Jammu and Kashmir is that fabled Himalayan state where the legends of Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati and saints and Asuras all played out millions of years ago. Today, the traces of these extraordinary, heavenly events can be found in the monumental temples in Jammu and Kashmir left behind by the Hindu ancestors who once ruled this place. We all have heard of Mata Vaishno Devi temple and Amarnath cave. But the many shrines in Jammu and Kashmir can be both old or new, well known or hidden, easy to reach or very difficult to climb up to. But the variety of different devotional sites in Kashmir has actually only increased its importance among tourists.
Famous Temples of Jammu And Kashmir That MUST Be On Traveller’s Bucket List
Here is a much-requested list of the most famous temples in Jammu And Kashmir – millions of tourists from all over India plan pilgrimage trips to Kashmir keeping in mind all the important devotional sites they wish to cover. You can be one of these tourists, all you need to do is reach out to our travel agents and book your pilgrimage trip to Kashmir today!
What are some famous temples that you must visit in Jammu and Kashmir? Let us take a look.
1. Vaishno Devi Temple
If there is one temple that every Indian has heard of, it is this extraordinary location a couple of hours away from Jammu. Mata Vaishno Devi Temple is without a doubt one of the first choices for pilgrims among all temples in Kashmir and is known to absolve visitors of all their sins. To visit the Mata Vaishno Devi temple, pilgrims reach Katra, a small hill station near Jammu City and travel from there to the mountain which is located on a hilltop 13 km away. While the best way to reach Mata Vaishno Devi temple is by walking, pony rides and helicopter rides are also easily available. There are many other Famous Tourist Places in Katra that devotees are going to rejoice in!
Entry fee: no entry fee
Opening and closing timings: 5:00 a.m. to 12 noon and 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Time taken to visit: one-day trip
2. Bhaironath Temple
The legend of Mata Vaishno Devi is so intricately interconnected with that of Lord Shiva in the form of Bhairavnath, that a trip to this location would be incomplete without paying one’s respects to Kaal Bhairav. The Bhaironath Temple is one of the most picturesque shrines in Kashmir – not that such shines are few in number – and is located on a hilltop surrounded by refreshing forests. Similar to Mata Vaishno Devi temple, you can hire a pony to get to the hilltop and visit the temple. There is also a ropeway that takes you directly to the temple from Mata Vaishno Devi at 100 INR per person. It is located 3 km away from Bhawan.
Entry fee: no entry fee
Opening and closing timings: 5:00 a.m. to 12 noon and 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Time taken to visit: 4 to 5 hours
3. Raghunath Temple
There is no end to the captivating and spiritually liberating shrines in Kashmir that are dedicated to Lord Shiva, but a temple dedicated to all the mighty Gods of Hinduism in one place is quite rare. This is why this temple is among the top Places to visit in Jammu. The Raghunath temple is famous for its 7 shrines all located within the same, huge temple premises where each Shrine has its own famous Shikhara. This temple was built by none other than Maharaja Gulab Singh and his son Maharaja Ranveer Singh during the period of 1853 to 1860. The central shrine is dedicated to Lord Rama, but there are also shrines dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Lord Surya. It also has a nationally famous gallery of lingams.
Entry fee: no entry fee
Opening and closing timings: 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Time taken to visit: 3 hours
4. Shankaracharya Hill and Temple
The beauty of the Kashmiri culture is that it stretches far back to the initial golden ages of ancient India. The Shankaracharya temple is one of the oldest temples in Kashmir and is today maintained by the Archaeological Survey Department of India. Shankaracharya Hill and Temple is located surprisingly close to the charming city of Srinagar and has been there since 371 BCE. Adi Shankaracharya composed the famous ancient literary work Soundarya Lahari here! When it comes to Shiva and Shakti, however this is not the only temple among the travellers but is also counted as one most famous Tourist Places in Srinagar!
Entry fee: 20 INR per person
Opening and closing timings: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Cars are not permitted after 5:00 p.m..
Time taken to visit: 2 to 3 hours
5. Avantishwar Temple
It seems as if the shrines in Kashmir which are maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India are not that few in number! Avantishwar Temple is located on the banks of the mythical and mighty river Jhelum, and spending a few moments here is enough to brighten anyone’s day. The temple itself is gorgeous as well, although today it is little more than ruins. Avantishwar Temple is a large area of land which holds two shrines inside it – one dedicated to Lord Shiva and the other dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple is said to have been built by King Avantivarman of the Utpala dynasty somewhere in the 9th century. The place is one of the most famous places in Pulwama, which houses many other legendary temples that tourists must visit.
Entry fee: 15 INR per person
Opening and closing timings: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Time taken to visit: 3 hours
6. Martand Sun Temple
Lord Surya is said to be one of the most widely worshipped Gods in ancient Northern India. Even today, we can find impressive structures dedicated to the Sun god in states like Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Jammu and Kashmir. The Martand Sun Temple is a must-visit name on the list of ancient shrines in Kashmir, and not just because of the surrounding beauty of the towering snow-capped mountains and lush green forests – the fascinating details and architectural glory of this place deserve obeisance. The Martand sun temple was built by King Lalitaditya Muktapid in the 8th century. It was demolished in the 15th century CE. This is definitely a most visit among Tourist Places in Verinag.
Entry fee: No entry fee
Opening and closing timings: No official opening and closing timings
Time taken to visit: 3 to 4 hours
7. Mamal Temple
Pahalgam is a breathtaking location in Kashmir which is described as being full of unknown flowers, thick pine forests and open alpine meadows. One temple however tops all beautiful structures of Pahalgam and that temple is the Mamaleswar Temple located on the banks of the Lidder river. Another relatively older name among the temples in Kashmir, Mamal Mandir was built in the 400 AD. It houses a mythical shiva lingam which locals believe to be omnipotent. According to a local legend, Lord Ganesha was appointed as a door keeper at this temple to make sure no one enters the temple without Lord Shiva’s permission.
Entry fee: No entry fee
Opening and closing timings: 5:30 am to 9:00 pm
Time taken to visit: 2 hours
8. Amarnath Yatra
Another exciting pilgrimage site among the tourist places in Pahalgam that is worth the adventure is, of course, the Amarnath cave. The Amarnath cave is a place like no other. It is located in a completely uninhabited, dangerous terrain where nothing but snow-kept peaks and rocky slopes with temporary alpine grass exist. There are many tourists camp are available where hundreds of devotees stay during the Amarnath Yatra journey, and relish the feeling of being so close to Kailash itself. The Amarnath Yatra usually opens in June and one has to register beforehand and yatra closes by August. This pilgrimage journey is a once in a lifetime journey and it is said that those who visit Amarnath are never admitted to hell after death.
Entry fee: No entry fee
Opening and closing timings: Open for 24 hours
Time taken to visit: 2-3 days
9. Kheer Bhawani Mata Mandir
If Lord Shiva holds a powerful place in the hearts of the devotees in Kashmir, then it must be said that Lord Durga holds an even mightier place. Shri kheer Bhawani Durga Temple is located in Tulmul in Ganderbal District of Kashmir. It is one of the most visited Temples in Jammu and Kashmir and there are several travel packages dedicated especially to the kheer Bhawani pilgrimage. The temple houses the sacred Kheer Bhawani spring, which is a soothing hexagonal spring. The main Prasad offered to the deity in this temple is Kheer. The temple was built in 1912 by Maharaja Pratap Singh.
Entry fee: No entry fee
Opening and closing timings: 6:00 am to 6:00 pm
Time taken to visit: 2 hours
10. Sudh Mahadev Temple
This sightseeing is located 42 km away and is a soulful Tourist places in Patnitop lies the Gauri Kund, right beside this majestic temple where locals believe Goddess Parvati herself comes to pray! The Shivling at Sudh Mahadev temple is said to be 3000 years old. The temple is beautifully built and a fascinating black marble statue of Lord Shiva and Parvati stands tall on the premises. Did you know that the only underground stream which is known to be as essential as the Ganga – the Devak river – originates at the Sudh Mahadev Temple? Even though this temple is lesser known compared to other shrines in Kashmir, the rich history of this place makes it one of the holiest pilgrimage sites in India.
Entry fee: No entry fee
Opening and closing timings: 5:00 am to 9:00 pm
Time taken to visit: 2 hours
11. Sharika Devi Temple
Most of the popular rituals and customs dedicated to Mata Jagdamba can be traced back to this one pilgrimage site – the Sharika Devi Temple. Mata Jagdamba is a cosmic goddess with 18 arms who sits on Sri Chakra. She is known to be a direct representation of Adi Shakti and is one of the most important deities in the Kashmiri pandit culture. Goddess Jagdamba Sharika Bhagwati is known for her characteristic orange tone and red attire. She is known to bless young women with a happy marriage and spiritual safety. She is also often visited by couples who are expecting a child.
Entry fee: No entry fee
Opening and closing timings: 6:00 am to 10:00 pm
Time taken to visit: 2 hours
Frequently Asked Questions?
A. The safest route to Amarnath cave is through Pahalgam. People who don’t have the health or experience that is required for intermediate trekking are advised not to take the Baltal route to Amarnath.
A. The journey uphill from Jammu City to Mata Vaishno Devi Mandir takes 7 hours and the journey back takes 5 hours on foot.
A. Avantishwar Temple is located in Avantipur, Pulwama.
Almost all Kashmir travel packages are, after all, bound to include at least a couple of well-known pilgrimage sites. Avid travellers however like to plan an entire vacation dedicated to visiting as many pilgrimage sites in Jammu and Kashmir as possible – this kind of Devotional Trip in Kashmir has recently become very popular. Most visitors have claimed to return with better spirits, mental peace and strong attitudes and believe to do much better after a pilgrimage journey.
