Forts and Palaces of Jammu & Kashmir are as famous as the mountains and snow there. It has been a perfect place for holidays where you can enjoy the picturesque beauty of Jammu & Kashmir and also know about the lifestyle of people who lived there earlier. This is a place where you have enjoyed with your family or going with your friends or just a honeymoon couple. Jammu Kashmir is also known as one of the best honeymoon destinations. The Forts and Palaces of Jammu & Kashmir makes us realize the life people lived before, the wars which happened and the way the rulers lived there. People from all over the world come here to enjoy their holidays. The best time to visit and enjoy this beautiful place is from October to February.
Forts & Palaces of Jammu & Kashmir – A Perfect Holiday Destination:
Hari Parbat Fort is a historical monument of Srinagar which was built by the Governor of Afghan, Atta Mohammad Khan. It was constructed on the upper part of the Hari Parbat hill. Hari Parbat Hill is also known as Koh-e-Maran hill. The architecture of the Hari Parbat fort has somewhat similar kind of architecture in forts of Central Asia.
The Bahu fort is situated just opposite to Tawi Lake. When you have a look at the fort you can just imagine the invasion prevented, the war fought and also the life which the royal families lived in earlier times. Palace of Amar Singh is one of the beautiful palaces you have ever seen.
The tall towers and the slopping roof will remind one of the French Castle in dreams, this is somewhat the Grand Palace of Jammu Kashmir looks like. There is one more palace which is worth visiting which is the Leh palace in Ladakh.
Amar Mahal Palace Museum
Facts:
- Location: From Spiti to Ladakh
- In Earlier Times: Raja Amar Singh Residential Palace
- Presently it is: Museum
- Maintained by: Hari-Tara Charitable Trust
The Beautiful Museum:
Amar Mahal Palace Museum was the place where Raja Amar Singh lived earlier. This Palace is now a Museum which is maintained and taken care by Hari-Tara Charitable Trust. There is a throne placed in the museum in a hexagonal room and the throne is made up of pure gold sofa and the golden lion is placed on it. The gold used is pure gold of around 120 kg.
In the museum there is a gallery of painting which is known as ‘Nal Damyanti’ The library in the museum is full of around 25, 000 different books on various subjects.
This is one of the best places to visit in Jammu. There is the Hotel Hari Niwas Palace which is a good place to stay and is a heritage building which is near this palace.
- Also Read: Must Visit in Jammu & Kashmir
Leh Palace
Facts:
- Location: Leh, Ladakh Region of Jammu & Kashmir
- Architecture: Style of Medieval Tibetan Architecture
- Earlier it was: Palace of Ruler Sengge Namgyal
- Timing to visit: 7.00 am – 10.00 am & 4.00 pm – 6.00 pm
The Leh Palace is situated in Leh in Ladakh Region of Jammu & Kashmir. The architectural style used for this palace is the architectural style used in Medieval Tibetan period. This is the palace of Ruler Senge Namgyal who ruled in the 16th century.
The surrounding houses of the Leh Palace have a beautiful structure and above it have other nine floors which have large walls which were sloping and buttressed and the beautiful wooden balconies.
In around 1940 the Royal families of Ladakh left this palace and from there the damage of the fort started by Kashmiri cannons in the19th century and tried to collapse it. The restoration work is done but you have to be careful while walking on the floor as there are many holes in the floor and there is darkness on the stairs
The other thing which you have to look for is the view from the top of the Palace and the Dukhar temple.
View from the top of the Fort:
The specular view of Kangri Mountains which ridges is covered with snow. The look is over the muddy roof of the old town. To see this view you have to go to the upper part of the fort which is on top. And the way to go up has beautiful interiors which you can see while going up. This is the best thing which will give you happiness and will make you forget the other things which are not so good of the fort.
The other thing which you have to look for is the view from the top of the Palace and the Dukhar temple.
- Also Read to Know: Places to Visit in Leh Ladakh
Bahu Fort and Temple
Facts:
- Location: 5 km away from Jammu city in Jammu Region of Jammu & Kashmir
- Constructed originally by: Raja Bahulochan
- Re-Constructed by: Dogra Rulers
- Temple: Bave Wali Mata Temple
Bahu Fort and Temple is located just 5 kms away from Jammu city in Jammu region. It was constructed originally by Raja Bahulochan. Later on it was again constructed by Dogra Rulers. It is also now Bawe Wali Mata Temple.
This is one of the oldest fort and an important monument for Jammu. It was constructed around 3,000 years ago. There are also many other places of attraction like Maha Maya Temple and City Forest.
Bave Wali Mata Temple:
This temple which is located inside the fort is dedicated to Goddess Kali and is known as Bave Wali Mata Temple. The goddess is the deity of the People of Jammu and people every Sunday and Tuesday come here to worship the goddess.
After visiting the fort you will get an experience of the war fought, the life of Royal families which lived there and the invasions prevented. Nowadays the fort has been a famous picnic place for the local people with the beautiful garden, big trees, flowers and waterfall
Maha Maya Temple:
This is one of the famous spot there. It is located behind the Bahu Fort and Temple on the by-pass road. The Mahamaya temple is an ancient temple with the city forest surrounded over it. There is a small garden which has many woods surrounding it that gives a pleasant view.
Reaching There:
The service of auto rickshaw and mini bus is available from all the spots of Jammu city as it is connected well with most of the places. There would be a nominal fair which will make you reach upto the fort.
Mubarak Mandi Palace
Facts:
- Location: Jammu Region of Jammu & Kashmir
- Architecture: A mix of Rajasthani, Baroque European and Mughal Style.
- Earlier it was: Dogra Kings Royal Residence
Mubarak Mandi Palace is in Jammu. It has the Dogra Art Gallery. The architectural style used here is a mix of Rajasthani, Baroque European and Mughal style. In earlier times it was the Royal Resident of Dogra Kings. There is a building in this palace which is oldest, dated around 1824.
The most interesting part of this palace is the Sheesh Mahal. The pink hall inside the palace is now used as the Dogra Art Gallery and has small paintings of Different hill schools.
Heritage Building:
The building which is now a heritage building and also Dogra art gallery has a history which is 150 years old. The place for the construction of this palace is selected carefully, from one side off the complex there is a beautiful view of Tawi River and the other side is the city.
The beautiful balconies, halls in the complex was used earlier for official functions and ceremonies. There are many building in the complex which was built around the courtyard cum garden. This courtyard became the important place for the common men who were the Royal audience and was used for important events.
Hari Parbat Fort
Facts:
- Location: Srinagar, Kashmir, Jammu & Kashmir
- Constructed By: Atta Mohammed Khan
- Built in: 1776
- Walls Built By: Akbar
Hari Parbat Fort is located in Srinagar in the Kashmir region of Jammu & Kashmir. In 1776, Atta Mohammed Khan Constructed this fort. The walls of this fort are very old as they were built during the rule of Akbar, in around 1592 and 1598. There is also another place nearby, which is the shrine of Sikh Guru Chatti Padshahi which also attracts many tourists.
Fort Decors and the Old Wall:
The wall has two gates known as the Sangin and Kathi Darwaza. The wall is 5 kms long and has a height of 10 m. The main gate is called as Kathi and makes us remember the Persian inscription which is surrounded on the main gate. The other is Sangin which has beautiful sculptured window on both sides.
The permission of the director of tourism department is required if you wish to visit the fort, or else no one is allowed to get inside. Most of the visitors enjoy the fort as a backdrop which is pleasant to watch. The fort is also known for the temple which has an image of Goddess Sharika.
Shrine of Guru Chatti Padshahi:
On the southern side of the gate of the fort there is a shrine of the Sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Chatti Padshahi. The hill has a beautiful view at a height of 122 m from the valley which has many almond trees which is surrounded all over and is a favorite picnic spot for local people.
