Kathua
A Pit Stop before Heading towards the extreme north in "the heaven on the Earth," Kathua is a city located in the Union territory of India, Jammu and Kashmir. Kathua is Situated near the borders of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. Primarily famous for army Cantonments, Kathua in Kashmir is surrounded by the Himalayan Mountains' outer ranges, famously known as Shivalik Hills. Kathua is an ideal spot to begin the journey in further northern regions and offers excellent trekking sites, religious places, gardens and scenic valleys.
According to Local people, Kathua was known as Kathai, and it was a group of Taraf Manjali, Taraf Tajwal, and Taraf Bhajwal. It was founded by three Rajput King Jodh Singh sons from the Andotra Dynasty, 2000 years back.
Tourist places in Kathua
Kathua is an abode for many temples like Dhoula Wali Mata Mandir, Jodia Mata Mandir, Mata Sundri Kote, Mata Bala Sundri, Asha Purani Mata Mandir, along with Ariwan temple dedicated to lord shiva and believed to be built in the 4th century by Raja Vikramaditya.
The other Kathua tourist places, including historical places like Jasmer Garh fort and Jasrota Fort with Mahal Kali temple, are exciting destinations for a visit.
Dream recreational Park near Kathua canal offers various relational and refreshing activities for Tourists' entertainment like river rafting.
Basohli is a small village famous for stone carvings, and tourists can visit Basohli paintings during their short trip.
Billawar village in the Kathua district is famous for Mahabilvakeshwar temple, and another temple is Lord Shiva's service, named after Lord Shiva's favourite bael leaves, which are found in numbers nearby. According to Local Fables, the site was used by Pandavas for worshipping during their banishment period.
Bani, Chandel, Panyalag, Duggal, Bhansal and Sarthal are some other tourist destinations situated in Kathua which are genuinely blessed with nature.
While at the valley of Bani, you can anticipate the beauty filled with Meadows, streams, forests, and waterfalls; this is where you can start the trek to Sarthal, which is 7000 ft above sea level. Sarthal experiences heavy snowfall for six months every year, receiving the title of Mini Kashmir in Kathua.
Best time to visit Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir
Kathua in Kashmir is a Humid subtropical region, which receives heavy rainfall during monsoons making it less suitable for any touristic activities. While winters can be cold, Kathua does not receive snowfall and can be visited by tourists. Summer can be sweltering with the temperature reaching 40 degrees, yet visitable for outdoor activities in Kathua.
How to reach Kathua in Kashmir
Kathua in Kashmir is well connected with other parts of India by Air, road, and railway. While the nearest Jammu Domestic airport is connected well with other domestic airports in India, the Kathua railway station is just 7 kilometres away from the city. Kathua is well connected with NH44 making it easily accessible by buses or private cars.
You can hire private cars to travel intercity, or local transport can be used as well.
Other nearby places to visit in Kathua
Kathua is situated at the border of Punjab ANd Himachal Pradesh in Jammu and Kashmir. From Kathua, you can go to Jammu, Kashmir, Himalayan ranges up in the north. At the same time, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh are also some of the best places to visit near Kathua in Kashmir.
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Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir is well connected with other regions of India by Air, Road and Railway, making it easily reachable. The nearest airport is Jammu Domestic Airport and is reachable within 2 hours by intercity transport or private cab. Kathua railway station is situated 4.5 kilometres from Kathua city and reachable by any local buses or taxis. Other nearest railway stations are Madhopur Punjab, Sujanpur, Budhi, Pathankot and Chakki Bank, which are within the range of 20 kilometres from Kathua city and easily reachable intercity transport. The National Highway 44 is within close vicinity from Kathua and is connected with Other cities of India and highways.
To visit Kathua in J&K, the best season is from October to May, as from October to March, winter is there. Since Kathua does not receive snowfall, it is open during winter, but the cold temperature up to 2 degrees can give you the feeling of being in Kashmir. From April to May, the summer season can be sweltering due to the subtropical climate, reaching up to 40 degrees, but this season is best for outdoor activities. Kathua is visited briefly by Monsoons, giving its heaviest rainfall than Kashmir and making it difficult to see from June to September.
In Kathua, you can go for a short picnic before going ahead in Jammu and Kashmir. Kathua is also blessed with Serene and the raw beauty of nature in the forms of meadows, forests, Shivalik mountain ranges, rivers and canals, giving plenty of things to do. From sightseeing to river rafting, shopping, and just visiting historical and religious places, Kathua is the base for many treks that start in the Jammu and Kashmir region.
Kathua offers many places to visit during short trips, like religious temples, historical forts, small villages full of cultures and values, trekking points and gardens etc. Dhoula Wali Mata Mandir, Jodia Mata mandir, Mata Bala Sundari, Asha Purani Mata mandir, Airwan temple, Mahabilwakeshwar temple are some religious places famous in Kathua, while Bani, Bilwar, Sarthal like places are visited for their natural beauty. Jasrota Fort and Jasmergarh fort are some historic places that make Kathua more interesting.
There are many things to see in Kathua which make the place famous. Many religious places are standing proudly in Kathua, like Dhoula Wali Mata mandir or Mahabilwakeshwar temple. Forts like Jasmergarh or Jasrota give more historical touch to Kathua along with natural blessings of rivers, Shivalik mountains. Treks and as a mini Kashmir in Sarthal Kathua is famous for many other attraction points like parks, adventure sports etc.