Over 2.75 lakh pilgrims pay obeisance at
Shiv Khori since January 2009

Reasi, May 01 - A huge upsurge in the number of tourist visiting Shri Shiv Khori Shrine has been seen in the last four months about 2, 75,046 pilgrims from state and other parts of the country visited and paid obeisance at the natural Shiv Lingam and other thousands of deities in the cave shrine situated in Sanger hills of Pouni block of the Reasi district in Jammu province.

	Pilgrims lineup to pay obeisance at Shiv Khori.

In 2008 during the same period of four months only 1,60,536 pilgrims had darshan of the holy Shiv Khori Shrine Cave thus registering an increase of over 1, 14,510 pilgrims during the first four months of this calendar year. It was disclosed by the Deputy Commissioner Reasi, Mr. Sanjeev Verma who is also the Vice Chairman of Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board here today.
Mr. Verma further disclosed that keeping in view the flow of yatries, completion of Shrine Board buildings which are under construction would be completed with in next few months. Besides computerize yatra parchi system, development of Vatikas on the track, issuing of more permits to buses from Katra to Shiv Khori, construction of bus stand at the base camp at Ransoo, intensive plantation drive during July, 2009 preferably trees of medicinal values, improvement and widening of road from Kanda to Ransoo, planned development of Ransoo town, installation of STD at Bhawan, enhancement in yatra hours and special promotional drives to proliferate the mythological and religious importance of the place are under active consideration.

Work on 5 multi storied waiting hall near the Shiv Khori Shrine Cave is in progress and is likely to be completed soon .This hall will provide additional accommodation facilities to thousands of pilgrims visiting at the shrine cave.
This historic Shrine Cave is now also emerging as the second largest pilgrimage destination in the Reasi district after Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine cave. Other natural pilgrimage destinations like Aghar Jitto, Nav Mata, Danser Baba, Dera Baba, Siard Baba, Chenana Devita, Maha Dev and Kalka Mata temple Reasi, Bidda Baba near Jyotipuram, Zirat of Sain Baba Godder Shah at Zandi Morh and Ziarat of Peer Baba Karam Shah at Simble Choa are other tourist destinations in Reasi which are located enroute Katra Shiv Khori road and are attracting lakhs of pilgrims every year.

Presently 1500 to 2000 pilgrims are visiting Shiv Khori Shrine Cave daily to and it is expected that the annual yatra to the cave shrine would cross 8 lakh pilgrims this year. Tourism Reception Centre at the base camp village Ransoo has been set up for providing accommodation and other facilities to the pilgrims and the tourism department is making all efforts to develop quality infrastructural facilities for the yatries visiting Shiv Khori.