Bawe Wali Mata Temple

Getting there

• By road

  The fort is about 5 km from Jammu city centre. A widened road towards Surinsar gives better access to the fort and the temple.

Rules to know

• Tuesday and Sunday are the special days of worship at the temple.

Why devotees come here

Bawe Wali Mata Temple stands inside Bahu Fort, a historic fort in Jammu, the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir. The temple is dedicated to Kali and is known locally by the Bawe Wali Mata name. It is described as a renowned Shakti temple.

The temple inside Bahu Fort is dedicated to Kali, and locals know it as Bawe Wali Mata. Legend says Raja Jambu Lochan, on a hunting trip, saw a tiger and a goat drinking side by side at the Tawi River. He took it as a sign and founded his capital there.

Accounts differ on who founded the fort. One credits Bahu, the eldest of Agnigarbha's 18 sons, with founding Jammu city and building the fort. Another says Raja Jambu Lochan built the first fort about 3,000 years ago. Historians say the fort held off many sieges by invaders, partly because of its unique shape. Maharaja Gulab Singh rebuilt the present fort in the 19th century, when Jammu was under the Sikh Empire. Bahu Fort is one of the most ancient structures in the state.

The fort has eight octagonal towers joined by thick walls, and its main entry is wide enough for elephants to pass. The temple is described as a renowned Shakti temple, built inside the fort in the 8th century. It is built in white marble on a raised platform 1.2 metres high. Local accounts say the image of Mahakali was brought from Ayodhya.

Festivals

• March to April and September to OctoberBahu Mela

  A fair held in the fort area during the Navaratras, twice a year.

Tips for your visit

• Bagh-e-Bahu, a park in the forest around the fort, has a view over Jammu city.
• The fort's main entry is wide enough for elephants to pass.

Questions people ask