Sheshnag Temple, Mansar

Sheshnag Temple is a Hindu shrine dedicated to Sheshnag, the serpent deity, located on the eastern bank of Mansar Lake in Mansar, Udhampur district, Jammu and Kashmir. The temple houses a large stone idol of the six-headed serpent god and adjoining shrines to Lord Shiva and Narasimha. Revered as sacred by devotees, it is closely associated with the mythology of Mansar Lake and attracts pilgrims and tourists visiting the lake complex.

Visitors can expect a small traditional stone temple complex situated on the eastern shore of Mansar Lake surrounded by forested hills. The main shrine contains a large black stone idol of the six-headed Sheshnag, with smaller shrines dedicated to Umapati Mahadev and Narasimha nearby. The temple courtyard offers views of the lake, and visitors can observe devotees offering prayers, circumambulate the shrine, and explore the lake promenade and ghats adjacent to the temple.

The temple is traditionally linked to the legend of Mansar Lake, believed to be associated with the Mahabharata figure Babruvahana, son of Arjuna, and the serpent deity Sheshnag. The lake and temple have long been a centre of Nag worship in the Jammu region, with the present stone temple and idols reflecting historic regional temple architecture.

The temple is a significant centre for Nag worship and is considered highly sacred by local devotees. Mansar Lake is regarded as sacred, and pilgrims traditionally circumambulate the lake and offer prayers at the Sheshnag Temple. The site is important during Nag Panchami and other festivals, and is part of the Mansar-Surinsar pilgrimage circuit.