The famous Shankaracharya Hills, also well known as 'Takht-i-Sulaiman' which means the Throne of Solomon, has been deemed sacred since 250 BC. The hill has an 11th-century Shiva temple located at its peak. Shankaracharya Temple is located in the Srinagar region on the hill and is well-known as Takht-e-Suleiman. It is located at an altitude of 1100 ft. above the major city of the hill. It is believed that Raja Gopadatya had the temple built in 371 BC and gave it the name 'Gopadri'. The renowned philosopher Shankaracharya is believed to have stayed there on his visit to Kashmir to attain Sanatan Dharma.

Shankaracharya Temple is well known as the Pas-pahar or Jyesteshwara temple. It is mainly devoted to Lord Shiva. The temple was visited by Adi Shankara and has since been connected with him, because of which the hill and temple got the name 'Shankaraharya'. It is also considered to be consecrated by Buddhists, who call the mandir 'Pas-Pahar'. The temple was originally a Buddhist temple and approximately 2500 years ago, the Shivling was placed inside the shrine by Adi Shankaracharya on his tour to Kashmir. Thus, the holy place became a well-known Hindu temple.

History of Shankaracharya Hills

The peak of the hill always makes for a picturesque scenario. This hill was also called 'Jetha Larak' and later, was called the “Gopadari Hill”. Some also believe that the temple at the peak was initially built by King Sandiman in 2629-2564 B.C. There were around 300 golden and silver metaphors inside it. In 1368 B.C. King Gopadittya, the creator of Gopkar, repaired it and also donated to the Brahmans of Agrahars, the Arya Varta built on its pinnacle. The Temple is built on a soaring octagonal plinth that forms a journey of around hundred steps. Shankaracharya hill is a detached edge of igneous rock at the south-east of Srinagar and is isolated from the Shalimar Range by the Aita Gaj Gap. The King Sandimati during the period of 34 B.C. – 13 A.D. improved and added some addition to the place of worship. The Zain-Ul-Abdin (1421-1472 A.D.) renovated its roof which had fallen down due to an earthquake.

The temple is of huge significance, not only from the religious point of view, but also from the architectural perspective. The sunrise and sunset, birth and death and many more universal truths of the earth are watched over by a worldwide power that runs the earth and its living populace. The temple is well-known for provisions such as the Sivalaya, Devalaya, and Devayatana. Life is therefore established in the outline of the divinity in the workroom, known as Grabhagriha or the house of the womb. The Thirteen steps with a railing lead to a dwarf wall at the plinth level, thus enclosing the parapet wall and the sidewalls of the ladder that once bore some intimate inscriptions. There is also a Persian dedication inside the shrine, which dates back to the monarch Shahjahan's rule. The main existing shrine, comprising of a spherical cell, provides a splendid view of the basin below. The temple shows the ancient Kashmiri fashion and lifestyle. It tries to showcase the early Sihara modes and the tranquil one-storied gable pediments which are clearly seen even nowadays. Here we find the ancient designs of the horse shoe curve, prominent even in the final phase of its construction. The inner compartment of Shankaracharya Temple, after repair, is now enclosed with a modern upper limit.

Tourism in Shankaracharya Temple

Shankaracharya Mandir of Kashmir, India is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is regarded as the most ancient shrine in the Kashmir region. Shankaracharya Temple is a national protected artifact under the Archaeological Sites Monument, and Remains Act, 1958 and is backed by the Archaeological study of India. The temple is situated in the valley beneath a high safety zone and therefore no cameras and cell phones are allowed on the pinnacle. The night view from the porch of the Temple is interesting and fascinating with white, yellow and saffron lights reflecting on the city below. The view is a magnificent experience with white snow dressed mountains in the background and the yellow and white light of the Houseboats reflecting in the water of Dal Lake - all in a series of rows.

Timings

The temple is open from 7:00 am in the morning to 8:00 pm in the night

How to Reach

Its approximately 4.4 Km away from the main city of Srinagar and when traveling along the Road pass, it offers a scenic view of the surroundings. Tourists can also trek to the Shankaracharya Hills, wherein the climb is about 7 km long and around 100 steps ahead.

Best Time to Visit

The best season to visit Shankaracharya Temple is around May to September. Around this time, the weather is pleasant. It snows during the months of winter in and around Srinagar and the winters are generally very harsh.