Raghunath Temple : Jammu is popularly referred to as the City of Temples and justifiably so. Innumerous temples are found in various parts of the city but what makes the Raghunath Temple so special is its unique location right in the heart of the city. Maharaja Gulab Singh, the founder of the kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir is credited with the beginning of construction activities of this temple way back in 1835 A.D. His son and successor Maharaja Ranbir Singh completed the task undertaken by his father. Finally in 1860, after 25 years, the doors of the temple were opened to the public for worship.

Characterized by seven shrines that have gorgeous gold plated interiors, the Raghunath Temple is dedicated to Lord Rama. Even though there are several galleries with lakhs of Saligrams, the main shrine of the Raghunath Temple in Jammu houses an image of Lord Rama. Sheets of gold on three sides of this main shrine give it a very stunning look. Lord Rama, Vishnu’s eighth incarnation is the patron deity of the Dogras and hence a large number of devotees flock the temple to offer their prayers to this lord.

The Raghunath Temple is surrounded by many other temples and all of them have been dedicated to various Gods and Goddesses who are associated with the epic Ramayana. Any visitor will indeed be very surprised to know that statues of nearly all important Gods and Goddesses of the Hindu Pantheon find a place within the different sanctums of these temples. The entire ambience of the temple complex is very holy and will surely give the visitors complete peace of mind.

Any careful observer is sure to notice Mughal architectural influence in the structure of the temple. The arches of the Raghunath Temple will definitely attract your attention. A portrait of Ranbir Singh and a sculpture of Hanuman are sighted at the entrance of the temple.

The other shrines of the Raghunath Temple contain images of Siva, Surya and various other incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Particularly mention worthy is the Stone Lingam which is highly revered by the people of the place. Aarti, an important Hindu ritual is performed here everyday in the mornings as well as in the evenings and is religiously attended to by many devotees.

A visit to the Raghunath Temple will surely be very spiritually satisfying. Book lovers will also be interested in the ancient texts and rare Sanskrit manuscripts that are a part of the rich collection of the library in this temple complex.

Shrine of Peer Baba : There are several tourist attractions in Jammu and the Shrine of Peer Baba is a significant one amongst them. A visit to the shrine gives the visitors a valuable insight into the secular character of the nation. India takes pride in being a secular nation where people belonging to different religions co exist in unison and harmony. This secular spirit is well manifested in the Shrine of Peer Baba.

In spite of being the Dargah of a Muslim saint, Hindus and Sikh devotees who flock this religious place particularly on Thursdays are far greater in number than the Muslim followers. They come to seek the blessings of Peer Budhan Ali Shah who is popularly known as Peer Baba.

The people of Jammu irrespective of their religion earnestly believe that Peer Baba is their god father and protector. He will shield the entire city from any impending catastrophe. They owe their allegiance to him based on this firm belief. No calamity can ever strike them because he will surely safeguard them from all looming disasters. So they solemnly offer their prayers to him at the Shrine of Peer Baba.

According to popular legend, Peer Baba was a dear friend of Guru Gobind Singh and lived all his life only on milk. He lived till he attained the age of five hundred and earned a lot of love and respect from the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Even after his death, the admiration and reverence has remained all the same. People still regard him as a guardian no matter to which faith they belong. This is why they visit the Shrine of Peer Baba fairly regularly. The power of belief and faith can be gauged after a visit to the Shrine of Peer Baba.

The Shrine of Peer Baba is located just behind the Civil Airport of Jammu. Make sure you visit it when on a tour to Jammu. You will realize what a legendary figure he is in Jammu. Belief and faith in this mythical character makes the Shrine of Peer Baba a place of prime religious importance where people of all faith congregate. It is well worth a visit.

Mahamaya Temple : Jammu rightly deserves the sobriquet “City of Temples”. It consists of a large number of temples that are thronged by a huge number of pilgrims at different times of the year. Temple towers dominate its skyline. Mahamaya Temple in Jammu is one such temple which is flocked by devotees who come to offer their prayers. However the Mahamaya Temple is not merely a place of worship, it is one of the foremost tourist attractions of Jammu.

One of the distinctive characteristic of the Mahamaya Temple is that its presiding deity is not any famous God of the Hindu Pantheon but Mahamaya, a Dogra heroine. The temple is dedicated to this courageous lady who gave up her life fighting for her motherland.

According to popular legend, about fourteen centuries ago, she opposed the foreign attackers and valiantly confronted them. People honor her sacrifice and eulogize her to this day. Her courageous resistance is now a part of the glorious myth of Jammu. And hence not surprisingly an entire temple is dedicated in her honor.

The Mahamaya Temple therefore epitomizes the power and strength of Indian women folk which is often underestimated. It is located just opposite the Bahu Fort, yet another important tourist attraction of Jammu. So when you are on a sight seeing trip, it will be no problem whatsoever to visit the Mahamaya Temple.

Yet another added attraction of the Mahamaya Temple is that it commands a lovely view of the Tawi River. The setting is also quite impressive. It is surrounded by the city forests. All in all, you will surely like visiting this ancient temple which narrates stories of yore and offers a great view of the river.