Referred to as ‘the Paradise on Earth’, Kashmir is known for its alpine meadows, snowclad Himalayas, enchanting valleys, crystal-clear lakes, and apple orchards. It is one of the popular tourist destinations in India and among the must-include places in Honeymoon Tour Packages. Also, the state is home to some of the most sacred Hindu temples in India that are known for their ancient significance, impressive architecture, and serene environment. From the famed Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu to the tranquil Shankaracharya Temple in Srinagar, there are several Hindu temples in the state that attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world every year as part of Jammu & Kashmir Tour Packages.
Here is our list of some of the most revered Hindu temples in Jammu & Kashmir.
Vaishno Devi Temple, Katra
Placed at an altitude of 5200 feet, Vaishno Devi Mandir is a Hindu temple located at Katra in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. Dedicated to the Goddess Mahalakshmi, Vaishno Devi is one of the most popular temples in India and among the most visited religious sites in Kashmir. It is also acknowledged as one of the Shakti Peethas of Goddess Durga. The Shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is a narrow hilly cave that houses images of three deities – Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasaraswati who are all reincarnations of Goddess Durga. Bhairon Temple, Bhumika Temple, Kalika Temple, Shiva Goompha, and Ban Ganga Temple with the spring of the holy river Ban Ganga are the other places to visit in Vaishno Devi. There are various modes of transportation available to reach the temple including Ponies, electric vehicles, Helicopter services, and paalkhis.
Amarnath Cave Temple, Pahalgam
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Amarnath Cave Temple is another revered Hindu shrine located in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir. Situated at an altitude of 3888 m, it is considered to be one of the famous sites of pilgrimage in India, and among the top places to visit in Pahalgam. According to the legend, this is the place where Lord Shiva revealed the secret of immortality to his consort Goddess Parvati, which was overheard by a pair of pigeons. Even today, it is believed that a pair of pigeons can be seen in the cave. The temple is known for an ice stalagmite Lingam formed annually in the caves due to the freezing of water during the month of Shravan. The cave itself is covered with snow most of the year except for a short period in summer when it is open for pilgrims. The Amarnath Yatra is an annual event in which pilgrims are allowed to trek to the cave temple. Every year more than 450,000 pilgrims visit Amarnath Cave from various parts of India.
Raghunath Temple, Jammu
Lies in the heart of Jammu, Raghunath Temple is another revered Hindu temple in Kashmir. The temple is dedicated to lord Rama, the 8th incarnation of Vishnu, and is believed to be the protector of the Dogra people there. The temple comprises 7 shrines, each with Shikharas of its own. Also, the cluster of temples nearby is devoted to the deities mentioned in the epic Ramayana, which makes it the largest temple complex in North India. Maharaja Gulab Singh and his son Maharaja Ranbir Singh were the principal designers of this temple. It took around 25 long years to complete the entire complex from 1835 AD to 1860 AD. The complex also has a museum that houses several lingams and calligrams. It is one of the must-visit temples as part of Jammu Tour Packages.
Shankaracharya Temple, Srinagar
Situated atop Shankaracharya Hill, Shankaracharya Temple or Jyeshteshwara Temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Also called Pas-Pahar by Buddhists, it is one of the popular temples to visit in Kashmir and among the top Srinagar tourist places. The temple is named after the great philosopher Shankaracharya. It is believed to be the place where Adi Shankaracharya attained spiritual enlightenment. After this, he formed the four Hindu schools of Advaita, or the philosophy of non-dualism. The Shivaling he worshipped is now placed inside the temple. The Shankaracharya Temple dates back to 200 BC, but the present-day structure of the temple belongs to the 9th century AD. Many historians and scholars believe that earlier the temple was a Buddhist site of worship. Maha Shivaratri is the main festival celebrated in this temple that attracts a large number of tourists as well as Kashmiri Hindus as part of Srinagar tour packages.
Mamaleshwar Temple, Pahalgam
Perched at an elevation of 2,200 m, Mamaleshwar Temple or Mamal Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located in Pahalgam town of Jammu & Kashmir. Situated on the banks of Lidder River, it is one of the revered places to visit in Pahalgam. Dates back to 400 AD (1,600 years ago), the temple was later reconstructed in the medieval period and opened for worship. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and attracts large number of devotees throughout the year, especially during summer. It is believed that this is the place where Lord Shiva cuts Lord Ganesha’s head without knowing that he was his own son and gave him an elephant head.
Sudh Mahadev Temple, Patnitop
Sudh Mahadev Temple is another sacred Hindu temple located in Patnitop, among the best places to visit in India. It is one of the highly revered Hindu temples in Kashmir and among the must include places in Patnitop Tour Packages. The main shrine houses the presiding deity of Lord Shiva, his consort Parvati, and his son Ganesha. There are also temples dedicated to Goraknath, Kal Bhairav and Bayankar Bhairav opposite the main shrine. Besides, there is a holy spring called Pap Nashni Bowli near the temple that holds the reputation of cleansing the sins of anyone who bathe in it. Asad Purnima Festival is one of the main events celebrated every year for 3 days in the month of June with great zeal and zest.
Maharani Temple, Gulmarg
Maharani Temple is another revered Hindu shrine located in Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir. Situated on a small hillock, it is one of the must-visit places in Gulmarg. Also known as Mohineshwar Shivalaya, the temple was constructed by Mohini Bai Sisodia, the wife of erstwhile Maharaja Hari Singh. Earlier, this temple was used as the royal temple of the kings of Dogra. Dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, the temple is built in such a way that it can be seen from all corners of Gulmarg, among the must include places in India tour packages. One of the exciting things in the temple is the rituals and priestly duties like puja, aarti and distributing Prasad are performed by a single Muslim priest called Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh from the last 17 years.
Shiv Khori, Reasi
Shiv Khori is a famous cave shrine situated in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir. Lying on a hillock, it is one of the popular tourist attractions near Jammu and among the must visit Hindu shrines in Kashmir. Khori means cave (Guffa) and thus Shiv Khori means Shiva’s cave. Known as ‘Home of Gods’, this holy cave is more than 150 m long & houses 4 feet high Swayambhu Lingam, which constantly baths in a milky lime fluid dripping from the ceiling. Also, the cave houses other natural deities that are depicted on the stones which symbolize 33 crore deities of Hindu Pantheon. A 3-day Shiv Khori mela takes place annually on Maha Shivratri in the month of February is the main event here which attracts thousands of pilgrims from different parts of the country.