Jammu serves as the winter capital of the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir and is known as the "City of Temples" due to its skyline of historic shrines and ashrams. Situated on the banks of the Tawi River at the foothills of the Himalayas, it acts as the primary gateway to the Kashmir Valley and the high-altitude region of Ladakh. Unlike the alpine Kashmir Valley, Jammu features a subtropical climate with landscapes ranging from plains and low hills to pine-covered middle hills and snow-capped peaks. The region is the cultural heartland of the Dogra people, who speak Dogri and celebrate festivals like Lohri and Bahu Mela. With major rivers like the Chenab, Tawi, and Ravi flowing through it, Jammu blends spiritual significance, Dogra heritage, and strategic importance as a transport hub.