Mansar Lake which is situated at a distance of 62 Kms from Jammu and 40 Kms from Udhampur, is an adventure travel destination and also a holy place of worship. Mansar Lake is surrounded by forest-covered hills that are over a mile in length and half-a-mile in width. The lake is considered as a very holy site and is known from mythological periods as it shares the sanctity and legacy of Mansa Sarovar. It is very popular base for tourists. The circumference of the lake is almost 4 Kms. It is believed that if a newly wed couple circumambulates the Mansar Lake then they are blessed with good fortune for the rest of their life.
The area around the lake has been laid with stones by the Tourist Department paving a walkway for the visitors. The department has also arranged for provisions for boating in the lake. On the eastern bank of the Mansar lake is the auspicious shrine of the serpent deity, "Naag Devta" Sheshnaag. The snake god is believed to have six heads. The shrine is made up of a big boulder on which a number of iron chains are placed that perhaps represent the small serpents waiting on the tutelary deity of the Sheshnag. There are two ancient temples of Umapati Mahadev & Narsimha very near to the lake. A temple of Durga is also situvated in the vicinity of the Mansar lake.
People take a holy dip in the water of the lake on a festive occasion. Certain communities of Hindus even perform Mundan ceremony at the Mansar Lake, of their male children. Mansar Lake along with the mythological facts and beautiful scenery, is also famous among tourists for its flora and fauna. A projected view deck has also been made on the lake. So one can endlessly enjoy the flickering of seasonal birds, tortoise and fishes of different species. There is also a wild life Sanctuary that houses jungle life like Spotted Deer, Neelgai etc. besides other water birds such as Cranes, Ducks etc.
Mansar Lake is also a place of living for the traditional and typically distinct Gujjar & Backarwals that wear ethnic costumes and live in open Kullhas around on the hills of Mansar Lake. There is also a small ruined palace with colorful frescoes on the walls, besides the Mansar Lake. There is another ancient building nearby the lake. The mysterious ruins Mahor Garh are also in the vicinity of the lake. Around Baisakhi every year J&K tourism organizes a food and crafts festival.
Each year around the month of May a major festival is also organized at Mansar Lake. This festival reflects the folk spirit of the Dogra people in their exuberant singing and dancing. Later the 'Chhing' festival is celebrated which features wrestling bouts with wrestlers invited from near and far off villages, who display their prowess. These festivities are repeated in a number of villages in the area, one after the other. Regular buses are available from Jammu to reach Mansar Lake. Accommodation is available for tourists in the Bungalow and huts of J&K Tourism Development Corporation.
The area around the lake has been laid with stones by the Tourist Department paving a walkway for the visitors. The department has also arranged for provisions for boating in the lake. On the eastern bank of the Mansar lake is the auspicious shrine of the serpent deity, "Naag Devta" Sheshnaag. The snake god is believed to have six heads. The shrine is made up of a big boulder on which a number of iron chains are placed that perhaps represent the small serpents waiting on the tutelary deity of the Sheshnag. There are two ancient temples of Umapati Mahadev & Narsimha very near to the lake. A temple of Durga is also situvated in the vicinity of the Mansar lake. People take a holy dip in the water of the lake on a festive occasion. Certain communities of Hindus even perform Mundan ceremony at the Mansar Lake, of their male children. Mansar Lake along with the mythological facts and beautiful scenery, is also famous among tourists for its flora and fauna. A projected view deck has also been made on the lake. So one can endlessly enjoy the flickering of seasonal birds, tortoise and fishes of different species. There is also a wild life Sanctuary that houses jungle life like Spotted Deer, Neelgai etc. besides other water birds such as Cranes, Ducks etc. Mansar Lake is also a place of living for the traditional and typically distinct Gujjar & Backarwals that wear ethnic costumes and live in open Kullhas around on the hills of Mansar Lake. There is also a small ruined palace with colorful frescoes on the walls, besides the Mansar Lake. There is another ancient building nearby the lake. The mysterious ruins Mahor Garh are also in the vicinity of the lake. Around Baisakhi every year J&K tourism organizes a food and crafts festival. Each year around the month of May a major festival is also organized at Mansar Lake. This festival reflects the folk spirit of the Dogra people in their exuberant singing and dancing. Later the 'Chhing' festival is celebrated which features wrestling bouts with wrestlers invited from near and far off villages, who display their prowess. These festivities are repeated in a number of villages in the area, one after the other. Regular buses are available from Jammu to reach Mansar Lake. Accommodation is available for tourists in the Bungalow and huts of J&K Tourism Development Corporation.
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