Efforts to attract pilgrims to Shivkhori shrine

A record 85 lakh pilgrims had visited the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine last year. Now, the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism department has launched efforts to attract more of these pilgrims to other shrines situated on the Shivkhori shrine circuit by providing additional infrastructure facilities.

Shivkhori is one of the most venerated cave-shrines of Lord Shiva in Reasi district of Jammu region which is situated close to Katra, the base camp of Vaishno Devi Shrine. The Shivkhori holy cave is nearly 100 meters long, ending into a huge hall and houses a four-foot high ‘Shiva lingam’. Last year, a total of 10 lakh pilgrims visited the shrine as compared to 50,000 pilgrims barely eight years ago.

 

“We are developing the Shivkhori tourist circuit in such a way that the pilgrims visiting Viashno Devi can also have the choice to travel to the nearby shrines like Shivkhori,” said a top government official here. For this purpose, the connectivity as well as infrastructure facilities for Shivkhori tourist circuit are being strengthened.

“Money is no constraint for us. Our main is to attract more pilgrims which can further boost the religious tourism here,” said the official.

The Shivkhori circuit is being developed in a way to link other sites like Akhnoor and Salal Lake on Chenab river and Reasi town are also connected.

The department has also chalked out plans to link the pilgrimage of Vaishno Devi to Reasi town which is associated with legendary Zorawar Singh, the general of Maharaja Ghulab Singh, the founder of Jammu and Kashmir state. Efforts are on to give facelift to Bhimgarh Fort which was built by Maharaja Ghulab Singh in 1817.

“We have started promoting this important Shivkhori circuit through various media campaigns,” said Arvind Kotwal, Deputy Director Tourism of Jammu and Kashmir government.