Katas Raj Temples

Katas Raj, a complex of ancient Hindu temples connected by walkways surrounding a sacred pond known as Kataksha Kund ('Pool of Tearful Eyes') in Pakistan's Punjab province, boasts a history stretching back to antiquity. Its significance is deeply rooted in the Mahabharata; the pond is believed to have been formed from a teardrop of Lord Shiva shed while mourning the death of his wife Sati. Legend also holds that the Pandavas spent part of their exile here and engaged in the famous riddle contest with a Yaksha by the pond. This ancient sanctity ensured its importance through subsequent historical periods. The 11th-century scholar Al-Biruni visited Katas Raj and described it in his Kitab al-Hind as a major Hindu tirtha (pilgrimage site) and an important center of learning. The existing temple structures primarily date from the era of the Hindu Shahi dynasty, which ruled the region from the 7th to the early 11th centuries CE, though some structures might be earlier or slightly later (possibly up to the Sikh era). Architecturally, the temples exhibit characteristics of the Kashmiri style prevalent under the Shahis, including fluted pillars, trefoil arches, dentil decorations, and curvilinear shikharas, built mainly using local sandstone. While predominantly Shaiva, elements suggest Vaishnava worship also occurred. After the Partition of India in 1947, the site suffered neglect as the local Hindu population migrated. However, recognizing its immense historical and religious significance, the government of Pakistan has undertaken restoration efforts in recent decades, facilitating visits by Hindu pilgrims, particularly from India. Katas Raj remains a powerful symbol of the shared pre-Islamic heritage of the subcontinent and a testament to the region's ancient Hindu past.