Jammu is the largest city in the Jammu Division in India. It is the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir state, sitting at a low elevation in the mainly mountainous state; Srinagar, the state's summer capital, is at a much higher elevation.
Jammu was founded by Raja Jambulochan in the 14th century BC who named it Jambupur. The name later morphed to Jammu. It was the winter capital of the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir under British rule. After independence, it continues to be the state's winter capital.
Jammu is also known as City Of Temples. One can visit Raghunath Temple, Ranbireshwar Temple, Peer Kho Cave Temple, Bawey Wali Mata, Mahamaya Temple. Other Places of interest are Baag-e-Bahu Park, Amar Mahal Museum, Mansar Lake and the Fish Aquarium at Baag-e-Bahu.
Go to various temples and sights in and around Jammu city:
- Amar Mahal Palace Museum, Palace Rd, Karan Nagar, +91 191 254 6783. A beautiful red sand stone palace that has been converted into a museum. It stands amidst the most picturesque surroundings of Jammu.
- Bagh-E-Bahu. Open 08:00 to 20:00. 5 km. These extensive gardens, laid around the Bahu Fort provide a pleasant view of the city.
- Bahu Fort. 5 km. Situated on a rock face on the left bank of the river Tawi.
- The Dargah o Peer Budhan Ali Shah (Peer Baba). On the backside of the Civil Airport is famous Dargah of the Muslim saint, Peer Budhan Ali Shah
- Maha Maya Temple and City Forest. On the By-pass Road behind Bahu Fort, the city forest surrounds the ancient Maha Maya Temple overlooking the river Tawi.
- Martand Sun Temple. The most memorable and beautiful work of King Lalitaditya is the construction of spacious Martand temple, which the emperor got built in honor of the Sun God or Bhaskar.
- Mubarak Mandi Palace. The oldest buildings in this Palace complex date to 1824.
- Peer Kho Cave Temple. A cave shrine located on the Circular Road, 3.5 km from the heart of the town.
- Raghunath Mandir. Situated in the heart of the city and surrounded by a group of other temples. This is a temple complex, each of the temples have their own Shikhara (tower).
- Ranbir Canal. A small garden along the Ranbir Canal, 2 km from the heart of the town.
- Ranbireshwar Temple. Located on Shalimar Road near the New Secretariat.
- Sudh Mahadev Temple, Sudhmahadev. Situated in the town of Chanhani in the western part of the Jammu
Amar Mahal Palace Museum, Palace Rd, Karan Nagar, +91 191 254 6783. A beautiful red sand stone palace that has been converted into a museum. It stands amidst the most picturesque surroundings of Jammu.
Bagh-E-Bahu. Open 08:00 to 20:00. 5 km. These extensive gardens, laid around the Bahu Fort provide a pleasant view of the city.
Bahu Fort. 5 km. Situated on a rock face on the left bank of the river Tawi.
The Dargah o Peer Budhan Ali Shah (Peer Baba). On the backside of the Civil Airport is famous Dargah of the Muslim saint, Peer Budhan Ali Shah
Maha Maya Temple and City Forest. On the By-pass Road behind Bahu Fort, the city forest surrounds the ancient Maha Maya Temple overlooking the river Tawi.
Martand Sun Temple. The most memorable and beautiful work of King Lalitaditya is the construction of spacious Martand temple, which the emperor got built in honor of the Sun God or Bhaskar.
Mubarak Mandi Palace. The oldest buildings in this Palace complex date to 1824.
Peer Kho Cave Temple. A cave shrine located on the Circular Road, 3.5 km from the heart of the town.
Raghunath Mandir. Situated in the heart of the city and surrounded by a group of other temples. This is a temple complex, each of the temples have their own Shikhara (tower).
Ranbir Canal. A small garden along the Ranbir Canal, 2 km from the heart of the town.
Ranbireshwar Temple. Located on Shalimar Road near the New Secretariat.
Sudh Mahadev Temple, Sudhmahadev. Situated in the town of Chanhani in the western part of the Jammu
Here the main bazaars – Vir Marg, Raghunath Bazaar and Hari Market – are famous for Kashmiri handicrafts, traditional Dogra jewellery and various dry fruits, chiefly walnuts (‘akhrot’) and almonds. Jammu is also known for the superlative quality of its ‘basmati’ rice, ‘rajma’ (red beans), ‘ampapar’ (dried and candied mango peel), ‘anardana’ (dried pomegranate seeds) and ‘barfi’ (milk sweets).
There are many good eateries in Jammu. At the higher end are "the Imperial Grill" famous for its service and excellent food along with the Bar 'Legends", Falak at KC Residency, 'The Earthen Oven' in Fortune, Chinese and Indian restaurants at Hotel Asia, and Hari Niwas Palace Hotel. For medium budget and fast food KC Plaza and Premier can be tried. For the lovers of non vegetarian cuisine Paras Ram di Hatti is a must visit place.Imperial Grill is in Bahu Plaza whereas Fortune is on the way to KC Residency and KC Plaza on Residency Road, Asia Hotel is near Gandhi Nagar and Paras Ram dhaba is near Panjtirthi in old city. Hotel Ashok and Hari Niwas Palace Hotel are at the far end of Jammu near Amar Mahal museum.
- Annapurna, Opp Jammu Station (Next to Nescafe. Huge Utensils to store food and next to bus stand makes it ideal for travellers going in and out of Jammu. Food is tasty and 2 men do rhythmic chapati dough flattening in fingers and putting to 2 ovens that churn out abt 5000-6000 parathas and chapatis.
- Imperial Grill, TRG Towers, Rail Head Complex, +91 191 247 0244. Quite expensive but a favourite among tourists to get their grilled food fix.
Annapurna, Opp Jammu Station (Next to Nescafe. Huge Utensils to store food and next to bus stand makes it ideal for travellers going in and out of Jammu. Food is tasty and 2 men do rhythmic chapati dough flattening in fingers and putting to 2 ovens that churn out abt 5000-6000 parathas and chapatis.
Imperial Grill, TRG Towers, Rail Head Complex, +91 191 247 0244. Quite expensive but a favourite among tourists to get their grilled food fix.
- Katra. (Katra Vaishno Devi) — a small town in the foothills of the Trikuta Mountains famous for the Vaishno Devi Temple
- Mansar Lake. — the lake is a religious site - several old temples are located nearby
- Patnitop. — a small hill-station town in the Jammu Division
- Poonch. — a town in the Poonch District
- Udhampur. — the second-largest city in the Udhampur District
Katra. (Katra Vaishno Devi) — a small town in the foothills of the Trikuta Mountains famous for the Vaishno Devi Temple
Mansar Lake. — the lake is a religious site - several old temples are located nearby
Patnitop. — a small hill-station town in the Jammu Division
Poonch. — a town in the Poonch District
Udhampur. — the second-largest city in the Udhampur District