My Drive off to Shiv Khori temple.

It was one fine sunday morning ,feeling lazy as i woke up from sleep............ temps.have dropped to mere13c,just didnt wish to leave my quilt,when my husband served me a cup of green tea,triggering that its time that i should leave my bed. I asked him his plan for the day but found him very very confused............... then on i decided that we 'll go out somewhere; undecided of any place we quickly had our breakfast and packed our bags and cameras and off we go....
 As my husband started his car, he decided to drive towards Akhnoor side of Jammu .....After crossing the chenab bridge , we continued our drive onto Bhamla.....

Onto BHAMLA.

Driving thru' BHAMLA.

 At Bhamla , we took a break for a hot cup of tea & pakoras, & then decided to drive off to Shiv Khori .................. I searched for the distance & route on google maps  & onto our drive thru' Pouni & Ramsoo ,we reached ShivKhori by almost 1.40pm..... We didnt feel like stopping for lunch as its a long 4kms trek one way to the temple..... Though, pony option was there but we opted to walk as it will give me a better option to film the route....
But the climb was too steep, thank God we didnt have food before started on for the trek.

POUNI VALLEY.

RAMSOO VILLAGE.

THE TREK ROUTE TO SHIV KHORI CAVES.

On our trek to Shiv Khori Caves.

SHIV KHORI CAVES.

Myself, on my first darshan of Shiv Khori.

The steep trek across the high mountains at Shiv Khori.

After almost a tiring trek , it was time for climbing some odd 100 steps to the enterance of the cave. No cameras & mobile phones are allowed inside the cave. Its lit up but the passage is very very narrow & tough to pass thru'... & then the main podium of Lord Shiv'.... We stood , all in his praise.... Nama Shivaay" ...After Darshan , it was time to return back. The natural rock formation inside the cave was worth seeing... Lord Vishnu in nidra position, Shesh naag guarding, the Shankh pouring down water on the Shivling, The Trishul....... Just Wonder!!!! what a creation of Almighty. I bow down in His respect.
It was setting dark & we had to run thru' the down hill...covered 4kms downhill in just 40mins...as we were worried the bad roads at Ramsoo & Pouni would make our journey a difficult one if we dont pass thru' the region before it becomes totally dark.... My husband drove off very fast almost at 80km/hr speed to touch down Akhnoor by 7pm... By the time we reached home , it was almost 8pm.
 Just had an unexpectedly great day.... Its offcourse, Lord asked us to visit him on the day orelse, when we started from home , we never thought to be visiting Shiv Khori Shrine.

Beautiful Bhamla.

  

A Sunday drive off to BILLAWAR.

It was a sunday morning, we woke up from sleep & with a cup of hot tea as the weather in Jammu City has started Chilling,  I &my husband just thought to go off for a long drive....Though, we were not able to decide in which direction we'll go,as RSPura side ,its constant firing from pak side, so better be safe than feel sorry for misadventure, Cann't think of taking NH1A as the traffic is so mismanaged that its getting stalled by Udhampur& ahead traffic....So it was either Akhnoor side to Shiv Khori orelse towards Basoli in Kathua distt................... Its long time ,after the massive floods on 5thsept 2014in J&K, we could hardly go out toplaces across. So much bogged down with overload of work pressure, we both were looking out to escape out even forhalf a day. Within minutes we both decided to drive off towards Basoli side'; Hardly had some 15mins to get ready & hit the road....& off we go...........................
    Took the Jammu- pathankot road,After crossing Vijaypur- Sambha-& nearing Hiranagar, I told my husband that the google map on my mobile is showing a narrow cut soon after hiranagar across mountains towards Dhar road to Billawar-Basoli..... We both got a bit adventurous & took the wrongroute into the high mountains ....It was simply our GPRS on our mobile to guide us thru'.................though, offcourse time had been a factor, incase to had to drive upto Lakhanpur & drive to Basoli, its pretty long time................
    Though , the Challa- Dayalchak road turned out to be real adventures drive. The road at various patches were really very very bad condition.... Now no looking back, we kept driving thru small villages & high mountains , towards Galak & ultimately hit the DHAR-UDHAMPUR Road.

We now started driving towards BILLAWAR town.......... after all those hill climb , we were now driving a height but onto a comfortable drive.... Billawar ,is a beautiful town nestled inbetween the high Dhauladhar range. The Sukrala Devi shrine brings huge crowds here. The town looked cute & serene from top of the high Dhar road...

After few breaks on the way , we kept driving onthe dhar road ....... Soon , we got to know that ,my husband had to rush back to office, so its asured that we can't make it to BANI-BASOLI instead have to get back to Lakhanpur & later rush back towards JAMMU.... Anyways, No regret....thats part of our life......
    Soon we got the first glance of Ranjit Sagar Lake; It looked awesome from such height on Dhar Road....Now , as we kept driving , its the huge lake that kept was awestruck by its beauty....

The onto Dharamkot...- Parnala- Mahanpur-Thein-Basantpur- Lakhanpur..................... It was really a long drive-------------- But I loved it... Couldnot make it to Basoli.Maybe next time.
Now we were in a hurry to drive back to Jammu & at 140km/hr speed on high on Sunday afternoon....it was really Adventurous.

My first visit to PEER KI GALI.

The holy place "PEER KI GALI" is situated between 2 villages, Poshana 7 Heerapur along the MUGHAL ROAD, in Poonch distt. of J&K. History says that this place got its name because of a converted Hindu Saint , Sheikh Ahmed Karim. Barnier Francious, the man who visited this place along with the caravan of Mughal emperor Auranzed in 1665 wrote :" The Saint was living here from the time of Mughal Emperor Jahangir. The Saint could perform miracles by producing horrible voices. He could also bring storms along with hail stone & Snow. He was an old white beared man & had ordered the people not to create noise in this calm ,place of God, rather move silently & also demanded offering from them".....
    The whole population of the state considered Sheikh Ahmed Karim as a saint of high value- A LIVING SAINT. The Shrine of Peer ki gali is not peer's grave or mazor But Peer's medition place.Along with Sheikh Ahmed Karim,people from the whole state of J&K can enjoy the charming scenery here. the refreshing meadows during summers adds the beauty to the place.One can enjoy the matchless bliss of nature here.
   Its 45 kms from BAFLIAZ, if travelling from Rajouri/ Poonch side of mughal road....The spot of peer ki gali is multidimensional in beauty & religious attraction.

PEER KI GALI.

THE MEADOWS AT PEER KI GALI>

ENJOYING THE SERENITY OF THE PLACE.

Myself, at Peer ki gali.

PEER KI GALI/

As we drove across SURANKOTE VALLEY.

SURANKOTE VALLEY, is located on the bank of river Suran, is charming valley surrounded by lofty mountains & is called the " Pahalgam of Poonch". As we were driving from Jammu to Poonch , Surankot is the last place before we entered poonch city. Earlier heard a lot of its beauty... some called it the marigold valley but my eyes hardly could catch a stretch of marigold field here but was lush green , with paddy fields...Too beauty is its look in the morning sun.... hardly saw much population in this area but offcourse very serene...I can sit for hours here & soak my eyes in its natural beauty.....simple & very slow life here, with only the basic needs of people but everyone looked very happy living & at peace.From Surankot , one road bifurcates & goes to BAFLIAZ via DEHRA-GALI .............. one will surely enjoy the drive across as we did..... happy to see the simple living of the common people here, untouched by the bustling flavours of Cities like Mumbai /Delhi.

Charming SURANKOT VALLEY.

SURAN River flowing across the valley.

DEHRA GALI onto BAFLIAZ.

Buddha Amarnathji ki Darshan.

The holy temple of Chattani baba Buddha Amarnath is situated 290kms appox. in Mandi, NW in Poonch distt. The Chattani Baba Duddha Amarnath's Himling Swaroop is located 4600ft above sea level, surrounded by beautiful LOREN VALLEY. Baba resides here in snow crystal form. This place is located between the hills & valleys & on the left is the Pulasti river. In Sawaan mahima, as per belief ,the yatra of Baba Amarnath is incomplete without visiting Chattani Baba Buddha Amarnath temple.

At  Buddha Amarnathji shrine in poonch.

I & My husband was travelling to poonch City from Jammu City.. Its almost 249kms drive & by the time we reach poonch ,it was around 4.30pm.... though quite exausted after this long drive of almost 8hrs, but one of our official friend just put a proposal to drive 30kms to Buddha Amarnathji shrine in Mandi tehesil in poonch distt.... Just  15mins break we took & accepting the proposal we headed off....................... The road was bit narrow across the high mountains,so had to go slow... But definitely interesting after we heard that people take long walks from Jammu to Poonch & after darshan here they head to Amarnath shrine in Kashmir Valley............. Anyway better, we were in cars & not walking thru this tough route...............Only faith in Almighty can make such tough journey possible for millions who take on this jorney in Rainy season, I felt at heart. By the time we reached the site it was getting dark.... The temple complex is taken care of by BSF..... & located in a serene place , not much halla hoo, As we entered , the atmosphere was so upbeat, so peaceful .... After Darshan at the shrine ,we were just about to leave ,when arti started.... So felt to stop a bit & do the arti ,Lucky we too bepart of the arti that evening at such Our Heart was full with joy & we chanted our prayers in name of Shiva...SHIV is considered as THE UNTIMATE LIGHT, JYOTI SWAROOP here. I Bowed in his praise & felt myself to be too lucky to make it.Without Almighty's wish this couldn't have been possible.

PICINCING AT JHAJJAR KOTLI RIVULET.

 Though the people around Jammu region are quite aware of the place Jhajjar Kotli , But for the new people visiting this region , this info. is bit useful to get aware of the place.

JHAJJAR KOTLI:Its some 35kms from Jammu City little off the national highway from Jammu-Srinagar. Its on the bank of Jhajjar rivulet. Mostly visited during summer season.... as during monsoon ,one can encounter with flash flood situation.

    It was one fine summer sunday morning , when jammu city was boiling at 43C , We both along with our closed friends family thought to go on a drive off to jhajjar kotli .....we went prepared with extra clothings & footwears aswell foodstuffs .....Now a days the drive upto Udhampur from Jammu City has become extra comfortable.... After crossing the Jammu bypass we took the Naograta bypass road............ Oh , what a drive thru'... the newly constructed bypass its a drivers delight to drive thru'...After the Katra cross,the jhajjar river bridge comes..... soon next there's a narrow road which goes left...should take it on & then a bit of up & down the hills ,upto the river bed..............
   Soon after we reached the place, we were bit uncomfortable to drive across bolders & rocks to the river bed...My eye caught the sight of 2 cars driving thru' the waters of the rivulet. Its was very very hot outside & the sight of the waters just drove us all crazy... We had to drive in to the river itself, what an experience.... the car tyre was half submerged & we were moving ahead  in the opposite flow of waters creating fountains of water  on both side of the SUV....We stopped at one point by the bank & the both male person in our team wanted to explore the river ahead to find a better location .In the meantime ,its photo session for all ladies & girls in the riverbed.

Exploring the Jhajjar Rivulet.

Ladies ,posing for a click on Jhajjar Rivulet.

Funtime in the Jhajjar Rivulet.

Myself, the biker & the truck ,all on the river bed.

Swimming across....

Its CHEERS!!!! Cold drinks on the river bed.

My friend , trying to cross thru' the waters...

Vehicles driving across on the rivulet,

Nagrota bypass road to Udhampur.
It was amazingly cold water & at 43C temp outside , everyone wished to take a dip.... But before the dip , Its food time & we had to open our packed food stuffs..... Cheers !!! the cold drink bottles opened & munching of chips & peanuts....We were all loving it...almost half wet ,we had our food, The others around ,were busy cooking their meals by the bank of the rivulet...some lying lazy in the waters....what a scene around.
Soon after the stomach's full , Its just in the water & more water................ everyone got in their swim wears & off they all go merrily swimming around. Thats the way to enjoy a very very hot summer holiday rather than sitting inside the AC room..................... After almost 2 hrs in water , we all had to packup &leave  back.... Really had a great time together...Good Company of friends, beautiful location, what more to ask for; On our way back , we stopped at Punjabi Haveli restaurant for a meal of Rajma-rice & lassi......................

OUR VISIT TO MANTALAI TEMPLE & SUDH MAHADEV TEMPLE.

Mantalai , is the place where Lord Shiva & Goddess Parvati tied their knot & is considered an auspicious pilgrimage by the Hindus. & Sudh Mahadev is the place where Goddess Parvati ,after taking bath ar gauri kund use to pray to lord shiva .
   We were on our trip back from Patnitop to Jammu City, soon after crossing Kud, saw a diversion for Mantalai & SudhMahadev , Gauri Kund..... It was mentioned 35kms............... thought, why not take a chance to complete our darshan of such an auspicious place... Then started our journey to Mantalai & sudhMahadev...... Its a narrow road up & down the hills , with lots of twist & turns.... We didn't realise that 35kms in the high mountains make quite a long journey..... It took us almost 2hrs drive to reach Sudh Mahadev. The Devak stream originates from Sudh Mahadev& disappears amongst the rocks a few kms downstream.It looks so near , I mean the small Shiva temple , But as we started to walk up , Its really quite a distance of climb thru' gravels & rocks upto the temple... From the top of the shrine the viewof the Sudh Mahadev village looks very beautiful amongst a serene atmosphere. Later We realised that for the comfort of the devotes, people have constructed another big temple in the same name inside the village also....But We felt good that we could make it to the original shrine of Sudh Mahadev............. Few more kms ahead lies Mantalai ................. Its so-o beautiful , unless U be there , U cannot realise its beauty... though ,its a small temple complex & the place of marriage of Shiv-Parvati ,stands a Kund (holy Pond ) there now...We felt lucky ourselves to visit such an auspicious place.... Our Souls,bowed down in praise of Almighty................
       It was then time to make our way back to Jammu City as it was getting darker .

The Devak Stream originating at Sudh Mahadev.

The view from the Sudh Mahadev Shrine.

The original Sudh Mahadev Shrine.(J&K).

The Mantalai temple .

The Mantalai Shrine with the Kund.

The View of Mantalai Village.

The View of the roads from the Mantalai temple.