Shri Katas Raj Temples also known as ‘Qila Katas’, is surrounded by a pond named “Katas”. These temples are connected to each other by walkways that allow us to easily move from one temple to another. The temples are located near the M2 Motorway (which connects Islamabad to Lahore) in Choa Saidan Shah and are at an elevation of about 1999 feet and about 100 km from the road.
The Origins of the Name and the Temple Complex
The name of the temple is derived from the word Kataksha meaning “tear full eyes” and the name of the pond was referred to as “poison spring”. And they together called tearful eyes. In Urdu it was referred to as Chashm-e-Alam, meaning sorrowful eyes.
Discovery of Ancient Relics and Connections to Buddhism
Bones of various animals were found near the salt boundary and their remains are still hidden underground. A Chinese monk in the 4th century CE mentioned a temple in his travelogs and a Chinese traveler in the 7th century CE reported the existence of a Buddhist stupa dating back to the reign of an Indian emperor in the 3rd century BC. The height of the stupa is said to be 200 feet and the Hindu imperial empire funded the construction and development of many other temples in northern Punjab, including nearby Tilla Jogian, and Kafir Kot in NWFP (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa).
Visit of Guru Nanak and Sikh Emperor Ranjit Singh
Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, is said to have visited the Katas Raj temples, as the site had become a popular destination for ascetics. The Sikh Emperor Ranjit Singh also visited the place in December 1818 and again in 1824 for the Vaisakhi festival in 1806.
Decline and Neglect of the Temples
Over the decades after Partition, the temples fell into disrepair and were neglected. Pakistani Hindus used to visit the place from time to time but were unable to maintain the vast complex. The pond was polluted with garbage, and local villagers also used the pond for recreation and tourism. Indian Hindu pilgrims were prohibited from visiting the site after the Indo-Pak wars in 1956, 1960, and 1965, and Indian pilgrims were not allowed to visit the site again until 1984.
Restoration Efforts and Revival
Former Deputy Prime Minister of India Lal Krishna Advani visited the temples in 2005 and expressed dismay at the old and dilapidated condition of the site. In 2005, Pakistan proposed the restoration of the temple premises, while in 2006 a restoration project was initiated to clean the sacred pond, paint and restore some of the temples, and install informational signage around the temple premises. Installation of boards was included. In 2006, 300 Indian Hindus visited the site for the Shiva Ratri festival, which briefly became an annual tradition for some Indian pilgrims, although Indians stopped coming after the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
