Patnitop
Hill Station near Jammu
General Information
District: Jammu, State: Jammu & Kashmir, India
Area: 0
Languages Spoken: Hindi, English and Kashmiri
Long Distance Code: +91-1992
Importance:
Best Time to Visit: March to July
Description
Around 112 kms from Jammu is the small hill station of Patnitop, perched at the height of 2024 meters. A favourite excursion point from main town of Jammu, this beautiful hill resort is full of thick forests that get blanketed by thick snow in winters. The hill resort also offers breathtaking views of the Chenab Basin valley. In winter Patnitop becomes a popular winter sport centre.<br />Nearby Patnitop is <B>Sanasar</B> a cup shaped meadow with gigantic conifers. Equally popular is the <B>Kud</B> resort located 103 kms from Jammu, on the Jammu-Srinagar highway at an altitude of 1738 meters. <br />Near Patnitop, about 120 kms from Jammu is the holy shrine of Shudh Mahadev. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, his spot has a story behind it. When Parvati, the daughter of the Himalayas was meditating for achieving Lord Shiva's grace, she would regularly bathe the idol with pious water from the Ganges. There fore the name of Shudh, meaning pure or pious has been attached to this shrine. The idol is considered to be the same, which Parvati used to bathe. <br />Near the shrine is a pond where Parvati herself would bathe regularly before commencing her daily prayers. That pond is called as <B>Gauri Kund</B>. <br />Situated a few kilometers further away is the <B>Mantalai</B> is surrounded by lush deodar forests at an altitude of 2000 m. The place is associated with the legend of the marriage of Lord Shiva with the Goddess Parvati. <br />62 kms from Jammu, <B>Mansar</B> is a beautiful lake fringed by forest-covered hills. This is the place associated as the abode of Sheshnaag, the serpent god. Apart from the natural beauty devotees throng this place to seek blessings of the serpent god. <B>Krimchi</B>, the site of three of the oldest temples of Jammu, are the nearest to Jammu, hardly 20 kms away. The architecture of the temples shows distinct Greek (Hellenic) influences. <br />The town of <B>Akhnoor</B> is associated with the legendary story of Sohni Mahiwal and is situated on the bank of Chenab River. Ruins of the Indus valley civilization can be seen in the town of Akhnoor.
