It was the Mughal emperor Jahangir who first said it, “If there is a heaven on earth, it is here, it is here” for the surreal and mesmerizing landscape of Kashmir. Kashmir and its next-door neighbor Jammu, have been the subject of countless writings and other works of art, and it is where artists have gone to search for inspiration and found it waiting for them. The magical landscape is also home to some of the holiest places for various communities including Hindus, Buddhists, and Muslims. We have curated a few that you must stop and explore when you take road trips to Pilgrimage sites in Jammu & Kashmir.
As we talk about the fascinating pilgrimage sites in Jammu & Kashmir, Vaishno Devi Temple holds a special place. The temple is dedicated to the Mother goddess Vaishnodevi, who is also called Mata Rani. It is located in the Trikuta Mountains, you can feel divinity when you visit the temple. To make it to the most famous pilgrimage in Jammu & Kashmir, you have to trek 13 km.
Best time to travel: March to October
If you are heading to Vaishno Devi Temple, you have to pass through Bhairavnath Temple. Visit this Pilgrimage in Jammu & Kashmir to not only witness the temple where Baba Bhairavnath breathed his last and repented all his sins, but you will also be able to admire the beautiful scenic view of verdant mountains. Even to reach this temple, you have to trek through the steep stairs, or you can even ride a pony.
Best time to travel: March to October
Dera Baba Banda is one of the significant religious places in Jammu & Kashmir for the Sikhs. The Gurudwara is more than 300-year-old and the ashes of Baba Banda Bahadur, the commanding soldier in the army of Guru Gobind Singh are still preserved here. You must visit the pilgrimage on the auspicious occasion of Vaisakhi Mela which is celebrated for three days.
Best time to travel: March to September
Amarnath Cave is one of the most important spiritual places in Jammu & Kashmir for the devotees of Lord Shiva. Perched at a height of 3,888m, the temple attracts a lot of devotees as well as tourists during the Shravani Mela, a 45 day long fair celebrated in July-August. The main attraction of the temple is the ice stalagmite that resembles Shiva Linga. The other two ice formations represent Goddess Parvati and Lord Ganesha. This is also one of the oldest temples in Jammu & Kashmir as well as the country.
Best time to travel: March to September
Located at a distance of 127km from Leh, Lamayuru Monastery is a fine example of a Kashmiri style Buddhist monastery where you can see several frescoes, murals, and column paintings. It is also one of the major tourist attractions in Jammu & Kashmir for the two annual Mask Dance Festivals.
Best time to travel: May to October
Wanla Gompa is a sub-monastery and not as famous. There is only one caretaker monk who carries out the daily rituals and grants access to the monastery. The main attraction of the monastery is the Avalokitesvara in the 11-headed form.
Best time to travel: May to October
One of the nearby places to visit from Leh, Hemis is known for housing one of the wealthiest monasteries in the country, Hemis Monastery. The monastery was constructed by the Ladakhi king Sengge Namgyal. The astounding features of the monastery are the Lord Buddha’s statue that is made of copper and the stupas that are made of gold and silver. You can also see murals and thangkas here. This is one of the most beautiful monasteries you will see in the country.
Best time to travel: June to Mid-October
Located on the banks of Dal, Hazratbal Mosque is one of the most famous religious places for the Muslims in Jammu & Kashmir. The architecture of the mosque is praise-worthy and it also houses one hair strand of Prophet Muhammad, which is displayed to the public on special occasions.
Best time to travel: April to October
Khanqah of Shah Hamadan is the oldest mosque that was built in Srinagar in 1395. The mosque was constructed by Mir Sayed Ali Hamadni, who came from Persia in the 13th century.
Best time to travel: April to October
Situated in the Shankaracharya Hills, this temple was built around 250 BC. It is believed that Saint Shankaracharya stayed at this temple several centuries ago to revive the Sanatan Dharma. It still holds a special significance to the Hindus who visit this temple to pay their respect.
Best time to travel: April to October
All these places are a treat for people who wish to visit the holy places and enjoy the journey thanks to the beautiful views along the roads. With so many places to go and things to do in Jammu & Kashmir, you must pace yourself to spend time where you want and how much you want. To do so, the best way is to take a self-drive car rental from Revv. The fully maintained cars by Revv are trip ready and you can book them through the Revv App or the Revv website by simply following the instructions displayed there.
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