On August 14th, an incident occurred due to a cloudburst during the Machail Yatra in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir. The Machail Yatra is a famous pilgrimage dedicated to Goddess Durga, in which a large number of devotees participate every year. This Yatra is completed either on foot or by helicopter to the Machail Mata Temple.
Machail Mata Temple: On August 14, 2025, several devotees were affected by a cloudburst during the Machail Yatra in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir. The Machail Mata Temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga and this Yatra attracts a large number of devotees every year in August. The Yatra starts from Jammu, Udhampur, and Bhaderwah, reaching Machail either on foot or by helicopter, where devotees come for the darshan and blessings of the Goddess.
Machail Mata Temple: Situated in the lap of the Himalayas
The Machail Mata Temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga and is located in Machail village in the Kishtwar district of the Jammu region. The temple is named after the village. The temple is surrounded by high mountains, lush green valleys, and glaciers. Additionally, the tributaries of the Chenab River also flow around the temple, further enhancing the natural beauty of this place.
This view and atmosphere of the temple provide a spiritual experience to the devotees. Thousands of devotees come here every year for the darshan of the Goddess and complete the difficult journey of two or three days with complete faith and devotion.
History of Machail Mata Temple
The history of the Machail Mata Temple is linked to Zorawar Singh Kahluria's victory in Ladakh in 1834 AD. It is said that before the war against the army of the Boti community of Ladakh, he took the blessings of Machail Mata. After achieving success in the war, Zorawar Singh became a great devotee of the Goddess.
Since 1987, Thakur Kulveer Singh of Bhaderwah started the tradition of 'Chhadi Yatra' to this temple. In this Yatra, devotees reach the Machail Mata Temple from many villages with devotion and faith. During the Yatra, many devotees have also shared information about miraculous experiences.
Travel Route and Facilities
For the Machail Yatra, the facility of buses and taxis is provided by travel agents from Jammu, Udhampur, Ramnagar and Bhaderwah. The road route from Jammu to Gulabgarh is approximately 290 kilometers long, which takes about 10 hours to cover. From Gulabgarh, one has to travel on foot to the Machail Mata Temple, which is about 32 kilometers away.
The temple remains closed during the winter months due to snowfall, but at other times thousands of devotees reach here. Apart from this, helicopter service is also available, which completes the journey from Jammu or Gulabgarh to Machail Mata Temple in just 7-8 minutes. This facility is particularly beneficial due to the presence of a helipad near the temple.
Beliefs associated with Machail Mata Temple
According to local people, Machail Mata protects her devotees. Devotees believe that the experience of having a direct vision of the Goddess is also obtained here. It is said that the devotee who comes to the temple with true faith and devotion, all his wishes are fulfilled. This is the reason why thousands of devotees visit Machail Mata every year even after traveling a difficult route.
The atmosphere and natural beauty of the temple transmit spiritual energy in the minds of the devotees. The height of the mountains, the greenery of the valleys and the cool air make the journey even more special.
