Shiv Khori is an exciting and adventurous destination with an interesting story. Not only for devotees but also for tourists. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is situated in Sangar village of Resai District of Jammu & Kashmir. Here Khori means cave & this is Lord Shiva’s cave. It is believed the cave ends in Amarnath, though it is now sealed after about 130 meters.
If you are planning to visit the Shiv Khori Caves here is the complete guide on the story, timings & how to reach.
Shiv Khori Temple History
In the ancient days, a demon named Bhasmasur was granted a boon by Lord Shiva. With that boon, Bhasmasur became invincible. He was able to kill anyone by placing his hand on that person’s head. Bhasmasur was also a very foolish demon. He became proud of his powers and decided to kill Lord Shiva!
With this intention, he began looking for Mahadev and went to Mount Kailash. Lord Shiva had no option but to flee. Lord Shiva left Kailash along with Mata Parvati and Ganeshji. They proceeded in the southern direction, with Bhasmasur chasing Him. Lord Shiva stopped to rest at a place which is now known as Shiv Khori.
There Bhasmasur found Lord Shiva and a fierce battle took place. To escape, Lord Shiva threw His Trishul at the mountain. A cave was created which only Lord Shiva, Mata Parvati, and Ganeshji could enter. They vanished into the cave, but Bhasmasur could not enter. He decided to wait outside. He did not know that the cave was almost 300 km long.
Lord Shiva had exited the cave in a place now known as Amarnath. When Bhasmasur was waiting, Lord Vishnu came along in the form of Mohini, a beautiful dancer. By His dance moves, Lord Vishnu tricked Bhasmasur into placing his hand on his own head! That was the end of the foolish demon, who died by his own hand. Lord Vishnu then entered the cave and 33 crore Devi-Devtas of Sanatan Dharma entered with Him.
After this event, the cave was not known to anyone. Only Rishis and Sadhus used the cave for meditation. Thousands of years later a shepherd discovered this cave. They found a natural Shivling inside along with various images on the walls. News spread like wildfire and the cave go famous as Shiv Khori. It was soon one of the most important pilgrimages.
Shiv Khori Darshan and Aarti Timings
Shiv Khori is sacred cave temple of Lord Shiva. The timings for Shiv Khori Darshan & Aarti are as follows:
| Temple Timings | Timings |
|---|---|
| Opening Timing | 5:00 AM |
| Closing Timing | 8:00 PM |
| Aarti Timing | 7 AM to 8 AM (Morning) |
| Aarti Timing | 7 PM to 8 PM(Evening) |
| Days | 5Opening Time | Closing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 5:00 AM | 8:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 5:00 AM | 8:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 5:00 AM | 8:00 PM |
| Thrusday | 5:00 AM | 8:00 PM |
| Friday | 5:00 AM | 8:00 PM |
| Saturday | 5:00 AM | 8:00 PM |
| Sunday | 5:00 AM | 8:00 PM |
Best Time to Visit Shiv Khori
It is possible to visit Shiv Khori cave all throughout the year. But the best time to visit Shiv Khori is during the Mahashivratri festival. you can visit also here in February to April & September to November when weather is pleasant during these months at Shiv Khori.
The Shiv Khori Cave
People believe that the cave is long till the Amarnath Cave. Moreover, locals believe it is about 500 meters long, but devotees can go only upto 130 meters due to lack of oxygen.
Many years back some sadhus tried to venture in but were never heard of again. The cave is about 20 feet wide at the entrance and at the end. Between is a narrow passage. At some points, only one person can crawl through. The opening is 22 feet wide, 20 feet high, and 80 feet long. After that comes a narrow passage leading to the sanctum.
A natural (Swayambhu) four-foot Shivling is here. Besides the Shivling, there are Mata Parvati’s footprints. You can see naturally formed images depicting Trishul, Pranava(AUM), Kartikeya Swami, Lord Ganesh, Sheshnag, and Ram Darbar. There is Kamdhenu above the Shivling. It is impossible to describe the Divine and Spiritual energy of the cave.
Festivals celebrated at Shiv Khori
Manashivratri is one of the major festivals celebrated here with great enthusiasm. This three-day long festival also includes a Mela. Thousands of devotees from all over the country attend this mela.
Tips while visiting Shiv Khori
- Wear Trek-friendly clothes & shoes while visiting Shiv Khori.
- Do all your preparations for the trek, bring first aid,water & snacks.
- You should prefer visiting in the morning to avoid rush.
- You are atleast required 2-3 hours for completing the trek.
Download the YatraDham.Org app from Play Store, Book a comfortable stay near the Shiv Khori Gufa.
How to Reach Shiv Khori, Jammu and Kashmir
The nearest airport is Jammu Airport, about 120 km from Shiv Khori .
The nearest railway station is Jammu Tawi, about 110 km from Ransoo.
Katra to Shiv Khori distance is about 75 km from Ransoo.
You can reach the Cave after a 3 km trek from Ransoo. A good walking track is available for Yatris and the walk is not difficult.
Stay Options Near Shiv Khori Gufa
if you are planning to visit Shiv Khori & in search of best accommodation, so here are some accommodations in Shiv Khori are as follows, Which you can easily book from YatraDham.
- Mahadev Yatri Niwas
- Hotel New Tridev
All the properties are attested and verified by YatraDham.Org so you can trust the property and book your Hassle-free stay.
Shiv Khori is the rare pilgrimage site known for its cave & natural shivling dedicated to Lord Shiva. Its spiritual significance, combined with stunning Himalayan views, makes it a popular destination for both devotees and nature lovers.
FAQs
The distance from Katra Vaishno Devi Temple to Shiv Khori Cave is around 90 km.
There is no registration fees to visit Shiv Khori Cave Temple but registration is mandatory.
The horse fare is around 500 for round trip, but it can vary according to the season.
Distance for Jammu to Shiv Khori is approximately 110 km.
The registration process is very easy and convenient. Online as well as offline registration is available to reach Shiv Khori cave Temple.
Is the temple open for the Darshan? What are the timings? Thanks!
Shiv Khori Temple is open now. Timings are 7 AM to 5 PM. Online advance booking is required before visiting the temple. You can do online advance darshan booking here: http://shivkhori.in/