Shankaracharya Temple, The Revered Hindu Temple Of Kashmir

Shankaracharya Temple is one of the most significant temples of Kashmir. It is of the great importance for the Hindus as it is one of the chief pilgrimage centers of this religion. Shankaracharya Temple is also known as the Jyesteshwara Temple or the Pas-Pahar by the Buddhists. The temple is situated in Kashmir, in the Zabarwan Mountain in Srinagar.

It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located on the summit of a hill called ‘Takht-e-Suleiman’.  The temple is located at a height of about 1,100 ft above sea level.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the revered temple is believed to have been constructed by Raja Gopadatya during 371 BC. During the early period of its construction, the Shankaracharya Temple was known as Gapadri. The renowned saint Shankaracharya is said to have stayed at this temple when he visited Kashmir during the early part of the 19^th century. The chief aim of his visiting this place was to spread the philosophy of Vedanta. This supposed to have been led to the renaming of the temple as Shankaracharya Temple. Not only this, this great saint of India is also responsible for spreading the devotion towards Lord Shiva in the region of Jammu and Kashmir.

Significance of the Temple

The Shankaracharya temple is of great importance, not only from the religious point of view but also from the magnificence of the architectural significance of this temple. The temple has a high octagonal platform which supports the temple, which can be reached with by climbing around hundred steps towards the temple. The sidewalls of these steps once were carved with some valuable inscriptions. The Shankaracharya Temple also holds some Persian inscriptions that date back to the rule of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.

The temple that you see today has undergone renovation for many times since the time it was built at this place. The first renovation of the temple is said to have been done during the rule of Lalitdaditya. Later on, the temple again had to be renovated after being damaged by earthquake, by Zain-ul- Abideen. It was again repaired during the Governorship of Sheikh Mohi-ud-Din. In addition to these renovations of the temple, Maharaja Gulab Singh, who was a Dogra ruler, is said to have built the stone steps that leads you to the temple. Earlier, the temple did not have any electricity amenities, which was introduced in the year 1925.

The chief shrine of the temple that survives till date, involves a circular cell that provides a breathtaking view of the valley below. The inner sanctum of this temple has now been covered with a modern ceiling.

Best Time to Visit

Best time to visit the Shankaracharya temple is from the month of September to October or during the early period of the winter season.

Accommodation

There is not much of a problem regarding accommodation. Though there are no accommodation facilities within the premises of the temple, there are many splendid structures close to the temple, which have been covered into excellent hotels like Oberoi Palace Hotel and Karan Niwas.

How to Reach

By Road: The temple is easily accessible through road from Srinagar, as it located at a distance of about 12 km from the main town of the city. Various transportation facilities are available from Srinagar to this temple.

By Air: The nearest airport to this temple is Srinagar Airport, which is an international airport and is connected with major cities of the country.

By Train: The nearest railway heads to this temple are Jammu Tawi or Udhampur railway station.