Religious leaders mulling to restore ancient temples in Valley

With an objective to restore the glory of the Kashmir region, the religious leader and heads of various muth from across the country are mulling to start restoration work of ancient temples across the Kashmir region, which are abandoned since 1990s.

If credible sources are to be believed around 60 temples have been identified so far in the Kashmir region, which will be restored in a phased manner.

“We have identified around 60 temples in different districts of Kashmir region, which need restoration,” the sources told.

He added that the negotiations are going on with concerned authorities and restoration work will be started after receiving clearance.

Moreover, he added that these temples are abandoned since the 1990s and restoration will further increase direct tourist influx in Kashmir region as well as indirect tourist footfall in the Jammu region.

“The facelift to these temples will enable Hindu community of the valley to offer prayers and promote peace as well as spread message of brotherhood,” he said adding that these temples had been lying in a shambles since decades and had not been taken up by the government so far.

Moreover, the government is also in favor of renovating and repairing temples in the Kashmir region. The government’s intention is gauged from the fact that the renovation work for 15 temples including Raghunath temple started in Kashmir region under Smart City Mission.

The restoration of the Raghunath temple, which was constructed by Maharaja Gulab Singh in 1835, on the banks of River Jhelum in Srinagar, had grabbed the eye balls pan India.

“The temple is expected to be thrown open by the start of February. One more temple, the Sheetal Nath temple, was opened to the public in 2021,” a source told.

He added that the Sheetal Nath temple was thrown open for the first time in 31 years on Basant Panchami.
According to government reports, the number of temples in the Kashmir Valley is 952, of which only 212 were open and operational. It is believed that the government has undertaken temple renovation as a confidence building measure so that the displaced Kashmiri Pandits could return to their homeland.