Baba Jitto Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Jammu airport is the nearest airport.

• By train

  Jammu is the nearest convenient railway station.

• By road

  Jhiri village is about 22 km west of Jammu city, off the Jammu-Akhnoor highway.

Why devotees come here

Baba Jitto Temple stands in Jhiri village, west of Jammu city. Baba Jitto and his daughter Bua Kouri are worshipped at twin temples here. Lakhs of devotees come for the annual Jhiri Mela held on Karthik Purnima.

Pilgrims visit Jhiri village first, to pay respects at the twin temples of Baba Jitto and his daughter Bua Kouri. Baba Jitto is remembered as a Brahmin and a great devotee of Mata Vaishno Devi. Legend says he fought against injustice and laid down his life after the landlord of the area cheated him.

Tourism pages say he sacrificed his life for the cause of farmers in the 15th century. Each November, lakhs of devotees come to Jhiri from various parts of North India for the mela.

Jhiri is a village off the Jammu-Akhnoor highway. The annual Jhiri Mela is held here on Karthik Purnima, the late autumn full moon. Mela pages say it lasts about a week and draws devotees from various parts of North India. Devotees also take a customary dip in Baba-da-Talab, a natural pond about four km from the temple.

Festivals

• Karthik Purnima, late October or early NovemberJhiri Mela

  A week-long annual fair that draws devotees from various parts of North India. The main day of the fair is Karthik Purnima.

Tips for your visit

• The 2024 mela was expected to draw about 20 lakh visitors, so expect large crowds.
• The mela falls on Karthik Purnima, so check the exact date for the year you plan to travel.

Questions people ask