Written by: Maryam Arshad
Posted on: August 10, 2018 | 
| 中文
The Katas Raj Complex
Along the M2 Motorway, near the town of Kallar Kahar, lies a piece of our forgotten history: the Katas Raj Temples. Surrounded by blue skies and dense vegetation, the temples stand in reverence to the gods and goddesses of Hindu mythology. Located at an altitude of 2000 feet, the whole complex covers a space of around 260 kanals. Historical records suggest that construction of the complex dates back to the 11th century, when it was built under a Kashmiri kingdom.
The location is home to Satgraha, an amalgamation of seven temples, remains of a Buddhist stupa, five Kashmiri style medieval temples, and havelis spread around a pond area that holds great significance in the Hindu community. According to the Puranas (sacred Sanskrit scripture), the pond water comes from the deity Shiva’s tears, which he shed after the demise of his wife, Sati. It was popularly believed that the bright blue-green water of the pond could wash away ones sins. However, the once clear pond is now subject to eutrophication and excessive algal growth.
The place is rich with Hindu culture, history and tradition. According to Hindu scripture, it was the deity, Krishna, who selected the grounds for the temples and placed a hand-made shivling in it. However, the place is not only sacred for the Hindus, but also for the Sikhs. The founder of Sikh faith, Guru Nanak, visited the temples during the early 1800s. Furthermore, the haveli of Hari Singh Nalwa, a highly praised General of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s army, lies adjacent to Ram’s temple. Strangely so, even Muslims have their connection to the site, since it was also the resting place for the famous Muslim Scholar, Al-Biruni, who used to spend time in the temples studying Hinduism.
The sanctuaries at Katas are, for the most part, built on square stages. The domes on the shrines stand tall and are a major part of the attraction, and the grand arched entrances to the temples indicate the architectural aesthetics that went into building this holy place. One of the most distinct structures is the Ramchandra Mandir, which is up to two stories high and consists of eight rooms. However, the entire site of Katas seems to crumble before your eyes, as you walk across this historic landmark. Paint chipped off, cracked domes and bird’s nests everywhere; lack of maintenance has changed what this place used to look like. As a place of worship, it seems slightly odd that none of the idols have been preserved and kept in the temples, though understandably this could be due to dangers of vandalism and theft.
Post-partition, the temples weren’t well-preserved due to the animosity between Pakistan and India. Things changed after India's former deputy prime minister, Lal Krishna Advani, came to visit Pakistan in 2005. Renovations began in 2006, and Katas Raj was also taken into special consideration during the renovation project. This helped revive some of the lost beauty of the Katas temples and attracted an increasing number of people eager to learn about the history of this sanctuary. Unfortunately, due to a local cement factory, the water table of the area went down, and the water in the pond started drying up in 2012. After the authorities took notice, the factory was shut down, and more efforts were made for restorations. Since then, large numbers of Hindu pilgrims visit the site each year. As an architectural and historical site, the place holds great significance. The sanctuary preserves over 1500 years’ worth of history in one place. Thankfully, we as a nation are learning to appreciate and preserve our heritage and culture.
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