Bhimgarh Fort, Reasi — the old hill fort above the Chenab town
What it is
Bhimgarh Fort, generally called the Reasi Fort, stands on a hillock about 150 m high over Reasi, the headquarters of Reasi district on the bank of the Chenab. It is the old seat of the rulers of this hill country, and the best reason to drive down from Katra on a day off the pilgrim path.
Photos: Housemdjk (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Housemdjk (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Housemdjk (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Its story
Reasi takes its name from Rasyal, after Raja Bhim Dev Rasyal, who founded the Bhimgarh state in the eighth century and raised the first fort here in clay and mud. A later ruler, Raja Rishipal Rana, rebuilt it in stone. After Maharaja Ranjit Singh took Reasi in 1815, the fort passed to Gulab Singh, who had it restored and strengthened between 1817 and 1841; General Zorawar Singh added a new entrance and a stone wall around it. Under Gulab Singh's heirs it held the treasury and the armoury.
What you see
The main gate is carved in stone, and the front wall carries loopholes and figures of Mahakali and Hanuman. Inside are a temple, a pond and rooms of different sizes. The fort passed to the state's archaeology department in 1989 and was opened to visitors after a renovation in 1990; earthquakes and time have damaged parts of it.
Getting there
From Katra it is about 24 km and 42 minutes by road to the fort, beside Reasi town. We have no verified opening hours; ask in the town.
Combine it with
The Reasi day plan strings the fort and the falls together. On the pilgrim side, see the Vaishno Devi Temple and read things to do in Katra and how to reach Katra.
Plans that include this
All 2 plans that stop here →
Nearby places
All of Katra →
Nearby destinations
All destinations →
Questions people ask
Who built Bhimgarh Fort?
Wikipedia says the first fort, of clay and mud, was raised by Raja Bhim Dev, who founded the Bhimgarh state here in the eighth century. A later ruler rebuilt it in stone, and Gulab Singh of Jammu renovated and strengthened it between 1817 and 1841, with General Zorawar Singh adding a new gate and walls.
How far is Bhimgarh Fort from Katra?
About 24 km and 42 minutes by road on our routing; Reasi town is beside it. The fort sits on a hillock about 150 m above the town. It makes a half-day out from Katra, and the Siar Baba waterfall is further along the same side of the hills.
Is Bhimgarh Fort open to visitors?
Wikipedia says it passed to the state's archaeology department in 1989, was renovated in 1990 and then opened to the public, with gardens and paths around it. We have no verified opening hours or entry rule, so ask in Reasi before you climb up, especially after rain.