Bijbehara’s Pracheen Amarnath Shrine gets Govt boost

Srinagar, Jul 22: The Jammu and Kashmir government has approved major heritage conservation projects in Bijbehara, including the construction of a Yatri Niwas at the Pracheen Amarnath Shrine—considered by many Kashmiri Pandits as second only in religious importance to the Amarnath cave—and the renovation of the historic Lal Ded memorial.

According to government Order No:  DAMA-435 of 2025, dated July 8, the Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museums sanctioned Rs 4.17 crore for the development of facilities at the Shiv Temple in Thajiwar village, located along the Bijbehara–Pahalgam apple valley road in Dachnipora belt. The project includes a Yatri Niwas (pilgrim lodge), library and a Ghat.

The temple, also known as the Pracheen Amarnath Shrine, was closed in 1989 amid insurgency but reopened on Aug. 29, 2007.

It holds deep spiritual significance for Kashmiri Pandits, who regard it as a sacred site second only to the Amarnath cave shrine.

In a separate order, No. DAMA-437 of 2025, the department approved Rs 40 lakh for the renovation of the Lal Ded Shrine located in Bijbehara’s old town near Baba Mohalla, adjacent to the historic Jamia Masjid.

Lal Ded, a revered 14th-century Shaivite mystic and poet born into a Brahmin family, renounced worldly life in pursuit of spiritual wisdom. A grave believed to be hers lies in Bijbehara. Both project approvals were issued by Kuldeep Krishan Sidha (JKAS), Director of Archives, Archaeology and Museums, and are confined to the approval  works.

The approval was forwarded by the District Development Commissioner (DDC) Anantnag and the works have technically been vetted by the Superintending Engineer (SE) of the R&B Division in Anantnag. National Conference leader and Bijbehara MLA Syed Bashir Ahmad Shah (Veeri) welcomed the move as a “step toward reviving the cultural and spiritual legacy of Bijbehara, the town of Chinars.”

In a social media post, Veeri recalled the previous sanction of Rs 4.5 crore for the renovation of the Baba Naseeb-ud-Din Ghazi Shrine at Baba Mohala and urged similar allocations for the nearby Jamia Masjid and Guru Nanak Shrine in Padshahi Bagh locality of the town.

He also expressed optimism that pending proposals for sites including Khiram Dargah, Chhota Amarnath Thajwara, Astan Shareef Bevora, Srigufwara, and his native village Veeri  would receive similar attention, contributing to the revival of the region’s pluralistic heritage.