Top 10 Temples to Visit in Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir, with its breathtaking mountains and valleys, is known for its natural beauty and rich religious heritage. The region houses many beautiful temples that attract visitors from all over the world. These temples showcase amazing architecture and have deep spiritual meaning. Let’s journey through some of the most important temples in this beautiful northern Indian region.

Table of Contents

Temples Key Information:

Temple Name	Location	Famous For	Best Time to Visit
Raghunath Temple	Jammu City	Largest temple complex with 17 shrines	October to March
Vaishno Devi Temple	Trikuta Hills, Katra	One of India’s most visited shrines	March to July, September to November
Shankaracharya Temple	Srinagar	Ancient Shiva temple with panoramic views	May to October
Kheer Bhawani Temple	Tullamulla, Kashmir	Sacred spring that changes colors	May to September
Sharika Devi Temple	Hari Parbat, Srinagar	A temple dedicated to the goddess Sharika	April to October
Sudh Mahadev Temple	Udhampur district	3,000-year-old Shiva lingam	April to October
Bhairavnath Temple	Jammu	Temple dedicated to the goddess Sharika	October to March
Peer Budhan Ali Shah Sahib	Satwari, near Jammu Airport	Sufi shrine with interfaith visitors	Year-round
Ziarat Dastgir Sahib	Downtown Srinagar	200-year-old shrine with beautiful architecture	May to September
Devi Maha Lakshmi Temple	Pacca Danga, Jammu	Built by Maharaja Ranbir Singh	October to March

1. Raghunath Temple

Located in the heart of Jammu city, Raghunath Temple is the largest temple complex in northern India. Built in 1835 by Maharaja Gulab Singh, the founder of the Kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir, this temple was later completed by his son, Maharaja Ranbir Singh.

Key features:

The complex of seven shrines, with the main temple dedicated to Lord Rama
Houses a gallery of over 300 miniature paintings of Indian gods and goddesses
Gold-plated interiors in the main sanctuary
Library containing rare Sanskrit manuscripts and texts

2. Vaishno Devi Temple

One of the most visited religious sites in India, Vaishno Devi Temple is located at a height of 5,200 feet atop the Trikuta Hills. Dedicated to Mata Vaishno Devi, a form of Goddess Durga, this temple attracts millions of pilgrims every year.

What to know:

The journey begins from Katra, which is about 50 km from Jammu
Pilgrims need to walk approximately 12 km uphill to reach the shrine
Options include walking, using palanquins, ponies, or helicopter services
The cave temple contains three natural rock formations (pindis) representing three goddesses

3. Shankaracharya Temple

Perched on top of the Shankaracharya Hill in Srinagar, this ancient temple offers stunning views of the city and Dal Lake. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it’s believed to have been built in 371 BC, making it one of the oldest structures in Kashmir.

Highlights:

Also known as Jyesteshwara Temple
Features a circular sanctum with a Persian inscription
Reached by climbing about 250 steps
Perfect spot for photography with panoramic views of Srinagar

4. Kheer Bhawani Temple

Located in Tullamulla village about 22 km from Srinagar, Kheer Bhawani Temple is dedicated to Goddess Ragnya Devi. The temple is built over a sacred spring whose water mysteriously changes colors, which devotees believe indicates upcoming events.

Special aspects:

Beautiful marble temple with a hexagonal base
Famous for the annual festival in May-June (Jyestha Ashtami)
Devotees offer milk and kheer (sweet rice pudding) to the spring
Surrounded by chinar trees and colorful flower gardens

5. Sharika Devi Temple

This temple, located on Hari Parbat in Srinagar, is dedicated to Goddess Sharika, the presiding deity of Srinagar. She is worshipped in the form of a Swayambhu (self-manifested) Shrichakra, a sacred stone with special markings.

Notable points:

Also known as Chakreshwari Temple
Located inside the Hari Parbat Fort complex
Beautiful views of Dal Lake and Srinagar city
Associated with many local legends and stories

6. Sudh Mahadev Temple

Located about 112 km from Jammu in the Udhampur district, Sudh Mahadev Temple is believed to be over 3,000 years old. It houses an ancient black marble Shiva lingam and a bronze trident (Trishul) with inscriptions in ancient script.

Key attractions:

Ancient Shiva lingam said to be from the Pandava era
6-foot-tall Trishul with inscriptions
Beautiful location amidst pine forests
A sacred pond called Gauri Kund
Popular during the annual three-day festival on full moon in June-July

7. Bhairavnath Temple

Located in Jammu, this temple is dedicated to Lord Bhairava, a fierce form of Lord Shiva. The temple plays an important role during the Navratri festival when devotees visit in large numbers.

Worth noting:

Important during Kalaratri (seventh day of Navratri)
Houses several smaller shrines
Special rituals performed on Bhairava Ashtami
Easy to access from Jammu city

8. Peer Budhan Ali Shah Sahib

This is a Sufi shrine located in Satwari near Jammu Airport. Known for its interfaith appeal, it attracts devotees from different religions who come to seek blessings.

Interesting facts:

Dedicated to the Sufi saint Peer Budhan Ali Shah
Believed to be over 400 years old
Known for fulfilling the wishes of devotees
The peaceful atmosphere for meditation

9. Ziarat Dastgir Sahib

This 200-year-old shrine in downtown Srinagar is dedicated to the Sufi saint Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani. The wooden structure showcases beautiful Kashmiri architecture.

Special features:

The annual Urs festival attracts many devotees
Peaceful garden surroundings
Regular qawwali performances
Located in the historic part of Srinagar

10. Devi Maha Lakshmi Temple

Located in the Pacca Danga area of Jammu, this ancient temple was built by Maharaja Ranbir Singh. Dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, it features beautiful architecture and intricate carvings.

Highlights: