Today in this post we will be exploring the virtual journey of Mahanaal Cave, A Sacred Abode of Lord Shiva. Mahanaal Caves are present in District Kathua of UT of Jammu and Kashmir, the incredible part of India. Kathua District which spread over an area of 2502 sq. Km serves as a gateway to UT of J&K and is famous for its ancient and spiritual temples. Mahanaal Temple is one among these ancient temples.
Introduction
Mahanaal Temple belongs to the Hindu deity Lord Shiva, the creator and destroyer of world. The most popular deity of Hindu religion Lord Shiva resides in the form of sanctum scrotum inside the cave formed by nature. Mahanaal is a very popular pilgrimage site in District Kathua and every year many devotees of Lord Shiva visited this holy place time to time. It has become a very popular shrine due to its resemblance with Amarnath. It is also known by the name Mini Amarnath.
Location
Mahanaal temple is present in the Shivalik Hills on the banks of Ujh River in the Jakhole village of district Kathua. The distance of Mahanaal from Kathua city is near about 25 kms and 15 Kms from national highway. It takes one hour drive from Kathua city to reach this holy pilgrimage site. The place is completely isolated and one can experience an ideal environment which is best suited for seeking peace of mind.
Architecture
This place is known for its unique architect which nature has provided to it. The place is famous for two naturally made caves bisected by a season based waterfall. Although the waterfall remains without water mostly but still significant amount water can be experienced deposited between the caves in the form of a small pond. The pilgrims who visited this place to worship Lord Shiva treat this water as Holy water and sprinkle it over them before entering the temple.
The holy and spiritual sanctum sanctorum of Lord Shiva is situated in the form of Aap Shambu inside the main cave along with sculptures of Ganesha, Kaal Bhairava and Nandigan. A number of sanctum sanctorum of Lord Shiva is present in the form of a circle along with a 2-3 feet long statue of Lord Shiva outside the main cave. A small water body natural spring is also present outside the main cave. The other cave lies opposite to main cave which provides shelter to nine small temples pertaining to Hindu Goddess. The second cave is comparatively large and lies in an inclined manner. There is also facility of stairs inside the second cave.
Scenic View
The scenic view of this place is simply beyond words. In fact words are not sufficient to describe the beauty of this holy place. One can experience the bird’s eye view of this holy place from top of second cave by climbing the stairs. Both the caves have green vegetation cover over it which adds to the beauty of the caves, making it a very pleasant sight for the eyes. Above the caves is present dense forest cover.
Mini Amarnath
Mahanaal is often considered as sister concern of Amarnath Temple situated in Kashmir. It is due to reason the caves are similar in appearance to the one found in Amarnath. This is the reason why Mahanaal is also known by the name Mini Amarnath.
Cultural Significance
Mahanaal Caves is a symbol of faith and belief among the followers of Lord Shiva. It’s a very ancient and historical place of cultural importance in Kathua region of J&K. Many pilgrims visited this holy place from the nearby areas of Jammu, Samba, Pathankot and surrounding areas of Himachal Pradesh. The place is overcrowded with the pilgrims on the eve of Mahashivratri, New Year and Saawan month. Every year near about 30-50K pilgrims visited this sacred place on these occasions to seek the blessings of Mahakaal.
Historical Significance
The exact history of this place is not known till date, but many myths are associated with this place from time to time. According to some, it is believed that a sage used to meditate at this place for years in order to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva and impose restriction on the general public for entering this sacred and isolated place. Many years passed away, one day a lady of nearby origin in search of finding answers to his curiosity explored this place to find out why sage used to restrict the general public from coming to this place. The lady was left shocked and stunned by the scene that a human skeleton chanting “Om Namah Shivaya” loudly which after sometime got converted into Human being and there after got disappeared and changed into the sacred Sanctum Sanctorum adjacent to the meditation site inside the holy cave. The chanting of “Om Namah Shivaya” continues till sage got converted into the sacred Shivling inside the cave.
According to some people, it is believed that the milk from the rocks used to fall drop by drop over the Holy Sanctum Sanctorum inside the cave. One day a milk seller collected the milk and sold it, thereafter water started falling instead of milk.
Route Map
It is very easy to reach this Holy pilgrimage site. In order to reach these beautiful holy caves, one has to reach Bakhta Village. There is regular mini bus service is available from Kathua city till this village. If you have your own vehicle, then you can easily reach this sacred place in no time, but if you lack the facility of private vehicle, then you have to take the journey of 2-3 Kms by foot. There are two ways from Bakhta village, one by taking the option of road and other by walking into the river which is the old path. During summer, you are left with only one option since the river is over flooded. It is strongly recommended to avoid the river route if you are strange or new to this place as you rarely find anyone in the river to guide you the right path. The work is in progress to connect it with Ghatti village with the help of bridge over Ujh River.
Road Connectivity
The place is provided with all weather blacktopped road. The all weather road is a blessing of PMGSY scheme. One can easily reach the cave from own vehicle. The road is hilly terrain and somewhat narrow, so drive with focus and care. The road to the cave is blessed with beautiful sightseeing like river flowing through the beautiful landscapes, small mountains and small water bodies etc.
Facilities
The holy place is well maintained and managed by the management committee. The management committee has done a significant amount of development with the help of NGOs and by seeking the guidance of various Govt. agencies which helps them in reaping the benefits of various Govt. administered schemes. This holy place is well equipped with all requisite facilities like roads, community path, well maintained Community Sanitary Complex built by Rural Development Department. Many developments have been observed at this sacred place over the time.
Conclusion
Mahanaal is a worth visiting pilgrimage site for every human being who wants to seek inner peace. This place is filled with plenty of positive vibes. This place is blessed with the environment ideally suited for meditation. If this sacred place is properly promoted to its true potential it will certainly top the most explored places. The time has now arrived to bring Mahanaal caves in the world map.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Where is Mahanaal located?
Mahanaal is present in District Kathua of J&K
2. How much time is required to reach Mahanaal?
You can reach Mahanaal in 45-50 minutes from Kathua city.
3. Is there any ticket for entrance?
No, entry to Mahanaal is completely free of cost.
4. Is it safe to travel to Mahanaal?
Yes, its absolutely safe to travel to Mahanaal, but try to visit during day time. Avoid traveling during late hours.
5. Is there any other tourist sites near Mahanaal?
Yes, you can visit Jasrota Kaali Mata Temple, Wildlife Sanctuary, Ujh Barrage.