Peer Kho Cave Temple

Getting there

• By air

  The nearest airport is Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport (ATQ).

• By train

  Jammu Tawi Railway Station (JAT) is the nearest railway station.

• By road

  The temple lies northeast of Jammu city, on the side of the circular road above the Tawi riverbank.

Why devotees come here

Peer Kho Cave Temple stands on the banks of the River Tawi in Jammu city, in Jammu and Kashmir. It was built as a shrine for the Peer saint Siddha Ghareeb Nath, and the cave beside it is believed to be the meditative abode of Jamvant, the bear king of the Ramayana.

The temple is one of the old temples of Jammu, known as the City of Temples. It was built as a shrine for the revered Peer saint Siddha Ghareeb Nath. Local belief holds that the cave beside it was a meditative abode of Jamvant, the bear king and devotee of Shri Rama in the Ramayana.

According to historical records, the temple's origins go back to the 15th century, in the reign of Raja Ajaib Dev. The whole temple sits on a raised artificial platform, which protects it from the flooding of the Tawi in the rainy season. The courtyard is marked by three shikharas, spires that blend modern and ancient styles.

The dome, painted with work that reflects Mughal and Dogra influences, is the gateway to the cave. Inside the premises, a Devi temple has a white marble shrine with images of Devi. A shrine at the centre of the temple emits smoke continuously, which is one of its unique features.

Tips for your visit

• Expect large crowds on Purnima, Amavasya and Ekadashi, when many devotees come for darshan.
• Locals gather in large numbers on Saturdays to worship the white metal standing image of Shani on a square platform.
• Walk through the courtyard to reach the dome before you enter the cave.
• Panchbakhtar Temple and Ranbireshwar Temple, both dedicated to Shiva, are other sacred sites in the same area.

Questions people ask