Hindu temples in Pakistan
Though Pakistan being the Islamic country, it also has many Hindu temples in various parts of the country. These Hindu temples are also visited by many of the Islamic people with great devotion. The Hindu temples in Pakistan are also very rich in it’s architecture and culture which depicts their Islam in few of the Hindu temples and in their names.
Some of the most famous Hindu temples in Pakistan are:
Kalka Cave Temple, Rohri, Sindh
Gorakhnath Temple, Peshawar
Shiva temple at Mansehra City.
Araya Temple, Abbottabad
Nandi Mandir, Peshawar
Shiv Mandir, Nowshera
Laxmi Narain Mandir, Mardan
Aditya Sun temple, Multan
Jagannath Temple, Sialkot
Krishna Temple, Lahore
Sri Narasimha Temple, Multan
Baba Hiradaram Mandir, Shahdad Kot
Panjmukhi Mahraj Hanoman Mandir, Karachi
Shantoshi Maa Mander Mithi Tharparkar
Shri Swaminarayan Temple:
Sri Swaminarayan temple is the only Hindu temple in Pakistan in Karachi city that belongs to the god Nararayan. This temple is located at the centre of a Hindu enclave in a Muslim dominated city and country. Not only Hindus but also adherents of Islam visit this Sri Swaminarayan temple. All of the main religious festivals such as Swaminarayan Jayanti, Ram Navami, Janmastami, Dussehra, Diwali are celebrated by Hindus in this temple. The Hinglaj yatra starts from the Swaminarayan Temple complex here annually.
Katas Raj Temples, Lahore:
Katas Raj Temple is situated in Chakwal district of Punjab in Pakistan. This Katas Raj temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Katas Raj temple in Pakistan has existed before the days of Mahabharata and the Pandava brothers spent a substantial part of their exile here.
It is said that the heroes of the Historical epic Mahabharata, five Pandava brothers have stayed here four out of the 14 years that they spent in exile.
Its origin involves the death of Shiva’s wife Satti. When she died, Shiva cried so much and for so long, that his tears created two holy ponds – one at Pushkar in Ajmer, India and the other at the Katas Raj Temple.
Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple At Clifton Karachi:
Ratneshewar Mahadev temples is situated at the seaside of Clifton. It was constructed about more than 150 years ago in a cave in a hill. A grand fair of Lord Shiva will be is held for 3 days on Maha Shiva Ratri the day where in more than 25,000 people visit the Temple for celebration & rituals on this occasion every year.
Shiv Mandir Umerkot in Sindh:
Shiv Mandir is a Hindu temple situated in Umerkot in Sindh, Pakistan. This temple is divine and sacred among the Hindus residing in lower Sindh. The temple has magnificent Shiv Lingam, which is indeed on of the best in the whole world. Every year on Shiv Ratri there is a huge three day festival with several hundred thousand pilgrims from surrounding cities.
Hinglaj Mandir or Nani Mandir, Baluchistan:
Hinglaj Mandir is an important Shakti Peeth of Goddess Sati. Hinglaj Mandir or Nani Mandir is situated in Hingol National Park in Baluchistan province of Pakistan. This temple came into existence when Lord Vishnu cut up Sati’s dead body into 52 pieces so that Lord Shiva would calm down and stop his Tandava. These pieces got scattered all over the Indian subcontinent whilst Sati’s head fell at Hingula or Hinglaj.
According to ancient scriptures, Lord Rama had also meditated at Hinglaj to atone for his sin of ‘Brahmhatya’ – killing of Ravana who was a Brahmin and a great devotee of Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga.
Sri Varun Dev Temple, Karachi:
Sri Varun Dev temple is situated on seashore of Manora cantt. This temple is about 160 years old and designed perfectly as per Hindu Architecture. The temple is carved from a blackish marble. Lot of devotes visit this picnic place & enjoy the waves of sea direcltly hitting the temple. There is beautiful scene early in the morning at sun rise. The atmosphere is marvelous & one feel great pleasure & peace of mind along with glimpses of the temple & Darshan of Lord Shri Ram & Lord Shri Krishna.