Bahu Fort Kali Temple - Jammu and Kashmir

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Kali, the fierce form of the Divine Mother, holds a very important place in the religious life of Bengal. Kolkata, in West Bengal, is especially known for its Kali temples. Interestingly, Jammu, located in the northern part of India, also has a famous Kali temple.

Jammu is often called the City of Temples because of its many sacred places. However, the presiding deity deeply revered by the people of Jammu is not housed in a grand standalone temple, but within the historic Bahu Fort.

As per local tradition, Bahu Fort is believed to be one of the oldest forts of Jammu. It is said to have been originally built by Raja Bahulochan several centuries ago. The fort is located about five kilometres from the city centre, on the banks of the Tawi River. Historically, it was rebuilt by the Dogra ruler Maharaja Gulab Singh in 1822 CE.

The Mahakali Temple, located inside the fort, was an important shrine for the Dogra rulers and continues to be one of the most revered temples for the people of Jammu. This temple, popularly known as Bawe Wali Mata Temple, is considered one of the most visited Goddess shrines in Jammu and Kashmir after Vaishno Devi.

Although the temple is extremely popular in the region, it is quite small in size. The main shrine enshrines Mahakali, shown in her fierce form with her tongue protruding.

Within the main shrine, an icon of Vaishno Devi is also found. The temple complex has a few other shrines and icons, including Ganesha, Narasimha, Radha-Krishna, Rama-Lakshmana-Sita-Hanuman, Panchamukha Hanuman, Shiva Linga and Vaishno Devi. There is also a separate shrine where the three Goddesses, Kali, Lakshmi and Saraswati, are seen together.

Animal sacrifice is still associated with this temple, and signs related to the practice can be seen within the temple premises. The temple attracts large crowds, especially on Tuesdays and Sundays, when local devotees visit in large numbers.

Happy travelling.




Location: Bahu Fort, Gorkha Nagar, Jammu, 180006

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