Shri Baba Budha Amarnath Ji Temple, Rajpura (Mandi), Poonch
Shiva (Budha Amarnath) temple · Rajpura (Mandi), Poonch, Jammu & Kashmir, India
Shri Baba Budha Amarnath Ji Temple is a Shiva temple at Rajpura village in the Mandi area of Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir (The Tribune; News On AIR; Greater Kashmir). It is a separate shrine from the Amarnath cave in Kashmir: it lies in the Pir Panchal range about 25 km north-east of Poonch town (Poonch District Administration; Daily Excelsior).
The temple houses a white stone Shiva linga (Poonch District Administration; News On AIR; ETV Bharat). It is best known for the annual Budha Amarnath Yatra in the month of Shravan, which ends on Raksha Bandhan (News On AIR; ETV Bharat; Poonch District Administration).
Faith & Tradition
Religious Significance of Shri Baba Budha Amarnath Ji Temple, Rajpura (Mandi), Poonch
According to tradition, the sage Pulastya, grandfather of Ravana, worshipped Shiva at this spot (ETV Bharat; Daily Excelsior). The stream that flows past the temple carries his name and is known as the Pulasta or Pulastya river (ETV Bharat; News On AIR; The Tribune).
Devotees connect this pilgrimage with the Amarnath cave pilgrimage in Kashmir, and many treat a visit here as completing or preceding it (News On AIR; Daily Excelsior). The Budha Amarnath Yatra ends on Raksha Bandhan, the same day as the Amarnath Yatra (ETV Bharat).
The linga is described as natural (self-manifested) white stone, called chakmak (Poonch District Administration; Daily Excelsior; News On AIR).
Heritage
History of Shri Baba Budha Amarnath Ji Temple, Rajpura (Mandi), Poonch
Official and news sources describe the shrine as ancient but give no agreed date for its founding (ETV Bharat; Poonch District Administration). Ancient idols collected from nearby villages have been installed in the temple premises (Poonch District Administration; Daily Excelsior).
In recent years the yatra has been run by the Baba Amarnath and Budha Amarnath Yatri Nyas together with the district administration, langar organisations and other groups (The Tribune; ETV Bharat). Pilgrims from all faiths in the area have welcomed the yatra, and local Muslims set up refreshment stalls and free langar along the route of the Chhari Mubarak (Poonch District Administration; Greater Kashmir).
Architecture and sacred features
The original temple is said to have been built from a single large stone (Poonch District Administration; Daily Excelsior). It has four doors facing north, south, east and west, which are explained as a sign that the shrine is open to everyone (Poonch District Administration; Daily Excelsior). Pilgrims bathe in holy spring water, now channelled to a single point, or in the Pulastya river before entering for prayers (Poonch District Administration; Daily Excelsior; News On AIR).
Plan Your Visit
Darshan and Visitor Information
For the yatra, the Poonch district administration has run an online portal for advance registration of pilgrims, and security, medical aid, drinking water and shelter have been arranged along the route (News On AIR; Greater Kashmir). Dates and arrangements change each year, so confirm current arrangements with the Poonch district administration before travelling.
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with the temple administration before travelling. Last reviewed 11 October 2026.
Sacred Calendar
Festivals at Shri Baba Budha Amarnath Ji Temple, Rajpura (Mandi), Poonch
Budha Amarnath Yatra and Mela
The annual pilgrimage to the temple, with batches of pilgrims setting out from Jammu, ends on Raksha Bandhan (News On AIR; ETV Bharat; The Tribune). The main mela at the shrine is held on Raksha Bandhan (Poonch District Administration; Daily Excelsior).
Chhari Mubarak procession
The sacred mace (Chhari Mubarak) is taken after havan and puja from the Dashnami Akhara in Poonch to the shrine at Rajpura, passing through Chandak (Poonch District Administration; ETV Bharat; Greater Kashmir). Its arrival marks the formal close of the yatra (The Tribune; ETV Bharat).
Location
How to Reach Shri Baba Budha Amarnath Ji Temple, Rajpura (Mandi), Poonch
Poonch is reached by road only; it has no airport or railway station (Poonch District Administration). The Poonch district website lists Jammu (Satwari) airport, about 240 km away, Srinagar airport, about 210 km away, and Jammu Tawi as the nearest railway station, about 240 km from Poonch (Poonch District Administration). The temple is about 25 km north-east of Poonch town (Poonch District Administration; Daily Excelsior).
During the yatra, organised batches leave from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu and travel by road through Rajouri to Poonch (News On AIR; ETV Bharat; Daily Excelsior).
Location: Rajpura (Mandi), Poonch, Jammu & Kashmir, India
Nearest airport: Jammu (Satwari) Airport; Srinagar Airport
Nearest railway station: Jammu Tawi
More in Hindu temples in Jammu & Kashmir · Shiva (Budha Amarnath) temples
Questions
Shri Baba Budha Amarnath Ji Temple, Rajpura (Mandi), Poonch: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Budha Amarnath the same as the Amarnath cave?
No. Budha Amarnath is a separate Shiva temple at Rajpura in the Mandi area of Poonch district, while the Amarnath cave is in Kashmir (The Tribune; News On AIR). Devotees link the two pilgrimages, and both yatras end on Raksha Bandhan (ETV Bharat; News On AIR).
Where is the Baba Budha Amarnath temple?
It is at Rajpura village, Mandi, in Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir, about 25 km north-east of Poonch town in the Pir Panchal range (Poonch District Administration; The Tribune; Daily Excelsior).
What is special about the Shiva linga here?
The temple houses a white stone linga that is described as natural (Poonch District Administration; News On AIR; Daily Excelsior).
What legend is linked with the temple?
According to tradition, the sage Pulastya, grandfather of Ravana, worshipped Shiva here, and the nearby river is named after him (ETV Bharat; Daily Excelsior; News On AIR).
When is the Budha Amarnath Yatra held?
It is held every year in the month of Shravan (July–August) and ends on Raksha Bandhan (News On AIR; ETV Bharat). Exact dates are announced each year.
What is the Chhari Mubarak?
It is a sacred mace carried in procession from the Dashnami Akhara in Poonch to the temple, marking the end of the yatra (Poonch District Administration; ETV Bharat; Greater Kashmir).
How do I reach the temple?
Poonch is reached by road only; the nearest airports are Jammu and Srinagar and the nearest railway station is Jammu Tawi (Poonch District Administration). Yatra batches leave from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu (News On AIR; ETV Bharat).
Sources and attribution
- © OpenStreetMap contributors — location data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
- Wikidata Q15666538 — structured data (CC0)
- Poonch District Administration — Hindu Shrines
- Poonch District Administration — How to Reach
- News On AIR (All India Radio, Prasar Bharati) — 12-day Shri Buddha Amarnath Yatra 2026 to begin tomorrow
- The Tribune — Budha Amarnath Yatra begins in Jammu amid tight security as LG flags off first batch
- ETV Bharat — Budha Amarnath Yatra concludes in J&K's Poonch district
- ETV Bharat — J&K LG flags off first batch of Buddha Amarnath Yatra from Jammu
- Daily Excelsior — Budha Amarnath Yatra: a pilgrimage of faith and spiritual solace
- Greater Kashmir — Devotees pay obeisance at Baba Budha Amarnath temple on day one of yatra
- Greater Kashmir — Chari Mubarak Yatra to Shri Budha Amarnath shrine begins in Poonch
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