Mansar Lake

Mansar Lake

Mansar Lake in Jammu is situated at a distance of about 62 kms from the main Jammu town and about 40 kms from Udhampur city. It is touted as one of the most beautiful lakes in India and its riverbank is fringed with dense forested woods spanning over the gentle slopes of the nearby Hills lending an amazing sight for any visitor.

Mansar Lake captures a landscape area of over a mile long and half-a-mile wide and apart from being a popular excursion destination from Jammu, it is also highly revered as a sacred site that shares its legend and sanctity with the famous Mansarovar Lake.

Often a haven for newly-weds and couples on vacation, Mansar Lake is an ideal site for a Honeymoon destination in Jammu. It is also considered quiet auspicious for couples to perform three ceremonial rounds covering about 4 kms of the lake circumference and offer their obeisance seeking blessings at a Shrine of a Lord Serpent called Sheshnag, located on its eastern banks.

Mansar Lake in Jammu also features a number of ancient temples fringed along its shores, mostly visited by their devotees in large numbers every year, to offer prayers and seek blessings.

Mansar Lake also offers boating activities with scenic picnic spots dotted around it while the stone-laden pathways, constructed by the Tourist Department, around the Lake allow visitors to enjoy a peaceful stroll around it. The almost surreal verdant hilly surroundings is blessed with a thick forested area that is apt for nature walks and spending quality time, especially for couples and newly-weds on their Honeymoon vacation in Jammu.

Legend has that Mansar Lake is the site where the Hindu Lord Sheshnag resides and hence, people often worshipped this lake to offer their respect to Sheshnag and seek his blessings.

Historically, Mansar is linked with the Mahabharata epic, which makes a mention that Arjun was killed by his own son, Babar Vahan, and in order to restore life into Arjun, the ‘Mani’ – a bright precious stone perched over the Head of Sheshnag, and believed to have miraculous powers, was needed. Babar Vahan defeated Sheshnag and emerged out of this Lake with the Mani Sar or Mani over his Head and since then, this Lake was named as ‘Mansar’ to commemorate this incident.

Even today, the Shrine of the Serpent Lord Sheshnag is seen erected along the eastern banks of Lake Mansar, devoted to him. Sheshnag is known to possess six heads and is flanked by smaller snakes that are depicted in the form of iron chains, perched on a huge boulder. Most probably, these iron chains are symbolic representations of smaller serpents protecting the deity of Sheshnag as guardians of the Shrine.

Close to Mansar Lake are two ancient temples by the name of Umapati Mahadev Mandir and Narsimha Mandir, known to be of religious importance as well. Devotees would take a dip at the Lake water, especially during festive occasions of Baisakhi held here towards the end of May, every year. Devotees throng to pay their obeisance to the deities of all the temples and partake in the festivities and celebrations. Certain Hindu communities would perform the Mundan ceremony or First haircut ceremony of their male child in these temples.

Mansar Lake is hence embedded with religions significance of heritage attributes that often delights history enthusiasts and tourists alike. Apart from this, the area surrounding the lake is blessed with its own Flora & Fauna habitat that resides and thrives on the Lake waters and the Forested areas.

The cemented walkways are embedded with appropriate illumination and view-deck projections from where tourists can enjoy the sights and capture their favourite shots of seasonal birds, tortoise and marine life of varied species. Close by is small Wildlife Sanctuary that houses the Spotted Deer, Neelgai and different animal species. Water birds like the Cranes and Ducks are common sights to spot.

One distinct feature you will get to notice around the Lake area is the traditional lifestyle of the indigenous Gujjars and Backarwals, seen adorned with their traditional ethnic costumes, residing in open kulhas, scattered around the pine enveloped hilly surroundings of Mansar Lake.

Impressive ruins of a Palace and the remnants of the mysterious Mahor Gadh are situated in close proximity to the Lake. Colourful paintings on the walls of the ruined Palace and a few dilapidated ancient structures are still visible whereas the construction of Mahor Gadh is still shrouded in mystery and to this day no one knows who built them and why they were established in the first place.

Mansar Lake adjoins a road that connects to an important road link directly leading you through to Pathankot in Punjab from Udhampur in Jammu & Kashmir. You can travel on regular buses that regularly ply between Jammu and Mansar Lake or hire a private taxi for sightseeing in Jammu that covers a tour to Mansar Lake as well.