Raghunath Temple

Raghunath Temple is the dominant religious landmark of Jammu, a compound of seven connected temples dedicated primarily to Lord Rama. Construction began under Maharaja Gulab Singh in 1835 and was completed by his son Ranbir Singh in 1860. The main shrine is dedicated to Rama; the satellite temples are devoted to various forms of Vishnu and other deities associated with the Ramayana.

The interior covering of gold foil gives the complex an unusually rich visual effect — walls, columns, and niches all shimmer. Non-Hindus are welcome. The temple sits in the heart of the old city bazaar, so the surrounding streets are worth exploring before or after a visit. Arrive early in the morning or at dusk for the aarti ceremony.

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A story
Raghunath Temple is not one temple but seven temples under one roof — a complex built between 1835 and 1860 by Maharaja Gulab Singh and his son Ranbir Singh, the same rulers who consolidated the Dogra empire across Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh. The interiors are almost entirely covered in gold foil, a level of decorative excess that makes most other North Indian temple interiors look restrained by comparison. Thousands of shaligrams — sacred ammonite fossils considered manifestations of Vishnu — are displayed in glass cases along the interior walls.

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