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Location
: 62-km East Of Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir
Best Time To Visit: April To
October
Main Attractions
Situated 62 kms from
Jammu, Mansar is a beautiful lake fringed by forest-covered
hills, over a mile in length by half-a-mile in width. Besides
being a popular excursion destination in Jammu, it is also a
holy site, sharing the legend and sanctity of Lake
Mansarovar. Newly weds consider it auspicious to perform
three circumambulations (‘Parikarma’)
around the lake to seek the blessings of Sheshnag, the
lord of serpents, whose shrine is located on its eastern bank.
There are also some ancient temples on the lake’s shores,
which are visited by devotees in large numbers. Mansar is also
ideal for boating for which the Tourism Department provides
adequate facilities. For the convenience of visitors a well
lit flagstone walkway has been laid all around the shores.
A Ruined Palace, Mahor Gadh Ruins, Food & Crafts
Festival & Chhing Festival
The lake is about 4-km in circumference and surrounded by
dense mangrove stands, backed by pine trees on the slopes of
the hills. Like Surinsar the lake is also covered with lotus
flowers in summer.
PLACES TO LOOK AROUND
A Ruined
Palace
Beside the lake there is a small ruined palace with colourful
frescoes on the walls and another ancient building is nearby.
Often newly married couples can be seen walking around the
edge of Mansar, as it is considered auspicious for their
future well being.
Mahor Gadh Ruins
The mysterious ruins of Mahor Garh, nobody knows who built
them or why - are reached from Mansar.
CELEBRATIONS AT MANSAR
Every year around Baisakhi, a food and crafts festival is
organized here by the J&K tourism. Towards the end of May
each year there is a major festival at Mansar in which the
folk spirit of the Dogra people is reflected in exuberant
singing and dancing. Later the 'Chhing' festival features
wrestling bouts with wrestlers invited from near and far to
display their prowess. These festivities are repeated in a
number of villages in the area, one after the other.
HOW TO GET THERE:
Road: Regular
buses ply from Jammu to reach Mansar Lake.
WHERE TO STAY
Accommodation is
available for tourist in the Bungalow and huts of J&KTDC.
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