12 Best Things To Do In Jammu City, India

1. Visit the historical site of Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex

Mubarak Mandi is a historical palace in Jammu, India. It highly reflects the Dogra dynasty as this was the royal residence of Maharaja Hari Singh when he ruled Jammu and Kashmir until 1925. The palace is a living example of the Rajasthani, European baroque, and Mughal architecture. Tourists gather at this complex to marvel at Dogra’s culture and historical buildings.

The complex consists of several courtyards and various buildings and palaces such as the Darbar Hall Complex, the Pink Palace, Royal Courts buildings, Gol Ghar Complex, and Nawa Mahal. These halls and galleries were used for official functions and ceremonies. The Dogra Art Museum, a popular destination in the complex, is located in the Pink Hall and has a rich collection of miniature varied paintings.

Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex

Address: Panjtirthi, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir 180001

Website: Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex

Opening hours: 9am - 6pm (daily)

2. Show your devotion to the lingam's of Ranbireshwar Temple

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Ranbireshwar Temple is an ancient shrine at Shalimar Road in Jammu City. As the biggest temple in North India, it is one of the main attractions among tourists and locals alike. The structure was built in 1883 under the ruling of Maharaja Ranbir Sing as a commemoration of his dedication to Lord Shiva.

Visitors have to take a long flight of stairs to reach the temple and show devotion to the lingams, an abstract or aniconic representation of the Hindu god Shiva. The central lingam is a 2.4-meter (8-foot) object that is made out of black stone. The temple also enshrines 12 crystal lingams gauging from 15 centimeters (5.9 inches) to 38 centimeters (14.9 inches).

Ranbireshwar Temple

Address: Shalimar road in front of Jammu-Kashmir civil secretariat in Jammu city

Website: Ranbireshwar Temple

Opening hours: 6am - 8pm (daily)

3. Learn about the royal history of Jammu in Amar Mahal Palace

Amar Mahal Palace is a palace in Jammu that served as the last residence of the Dogra dynasty. It was built in the 19th century and highly showcases a French-chateau style of architecture. Today, the palace operates as a museum on a hilltop overlooking the Tawi river. Four of the palace’s rooms were converted into art galleries and historic museums depicting the rich and royal history of Jammu. It exhibits plenty of treasured items but the museum’s main attraction is the golden throne of Jammu weighing 120 kilograms (264.5 pounds).

The art collection of the museum also draws attention as Kangra miniature paintings and rare paintings from famous Indian contemporary painters are on display. The museum also hosts heritage walking tours around the complex to provide public information about the history of Jammu and its surrounding cities.

Amar Mahal Palace

Address: Palace Road, Karan Nagar, Jammu Tawi, Jammu Cantonment, Jammu and Kashmir 180001.

Website: Amar Mahal Palace

Opening hours: Apr - Sep: 9am - 1pm, 2pm - 6pm; Oct - Mar: 9am - 1pm, 2pm - 5pm

4. Catch the latest in movies at Wave Cinemas

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Experience the tears, thrills, and tickles brought by blockbuster movies through the big screens of Wave Cinemas. It is a popular chain of premium movie theaters spread across North India. Its Jammu outlet is located on the third floor of one of the top-notch multiplex malls in East Jammu, Wave Mall. Its movie auditoriums provide seating with ample leg rooms, a superb sound system, and are supervised by helpful cinema staff.

Wave Cinema offers the convenience of the mall’s foodcourt for light snacks and meals which is located on the same floor as the cinema. Check out the latest blockbuster or new releases now and book a ticket.

Wave Cinemas

Address: G.S. Malls Pvt. Ltd. Channi Rama, Opp. Bathindi Road Jammu City, Jammu and Kashmir 180015

Website: Wave Cinemas

5. See the iconic landmark of War Memorial (Balidan Stambh)

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Balidan Stambh is a Hindi phrase that translates to a pillar of sacrifice. It is India’s first and biggest war memorial and is located in the heart of the city, opposite the University of Jammu. The monument is a timeless commemoration of the sacrifices of all military and paramilitary personnel of the nation who fought during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. The war memorial’s construction was initiated in 2008 and since its inauguration in 2009, it has become an iconic landmark in the center of the town.

The pillar is a bayoneted rifle that stands 60 meters (196.9 feet) from the base and is surrounded by eternal flames that symbolize the supreme sacrifice made by the brave martyrs.

War Memorial (Balidan Stambh)

Address: Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir

Website: War Memorial- Balidan Stambh

6. Go on a pilgrimage to Vaishno Devi Mandir

Vaishno Devi Mandir is a famous pilgrimage site for Hindus all around the world. It is also known as ‘Mata Rani’ and it is a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Mahalakshmi. Vaishno Devi Mandir is in Katra, at the Trikuta Mountains, in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, in India. There are various modes of transport available from Katra to the temple, like ponies, vehicles and a palki, or sedan chair, which is carried by two or four people. You can also hire a helicopter, up to Sanjichhat, which is near Katra.

Vaishno Devi Mandir

Address: Katra Road, Reasi District, Katra, Jammu and Kashmir

7. Take a pilgrim tour to Panch Peer Dargah

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

The Dargah of Panch Peer is a very holy shrine for Muslim people. It is situated on the Jammu-Srinagar Highway, NH1A and is close to the Maharaja Palace of the Dogra dynasty. The legend behind this shrine is that five saints used it for their preaching and meditation. The name Panch Peer literally means “Five Saints” and the graves of the saints are said to be buried in the Dargah and are worshipped by devotees from every part of India and abroad.

Panch Peer Dargah

Address: Highway NH-1A, near the Maharaja’s Palace, Jammu City

Website: Panch Peer dargah

8. Lush Bagh-e-Bahu gardens beckon you

The Bagh-e-Bahu Gardens are terraced gardens and are a top tourist site, in Jammu. Magnificently designed in the Mughal style of architecture, the gardens have a large artificial lake, enclosed by elaborate lawns, with greenery all around. Bagh-e-Bahu has stone walkways and various flower beds. There is also a musical fountain show, which attracts visitors all year round. This garden sits beside the Bahu Fort, which was built 3,000 years ago by the Raja Bahulochan. There is a small cafeteria serving refreshments in one of the corners in Bagh-e-Bahu. This place also has the largest underground aquarium in India and an awareness center which are both attractions, for visitors.

Bagh-e-Bahu Gardens

Address: Gorkha Nagar, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir

Website: Bagh-e-Bahu Gardens

9. Visit Sanasar Lake

Sanasar Lake is located near Patnitop, in Jammu. Tourists visiting here have said that it is among the most beautiful places they have seen and even call it ‘mini Switzerland’! One can reach here by private car or hire a taxi from Patnitop and travel through Natha Top, which is another lovely sight to behold. It has a large area, covered in snow, which is popular for skiing and paragliding and there is also a lush green and grassy area, used for playing golf with a shimmering lake, in between. A large variety of local snacks are available, around the lake and families generally have a picnic, there. Horseback riding is also offered around the lake and is very popular among tourists, here.

Sanasar Lake

Address: 19 km (11.8 miles) From Patnitop, Patnitop

10. Tour the Mahamaya Temple

The Mahamaya Temple, on the banks of the River Tawi, is an important site dedicated to the memory of a local female freedom fighter, Mahamaya, from the Dogra community. Around 14 centuries ago, Mahamaya sacrificed her life in order to save the area from the hands of foreign invaders. Now an entire temple has been dedicated to her honor. The Mahamaya Temple, in Jammu, attracts devotees and tourists, who come here to pray. It is not considered just a temple but is also one of the foremost tourist attractions, in Jammu. When tourists visit this place they feel overcome with a feeling of communal harmony and appreciation of the fabulous culture of Jammu.

Mahamaya Temple

Address: Tawi River, opposite Bahu Fort, Jammu City

Website: Mahamaya Temple

11. Dogra Art Museum

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

The Dogra Art Museum is a museum that celebrates Dogra cultural heritage, located in the Pink Hall of the Mubarak Mandi Complex, in Jammu. One of the main attractions of this museum is the Pahari miniature paintings, from Bhasoli. It has a collection of 7216 objects of ancient, historical and also cultural importance. The collections in the Rasmanjari series and rare manuscripts like the Shahnama and Sikandernama’, in Persian, stand out among all the collections in the museum.

The terracotta heads from Akhnoor, rare sculptures, coins and currency, old manuscripts, Dogra costumes, jewellery, arms and armor, are all on display, here. The marble jharokhas with semi-precious stones further embellishes the museum collection. A gold plated bow which belonged to the Mughal emperor Shahjahan and a stone plate with writings in Takri script are some of the most prized possessions of the museum.

Dogra Art Museum

Address: Panjtirthi, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir

Website: Dogra Art Museum

12. Nandini Wildlife Sanctuary

Nandini Wildlife Sanctuary, in Jammu, is best known for its huge number of species of pheasants. It lies in an area of thick forest, teeming with wildlife. There are various species of birds in the sanctuary like the Indian mynah, the Blue Rock Pigeon, Indian Peafowl, the Red Junglefowl, the Cheer Pheasant and the Chukar. The sanctuary is rich in flora and fauna and has a huge number of animals like leopards, wild boars, rhesus monkeys, bharal and the grey langur.

Nandini Wildlife Sanctuary

Address: Nandini Village, Jammu City

Website: Nandini Wildlife Sanctuary

Discover the incredible natural beauty of Jammu

There is no other place like Jammu, in India. The cool weather all year round is a major reason why there are hordes of tourists flocking to the city. There is the world famous Vaishno Devi Mandir, which is a compulsory pilgrimage for Hindus, in India and abroad. There are old forts and palaces, which attract tourists from all over. The beautiful terraced gardens of Bagh-e-Bahu welcome all to its lush green scenery and lakes. So, if you are looking for a summer break, head to Jammu and let nature rejuvenate you, completely.