Pilgrim Places

Amarnath Yatra

Anantnag District is  famous for the Amarnathji cave situated at Mount Amarnath whose altitude is  about 5,486m above sea level. The world famous shrine of Amarnathji is situated about 48 Kms. from Pahalgam and attracts devotees from all over India. It is located in the upper reaches of  District Anantnag at an altitude of about 13,000 ft. from the sea level. Because of this height, the cave is covered with snow for most of the year. Only for a short period in summer, the entrance is accessible. The cave is an ice cave, it contains a certain amount of ice stalagmites.

The cave is a holy place for Hindu pilgrims, because of its ice content. The ice pillar present inside the cave is also called ice lingham, the phallic symbol of Lord Shiva. Two smaller ice stalagmite represent Parvati, his wife, and Ganesha, his son. The Hindu pilgrims also believe, that the height of the lingham increases and decreases with the phases of the moon. In the month of Shravan, on the full moon in August, thousands of Hindus go on a pilgrimage up to the cave. At this time the lingam reaches its biggest size.

The majority community in the district always welcomes the devotees with wide open arms, while the yatries are on their way to and from the cave. Enroute one come across scenic beauty of Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panjtarni. 

The temples of Mattan, Martand, Anantnag and Bijbehara which fall enroute are also worth seeing.

Moungri Shrine

The village Moungri is a small village nestling in the Panchari Block of District Udhampur. Number of natural Shrines found in this area, a few of them are discovered while lot of them are still to be explored. One such shrine was discovered by a local Advocate, Shri Swatantra Dev Kotwal on the 14th September, 1998. The shrine, known as Shiv Parvati Cave Shrine, is consists of two caves of approx. 20 & 25 feet long. The main attractions of the Holy Shrine are nine and half feet high naturally formed rock Shiv Lingam being guarded Shesh Nag, Joint Parvati Lingam on the left along with the Damroo beat at right, Nandi, Shankhas, Amrit Kund and countless images of other deities of Hindu religion.

Another ancient shrine of the area is Shri Kalka Mata Shrine, situated on the Kandroo hilltop, approx. 8000 ft high. The Kandroo hill falls on the backside of the Holy Trikuta hill famous for Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine. From the Kalka Devi's temple one can have collyrium colored view of the back side of Trikuta hills.

At a stone's throw from the village, there is another ancient shrine of Lord Shiva locally known as Kansar Devta's Shrine on the banks of a small rivulet Kansar surrounded by a thick forest cover.

In the ancient times the village Moungri was known as Sonara. The word Sonara means a land of hundred water springs. In Dogri language, water spring is called Naaras. According to the legend, it was an abode of  Nag Devta (King of the snakes), and once hundreds of natural stone made water springs used to flow. Still at present number of such water springs found in the area.

According to another ancient legend, associated with the Kansar Shrine, a small stone shrine of Lord Shiva was discovered by an irate local villager. To remove the impediment in the process of cultivation, agriculture being the mainstay of the local population, the stone structure was uprooted and flung into the Kansar stream. But as soon as this was done calamity befell on the helpless villagers. Then the shrine was hurried retrieved from the rivulet bed and a temple was erected on a nearby hilltop by the rural folks. The temple still stands as a testimony to their labours.

Pingla Devi Shrine

Pingla Mata is situated at a small hillock in village Pinger in Ramnagar Tehsil, about 20 Kms from Udhampur on Udhampur-Ramnagar Road and has been gaining popularity since last few years. The base camp of this Holy Shrine is a small village Kaua on the Domail-Ramnagar Road. The Holy Shrine is about 6 Kms away from the base camp and is linked with the track. The Shrine consists of small cave where The divine power lies in the shape of Pindies. The cave of Pingla Mata seems a small hole from outside but it has as much space inside as to accommodate at least 500 people at a time.Though the journey is tough yet it does not tire the devotees because of scenic beauty throughout. The entire track consists of lush green pine trees which inspire the devotees to move on.

The Goddess Vaishno Devi's abode is in 100 feet long cave with a narrow opening. The holy cold and crystal clear water washes the lotus feet of the Mata's "Pindian". There are three natural pindies representing Maha Sarswati,    Maha Lakshmi, Maha Kali, which represent creative, preservative, and destructive aspects of the Super Power. It is an ancient shrine whose reference is found in the Vedas and ancient scriptures.

Shiv Khorhi

The Shiv Khori Shrine, one the natural wonders of the region,   is considered second only to the Holy Shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi. This supernatural cave is situated in a hillock in Runsoo, a small village in Reasi Tehsil at a distance of about 112 Kms from Udhampur. The Holy Cave of Shiv Khori was discovered about 100 years ago by the local shepherds known as 'Gaddies'. The cave of the Shiv Khori is about half Kilometer  long with very narrow, low entrance, but  about 250 feet of the narrow, zigzag passage leads to the very large, high hall inside the cave with the capacity of 500 people at a time. On the ceiling of the cave there are the   impressions of Sheshnag, carved by His Majestic Architectures. There are stalactites, stalagmites and milky water dripping from the ceiling. The cave has hollow Shivling in the middle of the cave giving an impression of the Lord Shiva's "Jatta", (long hair of a saint). Self made " Sale grams ", (small black stones) also encircle the Shivling.

Every year a major fair is held here on the occasions of Maha Shivratri festival. Thousands of devotees from all corners visit here on the occasions. The shrine is thronged by about two lakhs devotees throughout the year.
 

Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine is one of the oldest shrine of India, located at a height of  5300 feet on the holy Trikuta Hills of the Shivalik Hill Range. The Town Katra is 50 Kms away from Jammu and 35 Kms from District HQ Udhampur and is linked by road. The Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine is one of the most popular Shrines of India. In early 80's the number of pilgrims was just more than 10 lakhs annually but their number increased steeply after the historic reforms initiated with taking over the shrines by the statutory independent Board under the Chairmanship of the then Governor, Sh Jagmohan, on August 30, 1986. These reforms were carried forward with equal zeal by the successive Governors Sh G C Sexsena, Sh K V Krishna Rao.

The Goddess Vaishno Devi's abode is in 100 feet long cave with a narrow opening. The holy cold and crystal clear water washes the lotus feet of the Mata's "Pindian". There are three natural pindies representing Maha Sarswati,    Maha Lakshmi, Maha Kali, which represent creative, preservative, and destructive aspects of the Super Power. It is an ancient shrine whose reference is found in the Vedas and ancient scriptures