Katas Raj Templates in Pakistan

Katas Raj is a Hindu temple complex located in the Chakwal district of the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is considered one of the most sacred places in Hinduism and a popular destination among tourists for religious destinations. According to Hindu mythology, the temple is said to have been established by Pandavas on their return from their exile to celebrate Lord Shiva. The temple complex consists of seven ancient temples, a lake, an old fort, and several smaller temples.

The lake of Katas Raj is considered to be sacred by Hindus as it is believed to have been created from Lord Shiva's tears of grief over the death of his beloved wife Sati. The lake is said to be fed by two springs, one from the temple of Shiva and the other from the temple of Kali.

A number of festivals are celebrated at the temples of Katas Raj throughout the year. The holy festivals of Raksha Bandhan, Diwali, and Holi are celebrated with great enthusiasm. Tourists and pilgrims from around the world come to Katas Raj to experience and enjoy its beauty and religious significance. Visitors can also enjoy the numerous nearby attractions, such as the ancient ruins of Taxila, Rohtas Fort, and Katas Raj Hot Springs.

The Katas Raj Temples near Chakwal in Punjab province of Pakistan are attributed to the eras of the Hindu Shahis (kings) dating from about 615-950 CE and are dedicated to Lord Shiva. 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 year from abroad.

It is believed that the site was visited by the Pandawa brothers of "Mahabharta" fame and this complex of temples was constructed to commemorate their visit. It is said that this is the region called Dvaitavana in the epic and here is where the Pandawas lived during their exile and also where the series of questions occured between the Pandawas and the Yakshahs. The location of the Sath Ghara or Seven Temples is said to be the place where the Pandawas made their home during their 12 year exile.

A Brahmanical story relates this site directly to Shiva, whose unconsolable grief at the death of his wife Sati led to a rain of tears which formed two pools of water, one at Pushkara near Ajmer and the other at Katas.

With the Supreme Court taking interest in their renovation and protection, the Katas Raj temples, one of the oldest Hindu religious sites in Pakistan, are in the news again.

Situated within embrace of the Salt Range near Kallar Kahar, Punjab, this splendid complex of temples dedicated to Ram, Hanuman and Shiva is laid around a natural pond. The pond, the faithful believe, was created from a teardrop of the weeping Shiva as he flew across the sky carrying the dead body of his wife Sati. He shed two tears, one creating this pond, the other falling and making a pond in Ajmer, Rajasthan. The Pandavas came to this place during their exile, the legend goes, and built some of the older temples. Historical records suggest many of the temples, constructed in the Kashmiri architectural tradition, came up in the 11th century CE, when this region, along with parts of Punjab, fell under a Kashmiri kingdom.Yet, for much of Pakistan’s existence, Katas Raj was lost to obscurity.

In 2005, former Indian deputy prime minister LK Advani visited the temple, prompting the government to renovate the shrine. Since then, it has been a barometer of India-Pakistan relations. As the Pervez Musharraf regime went about repairing ties with Delhi in the mid-2000s, Katas Raj was well looked after and Indian pilgrims were encouraged to visit for the Shivratri festival. The flow of the pilgrims dwindled as the India-Pakistan relationship deteriorated in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Then, early this year, then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited Katas Raj and ordered its renovation, bringing the site back into public discourse.