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This is one of the
oldest landmarks near This temple stands as witness to the resurgent spirit of the Hindu religion, which despite persecution by the Muslims, managed to survive and flourish. The temple offers a breathtaking view of the valley below, the Dal Lake and the Moghul Gardens. |
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Durga Nag This beautiful little temple situated at the foot of the Shankaracharya Hill, is a major transit point for Amarnath pilgrims. Raghunath Located in between the 2nd and the 3rd bridge on the left banks of the Jhelum, is the Raghunath temple, which is the biggest shrine of the Hindus in Kashmir. The main temple is situated in between few smaller temples. The temples have spacious courtyards with big halls. During ancient times, Sanskrit was taught here and Kashmir was an important centre for learning Sanskrit. Hari Parbat About 3 Miles from the first bridge, situated atop Hari Parbat Hill is the fort built by Akbar. It is said that it cost almost a Crore (10 Million) Rupees to construct this fort. Inside the fort is the temple dedicated to the goddess Sharika (Kali). This Temple/ Fort is best visited during the festivals like Ramnavami, when there is a fair and the fort is decorated in the traditional way. Khirbhawani/ Tulmul This is the most important shrine of the Kashmiri Brahmans and is held in great reverence by them. According to legend, a tank situated in the centre of the temple changes color whenever any calamity befalls the state of Kashmir. In the months of June and July, festivals are organized on ASHTMIS (8TH day according to the Indian Calendar), and Hindus from the world over converge on this shrine to offer prayers, sing Vedic hyms and do Havans (prayers around a spiritual fire). |
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Jama Masjid This exceptionally beautiful Mosque is built of wood and has about 327 wooden pillars, with some more than 40 feet in height. Each of these pillars has been made from the trunk of a single Deodar tree. The spires and domes represent the pinnacle of Kashmiri architecture. This mosque has been burnt down thrice, but each time it has risen from the ashes more magnificent than before. The present mosque is credited to Aurangzeb, who reconstructed it around 1665. Hazrat Bal Located about 4 Miles from the 1st bridge near the Nasim Bagh, this mosque is famous, for it is here that a Hair of the Prophet is kept in a bottle. During the festival of Id, there is a huge congregation of Muslims. Shah Hamdan Situated close to the right bank of the Jhelum just below the 3rd bridge, is this beautiful mosque. An outstanding feature that is seen here is the use of wooden slabs like bricks. It gets its name from a Persian saint and was built around 1479. Inside the mosque is the famous walk stick of Christ, which is exhibited on rare occasions. The current mosque is cube shaped with a pyramidal roof rising to a spire. Entry is however banned for Non Muslims. Makhdum Sahib This small masjid is located to the south of the Hariparbat Fort. People offer prayers at this mosque and it is believed that this mosque guards the valley against diseases and wars. Phattar Masjid Situated on the opposite bank of the Jhelum River, this small Stone Mosque stands in memory of empress Nur Jahan. It is also called Shahi Mosque.
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