Shri Ranbireshwar temple in Jammu is one of the biggest Shiva temples in the whole of north India. Popularly known as Ranbireshwar temple. It was built by Maharaja Ranbir Singh, son of Maharaja Gulab Singh, the founder of Jammu and Kashmir State, in 1882.
Shrine’s History
The Maharaja Ranbir Singh laid the foundation stone of the temple in 1882. The murtis were procured from Rajasthan and sacred linga from river Narmada and were brought in trains. Maharaja Ranbir Singh at Ranbir Singh Pura personally received these. Later, these were carried to Jammu from Ranbir Singh Pura in a chariot with full devotion. The Maharaja himself pulled strings of the chariot assisted by his troops and thousands of other people singing bhajans in the praise of lord Shiva. The construction of the temple took two years. In the meantime, the Maharaja Ranbir Singh had fallen ill. He, therefore, asked his younger brother, Raja Ram Singh to perform the inauguration ceremony of the temple.
But, it appeared that it was too not acceptable to destiny. In spite of the best efforts of Raja Ram Singh and others, the big Shiva linga could not be placed in the vedi . Consequently, the Maharaja Ranbir Singh though ailing, came personally to the temple, prayed to Lord Shiva and then with his own hands, helped by several other Shiva devotees mounted the lingam in the Holy vedi amidst chanting of ‘Har Har Mahadev’.
Legends Associated with This Shrine
This renowned temple was built by Maharaja Ranvir Singh, son of Gulab Singh in 1883 A.D. Local residents believe that he built this temple when Lord Shiva appeared in his dream. Mahabharat mentions a story that says Arjun attained his powers after worshipping Jambu Devi in this area.
By Road
Jammu is well connected with an extensive bus and taxi network. Private tourist buses ply to and fro between Jammu and the major Indian cities like Delhi, Manali, Amritsar, Shimla and Ludhiana. The distance between Delhi and Jammu is around 684 km. Taxis can be hired from Jammu to reach the temple.
By Rail
Jammu Tawi is the major railway station in Jammu and the closest one to the temple. There are regular train services from major cities of India like Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai , Chennai and Trivandrum.
By Air
The closest airport to the temple is at Jammu. This airport is around 8 km from the citys centre. Almost all airlines operate regular flights to Jammu from major cities like Delhi, Srinagar and Leh.
Shrine Timings
6.00 am – 8.00 pm
Events Celebrated at This Shrine
All major Hindu festivals are celebrated with much excitement at this temple. Its a time to rejoice and pray to the almighty. To experience the festivities of this temple, one can visit Ranbireshwar Temple in January (Lohri or Makara Sankranti), March (Ram Navami) and October (Deepavali) when the citys people regale themselves in a celebratory air.
Extra Information About this Shrine
Best time to Visit Jammu is fortunate to be blessed with a pleasant and cool climate all through the year. It tends to get hot during the summer months and extremely cold during winters. Winter months are accompanied by snowfall. The ideal time to visit this region is from September to April.
