Evidence of Indian civilization is found not only in India but all over the world. Many ancient Hindu temples still exist, especially in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. These temples are thousands of years old and remain important centers of faith of the people. One such famous temple is the Katas Raj Temple located in the Punjab province of Pakistan. This temple is known all over the world due to its ancient architecture and religious importance. This temple complex also includes many other ancient temples, which are said to be thousands of years old.
Katas Raj Temple is located in Chakwal district of Pakistan. This temple group, about 2000 years old, is also called Qila Katas. It is believed that it was constructed during the Hindu Shahi period. Its structure, dome and architectural style still reflect the grandeur and historical importance of that time.
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Katas Raj Temple and recognition
Two hours away from Islamabad is the Pothohar Plateau, where the Katas Raj Temple was established. The most special thing here is the sacred pond (Kund) present here. According to mythology, when Lord Shiva was mourning the loss of his wife Sati, his tears formed two ponds, one of which is located here in Katas Raj.
At the same time, there is another belief that during the Mahabharata period, the Pandavas spent 12 years of their exile here and built ‘Satghara’ temples. It is also said that it was here that Yudhishthir answered the difficult questions of the Yaksha. The temple, also known as Qila Katas, is a complex of several Hindu temples which are connected to each other by walkways.
It is considered the second most sacred place of Hindus after the volcano in the Punjab region. Considering the historical structure and religious affiliation of this place, the Government of Pakistan had also got its repair work done in the years 2006 and 2017. Even today, on big festivals like Mahashivratri, a large number of devotees from India come here for darshan.
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History and conservation challenges
It has been difficult for historians to tell the exact date of this complex but it is estimated that these temples may be around the 7th century. After partition, this historical heritage suffered a lot of neglect. Due to industrial activities and cement factories, the sacred lake here had started drying up.
However, in 2017 the Supreme Court of Pakistan took a tough stance on this. The court not only imposed fine on the factories but also gave strict instructions to refill the lake and repair the temple.
Despite diplomatic ups and downs, Pakistan is now allowing Indian pilgrims to visit. In the year 2024 also, visas were issued to 112 Indian citizens for Mahashivratri, which was double as compared to last year.
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