• UGI USER
  • Jun 06, 2024
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“GULMARG’S ICONIC SHIV TEMPLE RAVAGED BY MASSIVE FIRE OUTBREAK”

Why in the news?

  • A massive fire ravaged the century-old Shiv temple in Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir, causing the roof to completely burn down.
  • Former CM Omar Abdullah called for swift restoration efforts, emphasizing the temple’s religious and tourist significance.
source:indiamap

About Mohinishwar Shivalaya Shiv Mandir:

  • Location: The 109-year-old Shiva temple was situated in the tourist town of Gulmarg, 55 km from Srinagar.
  • Establishment: Built in 1915 by Mohini Bai Sisodia, the queen of Kashmir’s last king Maharaja Hari Singh.
  • Devotional Site: The temple served as a revered place of worship for devotees of Lord Shiva for over a century.
  • Significance: The temple, also known as Maharani temple, held historical and cultural importance, tied to Kashmir’s erstwhile royal family.
Key points about Gulmarg:

  • Location: Gulmarg, located in the Baramulla district of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, .
  • It sits at an altitude within the Pir Panjal Range in the Western Himalayas.
  • Historical Significance:Originally named “Gulmarag” by Yousuf Shah Chak, a ruler of Kashmir in the late 16th century.
  • Post-Independence: The area witnessed significant historical events, including the establishment of the Line of Control (LOC) near Gulmarg as per the Shimla Agreement of 1972.
  • The Indian Army established a ski school here in 1948, which later evolved into the High Altitude Warfare School.