The Parikrama(Circum-ambulation) of the Mansar Lake.

                            Experience of the  Mansar Lake Parikrama.

 Mansar Lake......................................

                                  The view from the tourist guest house balcony at Mansar..........................
Mansar is a beautiful lake fringed by forest covered hills,over a mile in length &half a mile in width. Besides being a popular tourist destination in Samba district of Jammu,its a holy site, sharing the legends & sanctity of lake Manasarovar.On the eastern bank of the lake ,there's a shrine of Sheshnag( a mythological Snake god with 6 head). Newly weds, consider it auspicious to perform the 3 circum ambulation(Parikrama) around the lake to seek the blessings of Sheshnag. Itsaround 3kms stretch  & took us approx. an hour+ to walk around its pathway.

 The new Sheshnag temple besides the tourist guest houseJKTDC,Mansar.

 As we went around the Mansar lake for the Parikrama....

                                             The pathway for the parikrama of the Mansar lake...
Location :62kms from Jammu City via NH1A.
Altitude:666mts above mean sea level.
Area:1229 Kanal.
Depth:37mts approx.
Weather: cool & no polution.............total serenity all around.
 Time from Jammu : 2hrs+.

 The view of the surrounding garden by the Mansar lake....

                                 The JKTDC guest house ,Mansar......
Besides Mansar Lake , there's another lake Surinsar (approx.9kms away) & the whole route pass thru' the Surinsar wild life santuary across hilly terrain & few view points are worth stopping over. Hardly any eattery as such on the way .. The JKTDC Resort Guest rooms/ huts are very ill maintained & they are only the owner of the whole property. Some people just prefer to strole around on the resort bank of the lake instead & walk away ,others just prefer to visit the original Sheshnag temple on the other bank & do the rituals & take dip in the lake. But someone like us ,if prefers to stay a night at the resort ,would surely get a feeling of a ghost bunglow stay which have hardly been used over a period of time...No doubt , the food was good. The serenity around was quite refreshing though.... The gardens were really well maintained & are full of beautiful rose blooms & other seasonal flowering plants.... The Mansar lake is home to  Mahashir fishes & big turtles & are worshipped & fed by all devotees thronging to the shrine.

                                   The mahashir fishes at Mansar lake...

                       The Surinsar Lake...............................

    The beautiful landscape as we drove back to Jammu....................

                                      The R. Tawi, flowing across the beautiful landscape..
Word of caution: Should carry own food if planning a day trip orelse JKTDC resort has a resturant which serves only Veg. food.  If one intend to stay a night at the tourist cottage/ huts are recommended to carry your own bedsheet & toiletries & be mentally prepared for no powersupply during day hours.Roads are very bad if taken the NH1A towards Pathankot & than taken a diversion after Chichimata temple( Shakti pitt).

GREEN BELT PARK, GANDHINAGAR,JAMMU -The best locale to live in.

GREEN BELT PARK is the poshest area of Jammu city to live in............... The first visit to this area,made me fall in love with this place & we decided that we'll stay here itself instead going out into the city area. Calmness, beautiful luxury bunglows, squarish lanes & green park areas with exotic trees are the high lights of the area. The gole market & Bahu plaza ,both are at walking distances. Quite excited to make it my home for next couple of years... Though ,I had been to Jammu city as a tourist earlier but now a resident of green belt park.

 Green Belt Park ,Gandhinagar-Jammu City..................

 Magnolia Flower.......................

 The Bylanes of the area........................

 The Purple colour Gulmohar, very native to this place...................

The Paradise on Earth-JAMMU & KASHMIR.

                           JAMMU & KASHMIR -THE PARADISE ON EARTH.

 Patnitop.-----------------

 Dal lake view................................
The name J&K state, immediately paints a picture of lofty Himalayan Range(snow clad),The Chinar & Pine trees standing tall, cool placid lakes, snow fed streams,orchard laden with fruits & beautiful people living there,rich cultural heritages & handicrafts, famous Shrines etc.etc. -in our mind.

    Though the region comprises of 3 distinct regions( both geographically& culturally)- THE JAMMU REGION , THE KASHMIR REGION & THE LADAKH REGION. Its an amalgamation of rich nature, heritage & culture.Its the 6th largest state of India. The rich & the varied terrain of J&K can be divided into 4 geographical zones- The dry belt(Kandi) comprises of the semi mountain plains, the Shivalik ranges; the high mountain zone consitute the kashmir valley; pirpanjal range & its offshootsincluding  Doda,Poonch, Rajouri districts & parts of Kathua & Udhampur districts & the middle run of the Indus valley comprises Leh & Kargil.
  Its a land of extreme climate. While it can be unbearably hot in the foot hills during summer, the people of Ladakh & Kashmir ,eagerly waits for the snow to melt. Jammu  becomes a much more pleasant destination from 'oct-'february.But the best time to visit Kashmir & ladakh region is May to Sept'.The Dogras of Jammu region are known for their valour ,while themuslims of Kashmir are great artists &industrial people But the Ladakis are hardy race,as they have learnt to live & thrive even under themost hostile of conditions.

    J& K is one of the most tourist friendly state even though, often people r scared of trouble in the region. Its a very well net road system that joins every corner of the vast region.Jammu ,often known as the temple city gets clogged with tourists & devotees who visits mata Vaishnodevi temple at Katra mostly during the Navratris............... Amarnath yatra too finds devotees coming from far off places to pay their homage ; besides many more temples across.Whereas the Kashmir region ,is famous for its awesome natural beauty...............Ladakh region is a adventure enthusiats paradise.....................The Khardung'la pass, Chang'la pass , Pangong lake , Nubra Valley are amongst the few which are a must visit on everyones travel itenary list.