Jammu is Jammu & Kashmir's second largest city and its winter capital. In summer it is a sweltering contrats to the cool heights of Kashmir. October onwards, it becomes much more pleasant. Jammu actually consists of two towns, the old town sitting on a hilltop overlooking the river, and several kilometers away across the river is the new town of Jammu Tawi. Jammu is the railhead and main entry point for Kashmir. Amongst the three regions of Jammu and Kashmir state, Jammu offers widest diversity of terrain and beauty. In its undulating plains and lower hills of the south, to its fierce heights of Kishtwar to the northeast, one is witness to its history, art, religion and an abundance of natural beauty.
The entire region is dotted with lakes and valleys, some still little explored. The foundation of settlement of Jammu is attributed to the king Jambulochan of the 9th century BC, when as the legend goes, he saw a tiger and goat drinking at the same pool. At this auspicious spot, he constructed a fort, believed to be the second Bahu fort. In 1730 AD it came under the Dogra rule of Raja Dhruv Deva. Dogra rulers moved their capital to the present site across the river Tawi and Jammu became an important centre ofr arts and culture, now renowed as the Pahari school. Religion too played an important part in its development, so beautifully evident in its variuos shrines and temples spread throughout the region. Until the late 18th century its fortunes were closely associated with events in the Punjab. Jammu itslef is not an attractive city with few open spaces and too much traffic. The railwqay station is some way away from the old town. The bus station is closer at the foot of the steps off the Srinagar road. Vast and chaotic on a rainy day.
Scraping the low lying foothills of the Himalayas, the overall impression of the Jammu is one of the large stone mansions, handsome buildings, and the remains of an old fort that stands the sentinel over the Tawi gorge. While modern plate fronted shops line the road today, in the older houses, there is also a feeling of timeliness and a tranquility acquired by the passage of age. In recent decades, Jammu has come to be known as City Of Temples. From almost anywhere in the city, temple spires can be sighted, a burnished gold and spiraling skywards as they tower over a huddle of flat rooftops. Jammu is also the winter capital of the state, the seat of gevernment when Srinagar is freezing and snowbound. Also Jammu is an important centre for trade and commerce.
