|
Area : 20.36 sq.km
Season : Full year, summers are hot.
Language : Dogri, Hindi, English, Kashmiri.
Jammu is Jammu & Kashmir’s second largest city and its winter
capital. In summer it is a sweltering contrast to the cool heights
of Kashmir.From October it becomes much more pleasant. Jammu
actually consists of two towns. The old town sites on a hilltop
overlooking the river and several kilometers away across the river
and several kilometers away across the river is the new town of
Jammu Tawi. Jammu is the railhead and main entry point for Kahsmir.
Amongst the three regions of Jammu and Kashmir State Jammu perhaps
offers the widest diversity of terrain and beauty.In its
undulating plains and lower hills of the south to its fierce
heights of Kishtwar to the northeast one is witness to its history
art religion and an abundance of natural beauty.
The entire region is dotted with lakes and valleys some still
little explored. The foundation of the settlement of Jammu is
attributed to king Jambulochan of the 9th century BC when as the
legend goes he saw a tiger and a goat together drinking at the
same pool. At this auspicious spot he constructed a fort believed
to be the second Bahu Fort.Little is known of its subsequent
history till in 1730 AD it came under the Dogra rule of Raja
Dhruva Deva. Dogra rulers moved their capital to the present site
across the river Tawi and Jammu became an important centre for
arts and culture now renowned as the Pahari School. Religion too
played an important part in its development so beautifully
evidence in its various shrines and temples spread throughout the
region.
Until the late 18th century its fortunes were closely associated
with events in the Punjab. Jammu itself is not an attractive city
with few open spaces and too much traffic.The railway station is
some way away from the old town. The bus station is closer at the
foot of the steps off the Srinagar Road. Vast and chaotic on a
rainy day.
Scraping the low-lying foothills of the Himalayas the overall
impression of Jammu is one of the large stone mansions handsome
buildings and the remains of an old fort that stands the sentinel
over the Tawi gorge. While modern plate-fronted shops line the
roads today there is also in the older houses a feeling of
timeliness tranquility acquired from the passing of an age.
In recent decades Jammu has come to be known as a ‘city of
temples’.From almost anywhere in the city temple spires can be
sighted a burnished gold and spiraling skywards as they tower over
a huddle of flat rooftops.
Jammu is also the winter capital of his state the seat of
government when Srinagar is freezing snowbound.
Equally Jammu is an important centre for trade and commerce and
there is about the city and air of brisk finality. This ties
perhaps incongruously with its temple city nomenclature but then
surely. In this Dogra stronghold even a French chateau is an
audity.
Places of attraction
Peer Khoh : Cicular Road 3.5 kms. The main attraction is a
naturally found Shiva lingam of indeterminate age. Legend has it
that the cave located leads you out of the country.
Ranbireshwar Temple: Built by Maharaja Ranbir Singh in 1883
AD., Ranbireshwar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. There are
twelve Shiva ‘lingams’ of crystal measuring from 15 cms. And
galleries with thousands of shiva ‘lingams’ fixed on stone slabs.
Raghunath Temple: Amongst the temples in the city the
Raghunath Mandir takes pride of the place being situated right in
the heart of Jammu. It consists of a cluster of temples which
makes it the largest temple complex in Northern India. The inner
sanctums of the temples contain gigantic statues of Gods and
Goddesses and numerous ‘lingams’. It contains representatives of
almost the entire Hindu Pantheon which makes it rare to see.
Situated in the heart of the city and surrounded by a group of
other temples this temple is dedicated to Lord Rama. It is
outstanding and unique in northern India. Work on the temple was
started by Maharaja Gulab Singh founder of the present city in
1835 AD and was completed by his son Maharaja Ranbir Singh in 1860
AD.
The inner walls of the main temple are covered with gold sheet on
three sides. There are many galleries with lakhs of ‘Saligrams’.
The surrounding temples are dedicated to various Gods and
Goddesses connected with the epic Ramayana.
Ranbir Canal: 3.5 kms. The canal branches off from the
river Chenab at Akhnoor 32 kms. away. Its waters are ice cold
throughout the year. It is also a good viewpoint.
Bahu Fort: On the opposite bank of the Tawi river at an
upland plateau is situated the majestic Bahu Fort. This is perhaps
the oldest fort and edifice in the city. Constructed originally by
Raja Bahulochan over 3,000 years ago the exciting fort was more
recently improved and rebuilt as the Mondi Palace by the Dogra
rulers. There is a temple dedicated to goddess Kali inside the
fort. Looking at the Fort one can imagine the wars fought
invasions prevented and yes even the grandeur the royal family
must have enjoyed once upon a time. Today lush green terraced
gardens waterfalls and flowers of just about every kind and colour
surround the fort. A favourite picnic spot for the cityfolk you
can hear a lively chatter all day long on weekends. The Old Palace
is now the High Court.
Bagh-e-Bahu: 5 kms. These extensive gardens laid around the
Bahu Fort provide pleasant views of the city and have a cafeteria
for snacks.
Amar Mahal : The Amar Mahal ( 20th century) superbly sited
on the bend of the Tawi just off the Srinagar road bears the
imprint of its French designer with its chateau-like sloping roofs
of the turrets. This Palace is a sight to behold. This grand
palace reminds one of a dreamy French castle with sloping roofs
and tall towers.
|
