrate Shivratri with great vigor here.

Poojas and Rituals at Shankaracharya Temple

The Lingam is offered milk and fruits and flowers by the devotees and they sing songs in praise of the Lord here.

How to reach by Rail, Road and Air

Tourists have to take special permission from the army department to visit this temple. Jammu and Srinagar are major cities of India and both are well connected to all parts of the country by trains, airways and road.  Following are the major roadways, railways and airways of the city of Srinagar:

By Bus: Shankaracharya Temple is easy to access by roadways. There are several private bus service providers who run deluxe bus packages from nearby cities to Srinagar is connected to Chandigarh and Jammu etc. The package tours expense around Rs. 4/- to Rs. 5/- per km.

By Rail: Jammu is the nearby railway station to Srinagar, found at 290 km away. The Railway station of Jammu is well linked to different main cities of the country by rail services. There are direct train services available from Chennai, Delhi, Trivandrum and Bangalore.

By Air: The Srinagar airport connected to major cities of the country. There are effective flights between Srinagar and Delhi, Chandigarh, Mumbai and Shimla. The frequency is generally once or two times a day which is standard amongst all the airlines

Hotels in Srinagar

Srinagar is a major Indian city and thus has many 3-Star, 4-Star, 5-Star hotels as well as many luxurious resorts like Hotel Akbar, the Lalit Grand Palace and Vivanta Dal View by Taj. The city has a major attraction in the form of the houseboats that are dwelled by many tourists and many Inns, cottages and private residences are also present in the city.

Nearby Temples and Attractions

Srinagar is a wonderful city in the Kashmir valley that has a lot of natural beauty and the city is nestled among mountains. The city is situated on the banks of the holy River Jhelum and has many diverse temples that have great architectural grandeur and history associated with them. The city also has beautiful gardens and lakes. Some of the major tourist attractions of Srinagar are the Dal Lake, Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bag and Jami Masjid.

Following are some major temples in Srinagar:

  • Pandrethan Temple, Srinagar: An old stone structure, the Pandrethan temple is a major temple that is associated with the Emperor Ashoka and is one of the major attractions of the city.
  • Bhuteshwara Temple, Srinagar: The temple was constructed in the 12th century and is blessed with great architecture and thus holds great importance among the locals.
  • Sharika Devi Temple, Hari Parbat, Srinagar: This is a temple laced with many mystical theories from the ancient Hindu mythology. The temple’s presiding deity is Sharika Devi who is also the major deity of the Srinagar city.
  • JwalaMukhi Temple, Khru, Srinagar: The picturesquely placed temple is atop a hillock and is a popular draw for the tourists.
  • Rameshwaram Shiva Temple, Jawahar Nagar, Srinagar: The popular Shiva Temple has religious significance and has associations with Hinduism, but also Sikhism.
  • Martand Sun Temple, Anantnag, Srinagar: The Anantnag temple is popular among the devotees who visit the Amarnath temple and the temple is a work of genius architectural labour. This temple was built by the King Lalitaditya of the Surya (Solar) dynasty.
  • Mamal Shiva Temple, Pahalgam, Srinagar: The popular Shiva Temple is one that has exceptional popularity amongst the faithful devotees and the devotees throng the temple in spite of its ruined condition.

The Adi Shankaracharya Temple of Srinagar has been a significant and historical temple and it thus carries special importance among the locals as well as the tourists. The temple being dedicated to Lord Shiva is visited by many people and the city of Srinagar is also an important destination for many people and is visited by many tourists. The temple is a place with immense natural beauty in and around the temple and so the place is worth a visit.

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