Katas raj temple is found concerning sixteen kilometers 10 miles from kallar kahar on the road between kallar kahar and choa saidan crowned head, in district chakwal of province punjab, pakistan. It is situated about 40 kilometers from the city of chakwal making it a popular tourist place among people of chakwal. Nonhindus come to visit the temple as a historical monument. Chief justice of pakistan justice mian saqib nisar remarked that there will be no compromise on katas raj temple near chawkal.
Katas raj constitutes a major group of hindu temples most of which. This ancient temple is dedicated to shiva and believed to be existed since mahabharata days. Most of the hindu pilgrims visit this temple to worship and pay pilgrimage. The katas raj is a conglomeration of multireligious and multicultural monuments and shrines, and serves as a reminder and testimony of the syncretic nature of pakistan. Along the m2 motorway, near the town of kallar kahar, lies a piece of our forgotten history. It is said that the old name of katas raj was kataksha, a sanskrit word which means gods tears. The temple was built during the reign of hindu kings in the region several temples were built around 900 years ago or more, although the earliest of the katasraj temples dates back to the latter half of the 6th century a. I called it the hidden shame to put more emphasis on the people to talk about this problem. Surrounded by blue skies and dense vegetation, the temples stand in reverence to the gods and goddesses of hindu mythology. It will be no surprise to many people that i have chosen to write about a temple in pakistan those who know me or who follow my blog will be familiar with my nearobsession with the country. Located at an altitude of 2000 feet, the whole complex covers a space of around 260 kanals. Katas raj is one of the holiest places for the hindu community in pakistan. The temple complex surrounds a pond named katas which is regarded as sacred by hindus.
The shri katas raj temples, also known as qila katas, is a complex of several hindu temples connected to one another by walkways. Pakistan issues visas to 9 indian pilgrims to visit. Pakistan supreme court fumes as idols missing from katas. Spreading its beauty near chakwal in punjab province of pakistan, the most reverenced among all the temples are the katas raj temples. The katas raj temples also known as qila katas are several hindu temples connected to one another by walkways. History of katas raj temple in pakistan distance from. Dont believe their lies, maybe water was taken from somewhere else. Media in category satghara temple, katas the following 128 files are in this category, out of 128 total. Katas raj temple is a hindu temple complex situated in katas village near choa saidan shah in chakwal district of punjab.
This temple complex is situated in katas village near choa saidanshah in the chakwal district of punjab. When you dont trust your commissioner, you cant blame us for not trusting them. Noting that water worth billions of rupees was used by cement factories around the historic katas raj temple without any payment, the supreme court on wednesday issued a twoday deadline for the. This site was originally a cluster of seven hindu temples, a. According to a legend, the pond was formed as lord shiva wept upon the death of wife satti.
Log in or sign up to leave a comment log in sign up. Just over a month ago the supreme court of pakistan took suo moto cognizance i. Its ancient building and small pond which is considered holy by hindus attracts many tourists. Tims of urbanduniya favourite temple is katas raj temple. Situated to the west of ramachandra temple, hari singh palace faces east and has an. Visiting the beautiful katas raj temples in pakistan. Hundreds marched in soura on the outskirts of srinagar, the summer capital of the indian state of jammu and kashmir, on friday, calling for the resolution of the kashmir dispute. Katas raj temple history in urdu chakwal historical places justuju ka safar chakwal pakistan ka shayad woh wahid zila hai jis ki zameen ke. Assorted temples are connected to one another by walkways. See more ideas about hindu temple, temple and pakistan. A conglomerate of hindu temples dating back 5000 years in chakwal, punjab, pakistan. The research paper is an attempt to study the historical significance of the temple and its current.
The temples form a complex surrounding a pond named katas which is regarded as sacred by hindus. Bringing religions and histories together the pond has been subjected to expansive media attention as well. The beauty of katas raj temple and lama temple in beijing. Katas raj temple complex is a sad monument to pakistans unease with its hindu heritage. Really nice temples next to the mountains of khewra salt range.
Mahabharat era lord siva temple katasraj mandir in pakistan. The katas raj temples near chakwal in punjab province of pakistan are attributed to the eras of the hindu shahis kings dating from about 615950 ce and are dedicated to lord shiva. Its entrance is a recessed round arch with faint cusps and a. It is set regarding forty kilometers from town of chakwal creating it a wellliked traveller place among individuals of chakwal. Hindu pilgrims from across the world visit the temples during the. Pakistan supreme court fumes as idols missing from katas raj temples the katas raj temple in chakwal district of punjab province is one of the hindu communitys most wellknown places of worship. Dedicated to shiva, the temple has existed since the days of mahabharata and the pandava brothers spent a substantial part of their exile at. Overview katasraj mandir punjabi, is a hindu temple complex situated in katas village near choa saidanshah in the chakwal district of punjab in pakistan.
Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. Basically, katas raj is a temple complex consisting seven ancient temples called satgraha, some. Legend has it that the pond at katas raj temples was formed by the tears that lord shiva shed after the death of his wife sati. Earlier this month, over 220 indian pilgrims were granted visas to visit the famous hindu temple, shadani darbar, in sukkur. Dedicated to shiva, the temple has, according to hindu legend, existed since the days of mahabha rata and the pandava brothers spent a substantial part of their exile at the site and later krishna himself laid the foundation of this temple. Katasraj temple in chakwal pakistan travel guide of. These multiplex temples, and conglomeration of temples,standin homage to the deity and goddess of hindu folklore. Katas raj is one of the well known places that is located in pakistan.
This place is located in the place of chakwal in punjab province of pakistan that was established at the time of the era of the hindu kings. The katas raj dham festival was celebrated in february 2017 for which almost 200 pilgrims travelled to pakistan. In this special report, we visit the katasraj temple complex in chakwal district of pakistan which is said to be in existence since the mahabharata era. Sc wraps up katas raj case, directs cement company to deposit. The historical katas raj temple near chakwal is one of the most important sites for pakistans hindu community and is used till this day by locals and hindus. The temple s ceiling is undecorated, and limeplastered. It is the considered as the main temple, an important hindu pilgrimage site and the second oldest location. The name of the temple complex is believed to be derived from the sanskrit word kataksha, meaning tearful eyes.
The pond is named katas raj temple after kataksha, a sanskrit word meaning tearful eyes. The sacred waters of the katas raj temples the express. Katas raj mandir, temple, shiva, shiva linga introduction. The katas raj temple complex is considered sacred by the hindu community and cement companies in the area were held responsible for. There is a brahmanical story which says that shiva was so inconsolable over the death of his wife sati that the tears literally rained from his eyes and ultimately transformed into a holy pool outside thekatas raj temple. To find the return map from islamabad to katas raj temple, begin with entering start and end locations in calculator control and click on show return map.
Katas raj temples and the hidden shame of pakistani. The most admired katas raj temples are located near chakwal in punjab, pakistan. You can also try a different route while coming back by adding multiple destinations. Do you want a map that gives you the probable stopping points and halfway point of your journey. As such they constitute one of the most important hindu pilgrimage sites in pakistan and are still in use to this day by members of the hindu community both in the country and those who make the journey there every. The katas raj temples near chakwal in punjab province of pakistan are attributed to the eras of the hindu shahis kings dating from about. Katas raj, also known as qila katas, is a hindu pilgrimage site comprising several temples linked to one another by walkways. Katasraj temple katasraj temple or katas raj mandir is one of the oldest hindu temples, situated in katas village near choa saidanshah, chakwal, pakistan.
In a heaven like surrounding, complex of temples stands in. Katas raj mandir is a hindu temple located in choa saidan shah, chakwal. Katas raj is located about 16 kilometers 10 miles from kallar kahar on the road between kallar kahar and choa saidan shah, in district chakwal of province punjab, pakistan. The complex is located in the potohar plateau region of pakistans punjab province. Katas raj temples the oldest hindu temple in pakistan ststw. However the katas raj temple near chakwal in northern punjab province is beautiful for several reasons, and. The shiva temple is also built on a square platform. There will be no compromise on katas raj temple, observes. The only problem is government not looking after the historical figures also if you go with family crowd there is not ideal. The word katas or kataksha is different types of temples in hindu culture where. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. Across the border katas raj temple complex is a sad monument to pakistans unease with its hindu heritage the ancient religious site in punjab has been a. Built by the hindushahi kings of punjab, the sacred pond around the temple is significant because it is believed that the.
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