Historic Shiva temple of Pulwama in dilapidated condition

The temple located in the main town of Pampore in Pulwama district is in a dilapidated condition. Several Muslims and Hindus, particularly the Pandits, in the district have come together to restore the temple but the government has continued to turn a blind eye.

Pulwama (Jammu & Kashmir): The historic temple of Lord Shiva, located in the main town of Pampore town in Pulwama district, is in a dilapidated condition, making it difficult for the members of the Kashmiri Pandit community living in the town to worship.

This historic temple in the town is centuries old and pilgrims used to worship in this temple during the Amarnath Yatra. However, after the catastrophic floods of 2014, this temple has become dilapidated and no renovation work has been done on this temple.

The restoration work was disrupted but the local Kashmiri pandits have also appealed to the authorities to start construction and renovation work on the temple to make it worshipable.

Villagers say the restoration work started after the Pandit family approached the Masjid Auqaf committee because the temple was in a dilapidated condition.

"Despite the dilapidated condition of the temple, the Muslims here are working hard to maintain it. Although the temple has become dilapidated after the floods, the Muslims have taken care of the temple as well as its cleanliness," a local said.

She said, "It's not just restoration of the temple but they take care of everything in most troubled times. The condition of this temple is deteriorating day by day. If the government will not help to reconstruct this temple, one day, this historical creation will lose its identity."

Several Muslims and Hindus, particularly the Pandits, in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir have come together to restore the temple but this historic cultural identity is losing its significance due to government apathy.