For years, the ghats along the Tawi were the kind of place you drove past without a second look. This summer, that has changed. In the space of a single week, Jammu's riverfront has been kitted out with a nightly Tawi Aarti, a light-and-sound show and a brand-new boating service — and it has quickly become the city's most talked-about evening destination.
The makeover was timed to welcome pilgrims for the Shri Amarnath Yatra, which runs from 3 July to 28 August 2026. But its biggest beneficiaries may well be young Jammuites looking for somewhere new to spend a summer evening.
An evening ritual on the river
On 1 July, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated the Tawi Aarti and the accompanying light-and-sound show, describing the ceremony as “a vibrant symbol of our collective spiritual consciousness.” Rows of lamps are floated and lit along the water each evening through the yatra season, framed by an illuminated riverbank and a narrated light show that tells the story of the region.
The LG used the occasion to make a point that resonates well beyond the pilgrimage: the Tawi, he said, should “set a model for environmental protection and sustainable development,” taking its rightful place at the heart of community life rather than sitting neglected on the city's edge.
Now add boating
Three days later, on 4 July, the Jammu Municipal Corporation opened a boating service on the same stretch of water. Visitors can now choose between shikaras, paddle boats and speed boats — a first for the city centre.
“Evening activities include a light and sound show, Tawi Aarti, and now boating, with shikaras, paddle and speed boats,” said JMC Commissioner Devansh Yadav. He added that rides are open to everyone above the age of 10, with life jackets mandatory for all passengers and online registration in place, alongside security arrangements on the banks.
The combination — a spiritual ceremony, a narrated light show and a boat ride, all within walking distance of each other — gives the riverfront the feel of a proper leisure precinct rather than a one-off attraction.
From forgotten ghats to city centrepiece
None of this appeared overnight. The transformation is the work of Jammu Smart City Limited, which has spent recent years rebuilding the Tawi's banks into a landscaped riverfront with promenades, seating and lighting. Officials have framed the finished space as a step towards positioning Jammu as a genuine spiritual-tourism destination, not merely a transit stop on the way to Kashmir.
Getting there is easier too. The same week, the district administration rolled out RAAHI: Hop Jammu, a fleet of air-conditioned electric buses running themed routes across the city's landmarks — a low-emission way to reach the riverfront and other heritage sites without a car.
Why it matters for young Jammu
Jammu has never been short of history, but it has often been short of places for young people to simply hang out in the evening — somewhere that is public, affordable and out in the open air. The reinvented Tawi riverfront fills exactly that gap.
An affordable outing: the Aarti and light-and-sound show are open to all, with boating charged separately — a low-cost evening plan for students and families alike.
A new social spot: between the illuminated banks, the show and the boats, it is the kind of place that works for a group of friends, a family visit or a quiet evening by the water.
Local pride: after years of watching bigger cities show off their riverfronts, Jammu now has one of its own right in the heart of town.
If you are planning a visit, evenings during the yatra season (through 28 August) are when the riverfront is at its liveliest, with the Aarti and light show running nightly. Boating requires online registration and a life jacket, so factor that in before you head down.
For a city long defined by what passes through it, the Tawi's revival is a reminder that some of Jammu's best summer evenings can now be spent right at home, by its own river.
Sources: Greater Kashmir, The Tribune, Daily Excelsior.
