I arrived in Jammu after an exhausting ride in a shared taxi from Srinagar. My energy quickly came back and I explored the city during two full days. After hearing in Srinagar that Jammu was a dull city, I was pleasantly surprised by the impressive sights I found. Unlike Srinagar where I had been freezing during ten days, the climate was enjoyable in Jammu that January 2019.
The Ragunath Temple is located right in the heart of the city. The soldier guarding the place asked me to let my bag in a locker, this policy is implemented to everybody for safety reasons. Completed in the first half of the 19th century, it is dedicated to Rama, an avatar of Vishnu. To have more knowledge on the subject, I advice you to read the Ramayana.
I took a auto-taxi to the Amar Mahal Palace, whose entrance fee is much higher for foreigners than it is for Indian nationals. It has been reconverted in a historic museum whose exhibition includes a golden throne of 120 kg, Pahari and Kangra miniatures and thousands of antique books. I paid a bit extra to enter a room with some Chinese objects and calligraphies.
The Mubarak Mandi is a large complex lacking money for renovations. Residence of the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir during the Dogra dynasty until 1925, it is now used for government offices and for the Dogra Museum. But some parts are completely abandoned, damaged by an earthquake in 1980.
The Ranbireshwar Temple is the largest dedicated to Shiva, a deity more popular in the South, in Northern India. The main interest is the presence of 12 lingams carved in crystal on the central sanctum.