Pahalgam terror attack disrupts pilgrimage to ancient Sharda Temple in Teetwal at LoC

The April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam has affected even the far-off village of Teetwal in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district, halting the flow of pilgrims to the historic Sharda Temple.

Perched on the Line of Control (LOC) along the Kishenganga River, which separates Teetwal from Chilhana in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), the temple, 167 km from Srinagar, now stands quiet. After news of the attack spread, the site was quickly deserted by pilgrims.

Sharda Peeth, dating back to the 8th century, was once a globally renowned centre of learning. Scholars from Greece, Mesopotamia, Central Asia, Tibet, and China studied there. The temple hosted over 5,000 scholars and was home to the largest library of its time.

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A Buddhist centre turned Hindu temple

Initially a Buddhist learning centre, Sharda Peeth later became a revered Hindu temple but continued to hold cultural significance under the 13th and 14th-century Muslim rulers of Kashmir. Deeply rooted in the Kashmir Shaivism tradition, it functioned much like a university, offering studies in philosophy, theology, mathematics, and linguistics. Its extensive library of manuscripts and texts attracted scholars from across the world. It lies in Neelam Valley in PoK.

In the past, the temple in Teetwal acted as a base camp for pilgrims visiting Sharda Peeth.

The revival of the temple in 2022 sparked tourism in Teetwal, with pilgrims lodging in local homes through a homestay initiative. Most visitors came from southern Indian states, particularly Karnataka.

“Before the attack, we were receiving over a hundred calls each day for bookings,” said Ajaz Ahmed Khan, local coordinator of the Save Sharda Committee, which led the temple’s restoration. “Last year, we welcomed 10,000 pilgrims. This season, we were expecting more than 30,000.”

On the day of the Pahalgam attack, 28 pilgrims from the South were in Teetwal. They cut their visit short and left that same evening for Srinagar to catch flights home.

Revival of the temple

The Sharda Temple was rebuilt in March 2023 using carved granite stones from Karnataka, under the leadership of the Save Sharda Committee.

More than a religious site, the temple is a symbol of shared heritage and the hope of renewed cross-border ties. An adjoining Gurudwara, once frequented by Sikh pilgrims, was also restored.

Following the tribal invasion of 1947 that destroyed the original structure, the local Muslim community safeguarded the temple land.

“Our elders taught us to protect the land and return it to its rightful owners when the time was right,” Khan said. “That promise has now been fulfilled, thanks to Ravindra Pandita, head of the Save Sharda Committee, whose efforts made this possible after 75 years.”

The temple’s restoration rekindled hope among displaced Kashmiri Pandits and worshippers from across the country.

The government supported the revival under the Border Tourism initiative. Union Minister Shyam Sahu announced ₹1.5 crore for a Yatri Nivas (pilgrim house), and land was identified to expand local facilities.

“Everything was going well,” Khan said. “There were serious talks about creating a corridor to Sharda Peeth, similar to the Kartarpur model. But now everything is on hold.”

Teetwal’s geography adds emotional weight to the moment. Before 1947, people freely crossed the river for weddings and pilgrimages. Now, the Kishenganga marks separation and loss.

Although most pilgrims have left, daily prayers continue. Kamal Devrani, a pujari from Uttarakhand, remains at the site. “Guruji, the head priest from South India, left due to health issues. Others have gone too. Now it’s just the two of us,” Khan said.

Today, Teetwal is silent. Homestays are empty. The river flows calmly, but no visitors walk its banks. Yet hope lingers among those who believe in the temple’s timeless legacy. 

India