Baba Dhansar Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Jammu Airport is the nearest airport, about 80 km from Reasi town.

• By train

  Shri Vaishno Devi Katra railway station is the nearest station, about 26 km from Reasi town.

• By road

  Reasi town is about 64 km from Jammu city by road. The temple is about 17 km from Reasi, towards Katra.

Rules to know

• Bathing is not permitted in the sacred Karua Jheel pond.

Why devotees come here

Baba Dhansar Temple stands beside Karua Jheel, a pond near Karua village in Reasi district, Jammu and Kashmir. A cave of Shiva near the pond is also a place of worship. Bathing is not permitted in the sacred pond, but devotees may bathe in the stream downstream.

The temple of Baba Dhansar stands beside Karua Jheel, a pond near Karua village about 17 km from Reasi town, towards Katra.

Local belief links the place to Shiva's journey to the Amarnath cave. He is said to have left his serpent king, Sheshnag, at Anantnag on the way. Sheshnag came to earth in human form as Vasudev, and one of Vasudev's sons was Dhansar, a saintly person. The local story says a demon near the pond once troubled the villagers of Karua. Baba Dhansar prayed to Shiva for help, and Shiva came and helped kill the demon.

The pond is considered sacred, and bathing in it is not permitted. Devotees may bathe in the stream downstream. Every year on Mahashivratri a large number of devotees visit, and an annual fair (mela) is held at the place.

Festivals

• Day of MahashivratriMahashivratri

  An annual fair (mela) is held at the place, and many devotees visit that day.

Tips for your visit

• Walk about 200 metres from the road to reach the holy place.
• Bhimgarh Fort is also listed among Reasi's attractions, if you plan a wider trip.
• Expect large numbers on Mahashivratri, when the annual fair is held.

Questions people ask