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Shankaracharya
Temple - Kashmir
The Shankaracharya temple
is situated in the Srinagar district on the hill known as Takht-e-Suleiman.
It is housed at a height of 1100 ft. above surface level of the main city
on the hill. It is believed that Raja Gopadatya got the temple constructed
in 371 BC, giving it the name of Gopadri. The great philosopher Shankaracharya
is supposed to have stayed here when he visited Kashmir to revive Sanatan
Dharma.
This incident, which took
place ten centuries ago, led to the renaming of the temple as the Shankracharya
temple.
The Shankracharya Mandir
of Kashmir, India is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is thought to be the oldest
shrine in the Kashmir valley. The temple, as it stands today, has undergone
many repairs throughout its life. The first repair is supposed to have
been done under the rule of Lalitaditya. The second repairs were undertaken
by Zain-ul-Abideen after the temple got damaged in an earthquake. These
repairs were carried out during the Governorship of Sheikh Mohi-ud-Din.
Maharaja Gulab Singh, a Dogra ruler, is credited for the stone steps that
form a part of the passage to the shrine. The electrification of the Shankracharya
temple was done in 1925.
The temple is of great importance,
not only from the point of view of religion, but also from architectural
viewpoint. A high octagonal platform supports the temple, approached by
a flight of approximately hundred steps. The sidewalls of the steps once
bore some valuable inscriptions. There is also a Persian inscription inside
the temple, dating back to Emperor Shahjahan's rule. The main surviving
shrine, consisting of a circular cell, provides a magnificent view of the
valley below. The inner chamber of the Shankaracharya temple, after being
repaired, is now covered with a modern ceiling.
How to Reach ?
Shankarcharya lies in
Srinagar District across the Nehru Park: a beautiful island within the
Dal Lake One can either trek to Shankaracharya Temple from the Durganag
Temple lying in civil
lines area or alternatively
can take a automobile upto the footsteps from the Boulevard road. The climb
is approx. 7 Kms and then there is a flight of 100 odd steps up. the road
passes through jungle and offers beautiful views allround.and the nearest
Airport is approx. 25 Kms away in Badgam Distt.This Airport is connected
with major cities of India. The nearest Rail Head is at Jammu which is
300 Kms away and from there National
Highway NH1A connects
the Kashmir valley with India. Every sort of transport to suit every budget
from Buses to Taxis ply on this Highway. It Takes around 10 to 12 hours
to cross this mountaineous road which crosses some beautiful spots and
the famous Jawahar Tunnel linking KashmirValley with India.
It is located at 1100
ft. above surface level of the main city on the Shankaracharya hill. The
Shiva temple, as Kalhana believes, was constructed by Raja Gopadatya in
371 B.C. and, as such, is the oldest shrine in Kashmir, though it is not
certain if the temple exists in the same form as it had been built more
than two thousands years ago. The first repair of the temple is believed
to have been undertaken during the reign of Lalitaditya in the eighth century
A.D. According to the historian Shrivara, Zain-ul-Abideen conducted
second repairs of the
temple after it had been damaged in an earthquake. The third time repair
was undertaken during the Governorship of
Sheikh Mohi-ud-Din when the
temple is believed to have been named as Shankaracharya. Dogra ruler, Maharaja
Gulab Singh, constructed stone stairs upto the temple. In 1925, the temple
was electrified. The temple, besides a prominent Hindu religious place,
is of great archaeological importance. The temple commands a magnificient
panoramic view of the Srinagar City.
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