Shankaracharya Temple stands in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, is a shrine to Lord Shiva. It is also known as Jyeshteshwara Temple.
One of the oldest shrines in Kashmir, associated with Adi Shankaracharya, and a hilltop landmark offering panoramic views of Srinagar and Dal Lake. Accounts of the temple's origin vary between sources: some date the original site to around 200 BC, others to construction by Raja Gopadatya around 371 BC, while the present structure is generally attributed to the 9th century AD.
Jammu & Kashmir carries a distinct temple identity of its own: Home of two of India's greatest Himalayan pilgrimages, the cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi at Katra and the ice-lingam of Amarnath high in the Kashmir mountains.
Darshan hours and daily worship
| Session | Timing (as published) |
|---|---|
| Morning | 7:00 AM |
| Evening | 8:00 PM |
Mobile phones, cameras and other electronic gadgets are not permitted inside the temple premises and must be deposited at a security checkpoint; visitors should carry photo ID, as there are security checkpoints on the road up the hill, which is controlled by CRPF.
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Maha Shivaratri | The primary festival at the temple, when devotees offer milk, fruits and flowers to the Shiva lingam and sing devotional songs. |
History and architecture
Architecture
Built on an octagonal stone base atop solid rock, with a square building above. The temple is reached by a flight of about 243 steps built by Maharaja Gulab Singh. Inside is a circular chamber ringed by octagonal columns, with a Shiva lingam encircled by a carved snake at the centre.
History
Accounts of the temple's origin vary between sources: some date the original site to around 200 BC, others to construction by Raja Gopadatya around 371 BC, while the present structure is generally attributed to the 9th century AD. Some historians believe the hill was earlier a Buddhist site of worship. The temple is traditionally held to be the place where Adi Shankaracharya attained spiritual enlightenment.
Planning your visit
How to reach
About 8 km from Srinagar's bus station; reaching the temple involves a climb of about 243 steps to the hilltop, with security checkpoints along the access road.
Where this information comes from
Confidence: Medium. The founding date of the temple is inconsistent across sources (200 BC, 371 BC and 9th century AD are all cited), so history details should be treated as approximate