Vishnu Temple
In Swat area of NorthWest Pakistan, a 1300 year old Vishnu Temple, situated on a mountain, was discovered in November 2020 by an Italian Archaeologist Dr. Luca and a Pakistani Archaeologist Fazal Khaaliq. The temple was built in Hindu Shahi period which was extended upto Kabul and Kandhar in modern Afghanistan. During excavation, a well laid city was also found which speaks a lot about the Hindu ways of worship and living. The Mandir premises has a cantonment, watch tower and a water tank where pilgrims used to take bath before darshan and performing pooja.
Swat is a good tourist place and is surrounded by hills. Many more excavation sites have also been discovered here at the hilltop. This is the first known Hindu Temple of Gandhara Art, a style of Buddhist art which was popular in North-Western Pakistan and Eastern Afghanistan. Most of the people were Baudhh here and as the kings were hindus, hindu dharma was practiced vastly. Hindu Shahi reigned this region from 850-1026 CE. Afterwards, it was attacked and ruled by Muslims and during their reign, most of the temples were destroyed and converted in to mosques.
Umarkot Shiva Temple
Umarkot Shiv Temple also known as Amarkot Temple, is situated near Rana Jasgir Goth in West Pakistan and is one of the oldest temples in this area. There is an old story behind the Shivlinga of this temple. It is said that an old man who used to take his cows for grazing noticed that while all the cows would graze at one place, but one cow would go somewhere else and empty her milk there. On going there, the man found a Shivling there. This is the place where the temple was constructed more than 2000 years ago but modern temple was constructed by a muslim about 1000 years ago.
The temple has a beautiful and magnificent Lingam. People believed that its height kept on increasing until it reached a certain height. On the front wall of the temple, a hindi doha is written in Urdu which goes like this ‘Kabira khadaa bazaar mein, sabki maange khair, na kisi se dosti na kisi se bair.’ (Kabira is standing in the market and praying for everyone’s well being and believes that he is neither a friend nor a foe of anyone) Though it is situated in the Thar Desert yet greenery is seen everywhere. It also has a deep well inside. An idol of Maa Durga, Lord Krishna and Hanumaan are installed inside the temple. Shivraatri is celebrated here consecutively for three days. About 250,000 people come here every year. Outside the temple premises, a Dharamshala is also there for the pilgrims to stay.