Machail Mata Mandir Opens: The famous Machail Mata Temple in Kishtwar, Jammu, has reopened for devotees after being closed last year following a cloudburst.

Machail Mata Temple

Jammu Machail Mata Mandir: The sacred Mata Machail temple in Jammu's Kishtwar district has been reopened for visitors. Last August, a cloudburst near the Mata Machail temple in Chishoti, Kishtwar district, tragically killed 69 people.

Darshan resumes at Machail Mata Temple

The sacred Shri Machail Mata Temple, located in the spiritual region of Machail Valley in Kishtwar district, reopened to pilgrims on the auspicious occasion of Baisakhi, marking the start of the annual Shri Machail Mata Yatra 2026.

During this religious event, the idol of Goddess Machail Mata (Durga) was shifted from the house of local priest Pehalwan Singh to the main temple amidst religious rituals and a grand fair, amidst a huge crowd of devotees.

According to the administration, no one will be allowed entry without registration. On-site registration counters will be set up at the Gauri Shankar Temple in Sarkot and Gulabgarh. It was informed that helicopter services will also be resumed after permission is obtained.

Significance of Machail Mata Temple

The Shri Machail Mata Yatra holds deep religious significance and attracts millions of devotees from across the country every year. The Divisional Commissioner appealed to all pilgrims to strictly follow the guidelines and safety instructions issued by the administration.

History of the temple

The history of this temple is believed to be linked to Zorawar Singh Kaluria's conquest of Ladakh in 1834. According to legend, he sought Machail Mata's blessings before going to war, and after his victory, he became a devout devotee of the goddess.

Every year in August, the sacred Machail Mata Yatra is held here, attracting large numbers of devotees from far and wide. Thakur Kulveer Singh of Bhaderwah started the "Chhadi Yatra" in 1987. This journey begins from Chinot in Bhaderwah and continues to Machail, and has now become a major religious tradition.