Udhampur district of Jammu is known for many shrines like Mata Vaishnav Devi, Sudhmahadev, Pingla Mata, Mahamaya Chountra Mata, Merhada Mata, Baba Dhandar, Siad Baba. Shivkhori is also one of the famous cave shrines, located in village Ransoo of Pouni block in tehsil Reasi of the Udhampur district, for Hindus devoted to Lord Shiva. Shiv Khori is at a distance of about 140 km north of Jammu, 120 km from Udhampur and 80 km from Katra. One can travel by buses and light vehicles up to, Ransoo which is the base camp of pilgrimage. From there people have to traverse about 3 km on foot. This 3 kms track is being constructed by the Shiv Khori Shrine Board, Ransoo headed by the District Development Commissioner, Udhampur as chairman and Sub Divisional Magistrate, Reasi as Member Secretary.
Khori means cave or Guffa(in hindi). Thus Shiv Khori means Shiva's cave. The cave is about 200 metres long, one metre wide and two to three metres high. It is a natural cave and contains a self made lingam which is unending according to the people. The first entrance of the cave is wide enough to accommodate 300 devotees at a time. The outer chamber is large enough to accommodate a large number of people. The inner chamber is quite smaller and the passage from the outer to the inner chamber is low and small. At one spot the passage divides itself into two parts. One of these parts of the passage is believed to have led to Kashmir to Swami Amarnath cave. But at present it has been closed because some sadhus who dared to go ahead never returned.
To reach the sanctum sanctorum, one has to stoop low, crawl or adjust his body sidewards where a naturally created image of Lord Shiva, about 4 metres high, is visible. The cave is full of a number of other natural objects that have their resemblance with Goddess Parvati, Ganesha and Nandigan. The roof of the cave has snake formations on it and the water from these formations trickles on Shiva Lingam. Pigeons can also be seen here, like one can see at the Swami Amar Nath cave and these pigeons present good omens for pilgrimages.
Earlier, around 40 to 50 years back Shiv Khori was not known to many people but in the recent years it has gained a lot of popularity. The number of yatries has increased, after the constitution of Shiv Khori Shrine Board during December 2003. The number of devotees in year 2005 crossed 3 lakhs and now it expected to have crossed 5 lakh. People reach this shrine not only from within Jammu and Kashmir but also from different states like Punjab,Haryana, Delhi,Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthab, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Gujrat, etc.
At Shiv Khori a 3 day mela is also organized usually in the month of February or in the first week of March annually, on Maha Shivratri, which is attended by many pilgrims from within the state as well as different states. The Shiv Khori Shrine Board has taken certain steps to develop the area to facilitate the increasing number of pilgrims. The development works undertaken by the shrine board are construction of Shrine Guest House at a cost of Rs.19 lakh at village Ransoo, the base camp of yatra, Reception Centre and Pony shed at an estimated cost of Rs.79.59 lakh, tile work of entire 3-km long track is nearing completion, plantation of ornamental and medicinal plants on track and development of parks etc.
Other arrangements like electrification of the cave with modern techniques, provision of oxygen and electric generators, exhaust fans, construction of shelter sheds for yatris with toilet facilities near the cave site, 15 shelter sheds en route Ransoo to cave shrine, railing from the base camp to cave, additional facility of 15,000/EfnrKing water reservoir, proper sanitation, provision of 25 KV capacity electric transformer, clock room, starting of permanent bus services from Katra, Udhampur and Jammu, Police post and Dispensary and a STD PCO are under active consideration of the Shiv Khori Shrine Development Board.
An exit tunnel has also been constructed by the Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board to meet the ever growing rush of devotees in having smooth darshans of the Lord Shiva. Important places to visit near Shivkhori are Jammu, Katra, Vaishnodevi, Agharjitto, naupindian, Baba Dhansar, Reasi, Bhimgarh Fort, kalika Temple and Siar Baba.
To know about the about Shiv Khori- Mythological Stories Click Here!
Khori means cave or Guffa(in hindi). Thus Shiv Khori means Shiva's cave. The cave is about 200 metres long, one metre wide and two to three metres high. It is a natural cave and contains a self made lingam which is unending according to the people. The first entrance of the cave is wide enough to accommodate 300 devotees at a time. The outer chamber is large enough to accommodate a large number of people. The inner chamber is quite smaller and the passage from the outer to the inner chamber is low and small. At one spot the passage divides itself into two parts. One of these parts of the passage is believed to have led to Kashmir to Swami Amarnath cave. But at present it has been closed because some sadhus who dared to go ahead never returned. To reach the sanctum sanctorum, one has to stoop low, crawl or adjust his body sidewards where a naturally created image of Lord Shiva, about 4 metres high, is visible. The cave is full of a number of other natural objects that have their resemblance with Goddess Parvati, Ganesha and Nandigan. The roof of the cave has snake formations on it and the water from these formations trickles on Shiva Lingam. Pigeons can also be seen here, like one can see at the Swami Amar Nath cave and these pigeons present good omens for pilgrimages.Earlier, around 40 to 50 years back Shiv Khori was not known to many people but in the recent years it has gained a lot of popularity. The number of yatries has increased, after the constitution of Shiv Khori Shrine Board during December 2003. The number of devotees in year 2005 crossed 3 lakhs and now it expected to have crossed 5 lakh. People reach this shrine not only from within Jammu and Kashmir but also from different states like Punjab,Haryana, Delhi,Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthab, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Gujrat, etc.At Shiv Khori a 3 day mela is also organized usually in the month of February or in the first week of March annually, on Maha Shivratri, which is attended by many pilgrims from within the state as well as different states. The Shiv Khori Shrine Board has taken certain steps to develop the area to facilitate the increasing number of pilgrims. The development works undertaken by the shrine board are construction of Shrine Guest House at a cost of Rs.19 lakh at village Ransoo, the base camp of yatra, Reception Centre and Pony shed at an estimated cost of Rs.79.59 lakh, tile work of entire 3-km long track is nearing completion, plantation of ornamental and medicinal plants on track and development of parks etc. Other arrangements like electrification of the cave with modern techniques, provision of oxygen and electric generators, exhaust fans, construction of shelter sheds for yatris with toilet facilities near the cave site, 15 shelter sheds en route Ransoo to cave shrine, railing from the base camp to cave, additional facility of 15,000/EfnrKing water reservoir, proper sanitation, provision of 25 KV capacity electric transformer, clock room, starting of permanent bus services from Katra, Udhampur and Jammu, Police post and Dispensary and a STD PCO are under active consideration of the Shiv Khori Shrine Development Board.An exit tunnel has also been constructed by the Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board to meet the ever growing rush of devotees in having smooth darshans of the Lord Shiva. Important places to visit near Shivkhori are Jammu, Katra, Vaishnodevi, Agharjitto, naupindian, Baba Dhansar, Reasi, Bhimgarh Fort, kalika Temple and Siar Baba.To know about the about Shiv Khori- Mythological Stories Click Here!
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