Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam
Leh-Pangong-Khardungla-Numbra-Alchi
Places To Visit
Batote
125 kms from Jammu Situated at an altitude of 1560 metres on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, this resort straddles the forested slopes of the Patnitop mountain range, overlooking the spectacular lie of the Chenab gorge. This place is a very well developed tourist resort with lots of commercial activity and facilities.
Jhajjar Kotli
35 Kms on the National Highway leading towards Srinagar is the Jhajjar Kotli Tourist Complex, built on the banks of Jhajjar rivulet. The crystal clear, cool water of Jhajjar attracts picnickers in large numbers during the summer. A Tourist Cafetaria and a small Tourist Bungalow are the facilities provided here by JKTDC.
Kud
106 kms from Jammu, this popular resort is situated on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, at an altitude of 1738 metres. An ideal picnic spot this place has a bracing climate. Heavy woolens are required in winters while as light/medium clothing is required in summers. It is a very well developed hill station in Udhampur District.It also experiences heavy rainfall in the rainy season.
Patnitop
112 kms from Jammu. This famous hill resort is perched on a beautiful plateau, at an altitude of 2024 metres across which the Jammu-Srinagar Highway passes. Enveloped by thickly wooded forests, Patnitop offers beautiful picnic spots, peaceful walks and breathtaking views of the mountainscape of the Chenab basin. In winter, the resort is generally covered with a thick mantle of snow thus providing opportunities for various snow games including skiing. It is the best developed tourist spot of Jammu and is second to none in its natural charm, climate, pine forests and lush green cover. The occupancy of the huts and Dak Banglow is full in summer months. There is ambitious plan of Patnitop Development Authority to develop Patnitop, Kud, Sud-Mahadev, Mantalai circuit. The costruction work of Mall Road at Kud is also proposed to be taken up. Trekking route from Kud to Patnitop-Sanasar has already been completed. The complete tourist circuit covers Jammu-Katra-VaishnoDeviji, Kud-Sanasar, Patnitop-Gourikund, Sudmahadev, Mantali, extending upto Latti-Dhuna.
Sansar
119 kms. from Jammu and only 17 kms. from Patnitop, Sanasar is cup shaped meadow surrounded by gigantic conifers. A place for a quite holiday, the meadow has now been developed as a golf course. It also provides opportunities for para-gliding.
Shiv Khori
There are many places of tourist and religious importance around Katra also. The devotees coming for the darshans of the deity can club their pilgrimage with a visit to these places. Specially during the rush time when there is a lot of rush at Katra and Yatries have to wait for some time before being allowed to proceed to Bhawan, they can utilize their time by a visit to these places.
Shivkhori- the Holy Cave abode of Lord Shiva is situated at a distance of 70 Kms from Katra. The cave is a real wonder to be seen and measures nearly half a kilometer in length with a 4 feet high naturally formed Shiv-lingam at the heart of the Sanctum Sanctorum. The cave is in the shape of Lord Shiva's Damroo i.e. wide at the two ends while very congested at the center. The width of the cave is so less at certain place that a person can barely crawl through whereas at places it over a hundred feet wide and quite high too. There are a lots of features which can be observed in the cave, however the best of them is the natural milky water dripping from the top to the Shiv-Ling symbolizing the eternity of the holy river Ganga. The place hosts a major fair on Shivratri. The Shiv-Khori Shrine is well connected to Katra / Jammu by road. The devotees can visit the place by taxi/car. Few bus services from Katra are also available.
Baba Dhansar
This Temple of Lord Shiva is located at a distance of about 15 Kms. from Katra on way to Salal Dam. Here, a huge spring emerges from the rocks in a thick grove of trees and forms a number of small cascading waterfalls before ultimately flowing into the Holy rivulet that merges with the Chenab River. There is a naturally formed Shivling on which droplets of water fall at a constant pace all the year round. A big fair is held here during Shivratri. For the facility of the yatris visiting the place, the Shrine Board has carried out some developments including the construction of a Dharamshalla.
