Historic Vicharnag Temple reopens in Srinagar after 36 years; LG Manoj Sinha inaugurates restored shrine
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Jammu Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday inaugurated the historic Vicharnag Temple in Srinagar after its repair and renovation by the Vicharnag Asthapan Trust. The temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, had remained closed since 1989 and has now been reopened after 36 years.
Believed to be around 5,000 years old, the ancient temple had fallen into disrepair following the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from the valley in the early 1990s due to terrorism and targeted violence.
The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, with a sacred Shivalingam located within a natural spring. Scores of Kashmiri Hindus attended the reopening ceremony at the historic Vicharnag Temple.
“Today, visited the ancient shrine of Vichar Nag. For millennia, this sacred temple has anchored India’s spiritual, intellectual, and philosophical journey. Its revival serves as a historic bridge, connecting our past, present, and future. It marks the return of a consciousness that, for centuries, nurtured an unbroken tradition of reflection, dialogue, and learning. Restoring Vichar Nag is a vital step toward preserving the rich, diverse cultural heritage of Jammu Kashmir,” LG Manoj Sinha said on X.
Daya Krishan Dhar, President of Trust Asthapan Vicharnag, said, "It is a matter of great joy that the reconstruction is complete. The Vicharnag temple has been renovated. Along with it, the surrounding area has also been transformed. I am very happy about that. It has a history spanning at least five thousand years. A unique feature of Vicharnag is its connection to the annual calendar; scholars and learned men used to gather here on the last day of the year to deliberate. They would reach a consensus, and the new calendar—known as the Panchang-would come into effect from the first day of the coming year."