Just 5 km away from Katra is Aghar Jitto, the Shrine of Baba Jitto, a devotee of Mata Vaishno Devi and a revolutionary who led a campaign against the feudal order. According to legends, a dip in the holy spring water, flowing in front of the shrine, does miracles to pre-natal women for safe delivery of children. A path from here leads to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi.
Vaishno Devi is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in North India and is famous for its shrine located in a cave in the Trikuta Mountains. This cave shrine has been the source of faith and strength for million of devotees for hundreds of years.
It is very hard, like any other old shrines, to trace back the history of Vaishno Devi; however geological studies indicate that the holy shrine of Vaishno Devi is almost a million years old. Though the Vedic literature doesn’t refer to any goddess, however one can find the mention of Trikuta hills in Rigveda - the oldest of the four Vedas. There are different versions of the origin of Vaishno Devi available, but according to the most popular version, the shrine of Vaishno Devi was discovered about 700 years back by Pandit Shridhar. According to the popular belief, Mata once helped in organizing a Bhandaara at Shridhar’s place. But, she had to leave the place to escape Bhairon Nath. As Mata left the place, Shridhar started giving up food in grief and started praying for Mata Vaishno Devi.
Mata came in his dreams and asked him to search for her at the cave in the Trikuta Mountain. This led to the discovery of the holy cave. Shridhar found three head atop a rock, which are currently known as the Holy Pindies.
This pilgrim spot is located at about 120 km from Jammu. Pilgrims flock the shrine on the full moon night of Sawan (July-August) to worship the trident) and mace, said to belong to Bheem, one of the five Pandava brothers from the epic Mahabharata. There are accommodation facilities provided by the Tourist department. Mantalai is only a stone throw away from here and this enchanting spot hidden by rich deodar forests is where Lord Shiva is supposed to have married Parvati.
The dargah of Muslim saint, Peer Budhan Ali Shah draws scores of devotees and it is believed that this shrine protects the people of this city from mishaps and evil spirits.
Falling en route Shudh Mahadev, it is the site of three of the oldest temples of Jammu, which rub off a distinct Greek architectural style.
This is the fabled spring where the Goddess Parvati used to bathe before commencing her daily prayers at Sudh Mahadev.
A monument of the British Rule in India, St Mary's Church is a religiously important church in Gulmarg. The construction of the church dates back to 150 years and was done by famous British architectures in the construction style of British churches. This holy church is rare sight of a Christian church in Gulmarg.
The Mohini Bai Sisodia, the wife of the King Maharaja Hari Singh of erstwhile kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir, built the Maharani temple in 1915. This temple is also renowned as Mohineshwar Shivalalaya and enshrines the idol of Lord Shiva, which offers a majestic attraction for the devotees. An idol of Goddess Parvati is also placed here for the devotees to offer prayers.
It is a Muslim shrine located a few kilometres from Gulmarg. The shrine is built on the slopes below Gulmarg and can be reached from either Gulmarg or Tangmarg. Devoted to a renowned Muslim saint, who was a courtier of the Kashmir King Zain-ul-Abidin, the shrine witnesses thousands of devotees every year, regardless of any religion or faith.
Tele Belo is a village with religious importance and closely associated with the life of Holy Mother. The village is located at a scenic region in between Jairambati and Tarakeshwar. It is believed that Mother Sarada Devi got shelter in an inn at this place. It was a dacoit who offered her the shelter in Tele Belo. The dacoit and his family observed Goddess Kali in her face. When Ma Sarada Devi met the bandit and wife, she addressed them as Father and mother with innocence. This simplicity and the innocence made the dacoit to believe that Holy Mother was incarnation of Goddess Kali.