The valley of Kashmir is well-known throughout the world for its Natural beauty. Here nature has been prodigal enough in crowning this ancient land with all its splendor and glory complimented beautifully by the unparalleled heritage of the breathtaking #TemplesOfKashmir! (1/16) 
The sacred valley called Rishi wari till now, abounds in sacred places, Tirthas and Asthans. Long ago at the dawn of civilisation when the sons of Rishi Kashyapa from plains came to settle here they brought with them their traditions, religion, mythology etc. etc. (2/16)
The civilisational history of the Kashmir Valley is reflected through its temples — those that stand magnificently today after thousands of years of their construction, and remnants of others that were destroyed by invaders. (3/16)
These early settlers named the confluence of river Sindh and river Jhelum as Prayag, equal to holy Prayag at the confluence of the Ganga and the Jamna in India. These temples have been cast away from their past grandeur and for all purposes forgotten.(4/16)
Temples in Kashmir can be categorized in 4 segments – 1st ancient temples, which still exist; 2nd - remnants of ancient temples that are present in forms of ruins; 3rd that find mention in historical chronicles (5/16)
And lastly 4th - an unaccounted number of temples that were razed by jihadist forces post 1947. No attempt has been made so far to rebuild them.(6/16)
Many ancient temples built by the various dynasties that ruled Kashmir, find mention in Kalhan’s Rajtarangini, written thousand years ago. Today, not many of them can be found.(7/16)
The reign of Sikandar Butshikan, (1389-1413) saw most Hindu and Buddhist shrines demolished during his and his successors — Ali Shah & Shamsuddin Iraqi’s reign — the Shankaracharya temple was not destroyed, but a new script was written for it. (8/16)
It’s Shivlinga was broken and a story concocted that one of Islam’s prophet’s, Solomon, had visited the temple and it was rechristened ‘Takht-e-Suleiman’. Later, the during Sikh-Dogra rule, the Shivlinga was restored again. (9/16)
Another prominent temple within Srinagar that survived is the Pandrethan temple. It was built by King Partha in the 10th century AD. This temple was submerged in the waters of Jhelum during the reigns of rabid Islamic rulers and hence survived. (10/16)
Most famous temple of Martand destroyed by Sultan Sikandar, is present in form of ruins in Anantnag , but still narrates the story of ancient splendor & the science of astronomy. It is one of the most brutal remnants of erasure of Kashmir's true identity by Islamist rule. (11/16)
During the Sikh-Dogra rule, especially during the reign of Ranbir Singh, many Hindu shrines were restored. The Kheerbhawani temple in Tula Mula, the ancient temple of Anantnag, Durga Nag temple and the Jayestha Devi temple in Srinagar, all were rebuilt during Dogra rule. (12/16)
Unfortunately, not all temples in the Kashmir Valley were desecrated only during medieval Islamic rule. Whenever, Kashmiri Muslims had any conflict with the rulers, they invariably damaged Hindu places of worship. (13/16)
After the exodus of the Hindus from the Valley in 1990, their temples were destroyed en masse by separatists. Almost every village in the Valley had scores of temples, remains of which have been completely wiped out by the fanatics. (14/16)
Passage of Kashmir Temples & Shrines Bill in Assembly is the ‘biggest confidence building measure and a ‘precondition’ for the return & rehabilitation of the community into the Valley. (15/16)
Today, when the government of India has announced that 50,000 temples in the Kashmir Valley will be rebuilt/restored, it can be confidently said that the process of reconnecting Kashmir with its magnificent past has started. (16/16)
