01Sudhant and the trishul
The local katha names a devotee of Mahadev called Sudhant. He came to this place while Mata Parvati was at worship, and in alarm she cried out; Shiva’s trishul flew and struck him down. When Mahadev learned that the man was his own bhakta, he offered to restore him, and Sudhant asked instead for liberation and for his name to be joined to the place. So the shrine is called Sudh Mahadev. Broken pieces of a very large iron trishul stand in the temple and are worshipped as that trishul. Close by is the Pap Nashni Bawli, a spring where pilgrims bathe before darshan.
02Mantalai and the mela
A few kilometres on lies Mantalai, where the people of these hills hold that Shiva and Parvati were wed; the Gauri Kund spring is on the way. The big mela falls on the full moon of Shravan, when villagers from Chenani, Ramnagar and the Doda side walk in with drums and flags. In winter the road may close under snow.
About 120 km from Jammu, past Kud and Patnitop on the Chenani side; the road reaches the temple. Best visited May to October.
