23/04/2021
Kishtwar: A small peaceful town that offers a calm vacation away from the hustle and bustle of cities, Kishtwar is a travel destination less spoken about. The place boasts fascinating mountains, panoramic vistas of pristine rivers and flowering grasslands, and charming spots make it one of the best travel destinations in Jammu Region. Kishtwar is famous for its rare blue sapphire and high quality saffron and hence, it is also known as 'The Land of Sapphire and Saffron.
The picturesque hill station of Kishtwar is nestled in the lap of the beautiful and majestic Himalayas. From snow-capped mountains, tranquil rivers, green valleys, Kishtwar has it all, it is no less than a nature lover’s paradise. Situated at an altitude of 1700 m to 4800 m, this hill destination is surrounded by many waterfalls and offers numerous trekking routes that give way to some spectacular views. Chenab River and the Himalayan mountains adorn this valley in Jammu and make it an ideal travel destination for those seeking some adventure along with the blend of spirituality and history.
The district is home to one of the biggest mosques of Jammu & Kashmir, Jamia Masjid that sits in the heart of Kishtwar city. This 110 years old mosque was built by Shah Akhyar-ud-Din and it has the capacity to accommodate around 5000 people at a time. Climb to the top of its minarets to have a bird's eye view of the city and you won't be disappointed! Another religious site in Kishtwar is famous shrine of Shah Asrar-ud-Din that takes one on a journey of spiritual enlightenment. Located on the South eastern corner of Chowgan, this shrine was built by a saint Shah Asrar-ud-Din who was famous for performing miracles. The shrine of Shah Farid-ud-Din Bagdadi, situated at a distance of 1.5 km away from the main bus stand, is another famous tourist attraction near Kishtwar.
The nearby Sarthal Devi Temple is a Hindu religious site. The temple is dedicated to an incarnation of Goddess Durga and has a shrine of the 18 armed goddess. Machail Chandi mata temple is also in Kishtwar, every years thousands of pilgrims visit mata for wish fulfilment, it is one of the most beautiful religious pilgrimage site. Another beautiful temple located at Nagini, Kishtwar is Shri Kartik Swami temple. There is also a Lord Shiva Temple in Kuleed Kishtwar. Gori Shankar Mandir, an old and historic temple of Shiva & Parvati situated at Corner of Chowgan is famous among Hindus of this region. It was originally a heritage place of a great saint Shri Paul on whose memory this place was named as Shrikut and now Sarkoot. The mandir is base of all prominent pilgrimages and festivals like Janmashtami, Ramnavami, Machail yatra, Sartha yatra. The famous Neel Khanth Mahadev Mandir is situated in the heart of Kishtwar town. In 1629AD it was built by Jagat Singh. A rare Lingam was placed in this temple which is said to be the family Idol of Kings of Kishtwar. Its colour resembled Sapphire later on it was taken to Basohli by the orders of Kings of Basholi.
Amongst the major attractions of Kishtwar is the high altitude Kishtwar National Park boasting a rich variety of flora and fauna. This place is a wildlife lover's haven to witness some of the most exquisite animals of the Great Himalayas like the Snow Leopard, Ibex, Musk Deer and Himalayan Bear. The district's top attraction for history buffs include the old fort of Bhandarkoot, located at a distance of 12 km from Kishtwar. It is one of the best places to visit near the city if you take a keen interest in Hindu truthology. According to local legend, this was the place where Lord Rama performed the last rites of Jatayu. It is also the confluence place of two rivers, the Chander bhaga and the Mariv Soder.
Chowgan is a major tourist attraction near Kishtwar. This captivating and lush green natural ground is ideal to relax amongst the majestic Chinar and Pine trees. A trip to Kishtwar is incomplete without visiting the Pochall Village, if you want to see saffron cultivation. Treat your eyes to the spectacular and captivating beauty of the purple saffron flowers spread like carpets over the fields. Visit during the months of October and November and be awestruck by the gloriousness of the fully bloomed saffron flowers.
The handicrafts of Kishtwar are the famous Bakerwals Silver Jewelry and local handmade Kishtwari craft like woolen blankets, shawls and Gaba, and spices like saffron, cloves, and cardamom, makes Kishtwar a dream destination for shoppers. The destination also offers a peek inside the local cuisines and taste. At Kishtwar, you can relish Kashmiri vegetarian dishes like Aloo in yoghurt, Lotus root curry, fried paneer in red sauce. Non-vegetarians can savour the taste of authentic Rogan Josha, Rista, Yakhni, Tabak Maz and Chicken preparations. Kishtwar is also popular for local Rajma and rice, Anar danay ki Chutney, Gucchi Pulaow, Sticky white Meetha Bhaat and Kasrod. There are few traditional dishes like Makki ki Roti and Saag, Bhothray (Khamera) & Sabzi, and Namkeen Chai with local Kulcha are the must-try here.
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