Pilgrimage Spots in Jammu & Kashmir – Hindu, Muslim & Buddha

The land of paradisiacal beauty Kashmir leaves one mesmerized by its bountiful and untainted natural beauty. The virgin beauty of Nature comes dressed in its most un-spoilt form. Not only does its Nature make Kashmir an outstanding land but also the many religious shrines that dot the place. Kashmir houses scores of temples, mosques/Dargahs and monasteries. So, Kashmir is a place where you can sense the vibes of true National integration despite all the chaos, rift and combat over religious issues.

The easiest and simplest process of communicate with the divine presence is through pilgrimage and one of the most prominent places in India to take religious trips is Jammu and Kashmir. This state is considered the ‘abode of Gods’ and will offer you the required religious intensity that you will need to obtain ‘Nirvana’. Both Muslims and Hindus hold this place important in terms of spiritual salvation. Jammu on one hand is called the ‘City of Temples’ and Kashmir on the other is well-known for its mosques and shrines. If you tour this state you will find out more about the religions and their histories along with the top pilgrim destinations which is inclusive of shrines, mosques and temples.

Here is a list of the important Hindu as well as Muslim & Buddha destinations in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mata Vaishno Devi

The ‘Vaishno Devi’ shrine is considered one of the holiest shrines by the Hindu devotees and millions of pilgrims throng at this pale on a yearly basis. The cave is situated 5,300 feet above the sea level in the Trikuta Hills and lies at a distance of 48km from the city of Jammu. It a 14km trek upward from ‘Katra’ to the main complex of the temple. The cave extends 30m longitudinally and 1.5m in height and is the only path to reach the main complex. The main complex houses the ‘Mahasaravati’, Mahakali’ and ‘Mahalakshmi’ shrines. If you reach the temple you will be able to gain enlightenment, contentment, material pursuit and righteousness.

Amarnath Cave/Dham

For access to divine spirituality you have to visit ‘Amarnath’, one among the four ‘Char Dhams’ which is located 4000m above the sea level in the Kashmir valley’s snow mountains. The cave is famous for the naturally formed ‘Shivlingam’ which are ice stalagmites along with the pigeon pair that have attained immortality through listening the ‘creation secret’ (Amar Katha) which was told by Shiv to Parvati, his wife inside the cave. Baltal and Chandanwari are the main base camps which need to be accessed for reaching the cave. The climb is steep in both the pathways and remains covered with snow most of the times. Mental peace and spiritual enlightenment can be received by the pilgrims that reach this cave.

Hazratbal Shrine

The Islamic followers hold the ‘Hazratbal’ mosque extremely important in terms of destinations. It is here that they believe the last of the prophet’s relics are located and preserved. This prophet is supposed to have come to this place in 1699. The mosque is situated on the Dal Lake banks and offers a picturesque view of the surrounding area with Chinar dotted gardens on one side and the Dal Lake on the other. The mosque is built using white marble and is one of the initial dome-shaped structures that use a blend of the Kashmiri and Mughal architecture. Friday prayers are filled with pilgrims leaving no space to adjust outside tourists like you.

Char-E-Sharief

This is the Kashmiri Saint, Noor-Ud-Din Noorani’s shrine and is visited by several Muslim pilgrims annually. These devotees pay tribute to this saint who is said to have founded ‘Reshism’ in the land of Kashmir. This saint had spent most of his life in social service and after his death a ‘mausoleum’ was built in his honour. Even today people respect and follow his ideals.

These important destinations are famous in the Kashmir valley which can be visited for spiritual cleaning and peace.