Shankaracharya Temple — the hilltop Shiva temple above Srinagar
What it is
The Shankaracharya Temple, also known as the Jyeshteshwara Temple, is a Hindu temple to Shiva crowning the Zabarwan Range, some 300 m over the floor of the valley. It looks over Srinagar, and Wikipedia describes it as the oldest temple in Kashmir by history and tradition, though there is no agreement on when it was built.
Photos: Vinayaraj (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
The hill
The hill is a well-preserved Panjal trap, a rock formed by volcanic activity in the Permian period. The earliest written reference is in Kalhana's chronicle, which calls it Gopadri, the hill of Gopa. The temple and the land around it are a Monument of National Importance protected by the Archaeological Survey of India, and the Dharmarth Trust has managed it since the 19th century.
Getting there
By road it is about 8 km and 14 minutes from the centre on our routing, by a road that leaves the Boulevard near Gagribal. The last climb is a flight of steps.
Festivals
On Herath, the Kashmiri name for Maha Shivaratri, the temple is visited by Kashmiri Hindus.
Combine it with
Dal Lake lies below the hill, and Pari Mahal and Chashme Shahi are on the same range. The one-day plan puts them in order; read things to do in Srinagar.
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Questions people ask
What is the Shankaracharya Temple?
A Shiva temple, also called the Jyeshteshwara Temple, crowning the Zabarwan Range above Srinagar, some 300 m over the floor of the valley. Wikipedia says it is considered the oldest temple in Kashmir, with no agreed date of construction, and that it is a centrally protected Monument of National Importance.
How far is it from the centre of Srinagar?
About 8 km and 14 minutes by road on our routing from the city centre. The road leaves the Boulevard near Gagribal, according to Wikipedia. The last stretch is a flight of steps up the hill, so allow time and wear shoes with a good grip. Rules on cameras and bags change, so ask at the gate.
When is the temple most visited?
On festivals such as Herath, the Kashmiri name for Maha Shivaratri, when Kashmiri Hindus visit it. It is a place of worship, so dress modestly and follow any instructions at the entrance. We have no verified opening hours, so ask locally before you go, particularly in winter and on festival days.