Top Historical & Heritage Places in Jammu-Kashmir

At a distance of 26 km from Srinagar, Avanti Swami Temple is a ruined Hindu temple located at Awantipora near Srinagar. Situated on the banks of the Jhelum River, it is one of the best places of heritage in Jammu & Kashmir, and among the prominent places to visit as part of Srinagar tour packages.

The Awantiswami Temple is a complex consisting of two temples, one for Lord Shiva and another one dedicated to Lord Vishnu. These temples were built in the 9th century CE under king Avantivarman, the first king of the Utpala dynasty who ruled Kashmir from 855 to 883 AD. It is said that the town of Awantipora was founded by Avantivarman. He built a Hindu temple in Awantipora dedicated to Vishnu called 'Avantisvamin' before he became king, and during his reign, he built a second Hindu temple in Awantipora called 'Avantisvara' dedicated to Shiva. Locals call these temples Pandav Lari which means the 'house of the Pandavas'.

Before the Muslim conquests, Kashmir was a center of Shaivism and Hindu philosophy and a seat of Sanskrit learning and literature. By the 14th century, Kashmir had come under Muslim rule, and most of its early temples were deserted or sacked by the early 15th century. Unfortunately, the Avanti Swami Temple complex is one of them. The ruins of Awantiswami Temple were excavated by the archeologist Daya Ram Sahni in the early 20th century. Now, the temple complex is protected and maintained by the Archaeological ...

...read more

At a distance of 24 km from Katra, and 72 km from Jammu, Bhimgarh Fort is a historical fort situated at Reasi town of Jammu & Kashmir. Also known as Reasi Fort, it is one of the best places of heritage in Kashmir, and among the top places to visit near Mata Vaishno Devi.

Perched atop a 150m high hillock, the Bhimgarh Fort was constructed with clay by Rajput king Bhimdev Rasyal of Reasi in the 8th century. Later, one of the heirs of Raja Rishipal Rana, reconstructed the fort using stone. The Bhim Garh Fort was used by the royal family members for taking shelter during emergencies. The fort was later renovated by Gulab Singh of Jammu and Kashmir in 1817. A new entry gate and a stone wall were built all around, thereby making it less vulnerable to attacks. After the death of Maharaja Gulab Singh, his heirs Maharaja Ranbir Singh and Maharaja Pratap Singh used Bhimgarh Fort as a treasury and armory. During Maharaja Hari Singh's rule, an English minister ordered that the armory be destroyed and shifted the treasury to Jammu.

Until 1988, this beautiful fort was in sturdy condition but later it was handed over to the Jammu and Kashmir State Archaeology Department in 1989 on the orders of the state government. In 1990, the fort was renovated by the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. The surrounding areas were given a facelift with the construction of gardens and pathways. The fort stands out as an important landmark in the town despite the devastating earthquakes and lack of maintenance. ...

...read more

At a distance of 32 km from Jammu, Akhnoor Fort is an ancient fort in the small pleasing town of Akhnoor. Located on the right bank of the Chenab River, it is one of the popular places of heritage in Kashmir, and among the must-include places in Jammu.

Perched on a cliff, the Akhnoor Fort is a glorious attraction that is said to be built on the ruins of the ancient Archaeological town of Manda, where remains of the Harappan civilization and the Kushana dynasty have been found by Archaeologists. According to history, the construction of the fort was started by Raja Tegh Singh in 1762 CE and was completed by his successor Raja Alam Singh in 1802. Maharaja Ranjeet Singh crowned Maharaja Gulab Singh on the 17th of June 1822 at the fort's Jia Pota Ghat on Chenab's river bank. Due to its historical and cultural significance, it has been deemed a national monument and is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India since 1982.

A great example of fine Indian military architecture, this two-storeyed fort features thick, strong walls with bastions at regular intervals, and two-storeyed watch towers at the corners, which are crowned by battlements and merlons. The fort has two parts which are bifurcated by a wall with a gate leading to the grand palace of Raja Alum Singh on the southern side. The palace is two-storeyed, and the walls facing the courtyard have decorated arches adorned with exquisite mural paintings. One can also see picturesque views of the surroundings from ...

...read more