Background
Kishtwar, also known as the land of sapphire and saffron, is dotted with valleys, mountains, grasslands & panoramic views of amazing rivers. It is a must visit tourist destination in Jammu not just for its sightseeing opportunities, but also for adventure & spiritual tourism.
Explore the breathtaking beauty of Kishtwar in its incredible valleys, deodar & pine forests, fruit orchards, lush meadow, saffron fields and lovely villages like Bera Bhatta, Pochhal and Hatta.
There are plenty of sightseeing opportunities during your holidays to Kishtwar, with the must visit tourist spots like Machail Mata temple, Shrine of Shah Asrar, Chowgan, Qilla Kishtwar, Katarsamna, Bharnoin, Padyarna and Mughal Maidan. Explore its rich wildlife at Kishtwar National Park, home to an incredible variety of fauna like Himalayan snowcock and brown bear
About Kishtwar High Altitude National Park
Spread in an area of around 2190 sq km, Kishtwar National Park or Kishtwar High Altitude National Park is one of the major wildlife destinations in Jammu & Kashmir. The national park in Kishtwar attracts wildlife lovers with its rich flora & fauna which comprises musk deer and Himalayan brown bear. The wildlife reserve offers great trekking opportunity adding more to the thrill of exploration.
History of Kishtwar National Park:
Kishtwar National Park was declared a national park on February 4, 1981.
Shrine of Shah Asrar
Shrine of Shah Asrar is situated in southeast of Chowgan. It is a highly revered Muslim shrine and is one of the prime tourist attractions in Kishtwar. The shrine is also popularly known as Darbar-e Asrariya and Astan-e-Payeen and is dedicated to Sufi Saint, Shah Asrarm who performed great miracles and became quite popular amongst the people.
On his Urs (death anniversary), which is held every year on the 25th day of the month of Kartik (October/November) a large number of devotees throng his shrine seeking to get blessings and their wishes fulfilled.
The legend has it that Shah Asrar, who was born to Hazrat (Prophet) Farid-ud-din, was a born saint. It is believed that at a very young age, Shah Asrar started to show signs of his incredible talent, but when his father came to know about this, he prayed to God to take him back to heaven.
On 25th day of Kartik (October/November), Hazrat Farid-ud-din prepared sugar syrup and recited some Quranic hymns. He then ordered Shah Asrar to drink the syrup. After drinking the syrup, Shah Asrar took his last breath and as it is believed he went back to God. His father made arrangements to bury him in Chowgan. This burial place is now called Darbar-e-Asrariya or Shah Asrar Shrine.
