Katas Raj Temples

Chakwal, Punjab, Pakistan

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The Katas Raj Temples, nestled in the Salt Range near Chakwal in Punjab, Pakistan, form one of the most sacred and storied Hindu pilgrimage sites in the region. This ancient complex, known locally as Qila Katas, comprises a cluster of temples, havelis, and shrines surrounding a crystalline pond steeped in myth and reverence. According to Hindu legend, the pond—called Katakshkund or “Spring of Tearful Eyes”—was formed from the tears of Lord Shiva, shed in grief after the death of his wife, Sati.

The site is also linked to the Mahabharata, believed to be where the Pandava brothers spent part of their exile and where Yudhishthira answered the riddles of the Yaksha. The temples themselves date back to the 6th to 10th centuries CE, built during the Hindu Shahi period, though the area’s spiritual significance stretches even further—Chinese pilgrims like Faxian and Xuanzang noted Buddhist stupas here centuries earlier.

Architecturally, the temples reflect Kashmiri influences, with trefoil arches, fluted pillars, and stone carvings that echo the region’s syncretic past. Despite periods of neglect, restoration efforts since the early 2000s have revived much of the complex. Today, the site draws pilgrims from across Pakistan and India, especially during Maha Shivaratri.

The sacred pond, the Satghara (Seven Temples), and the serene surroundings make Katas Raj not just a religious destination, but a powerful portal into the subcontinent’s layered spiritual history.