Temples and sacred sites of Bijbehara — ancient, storied, and under active restoration by the Trust
At the heart of Bijbehara stands the Vijeshwar Temple — a once-majestic structure that has witnessed the rise and fall of empires. Bijbehara itself derives its name from this temple: the ancient town was known as Vijeshwara or Vijayeshwara, named for the divine Lord Shiva worshipped here.
The original temple was built on a grand raised platform, with a sanctum sanctorum made from massive stone blocks. The temple's tower rose eleven storeys high, each level housing statues of various Hindu deities. Its shadow, at sunrise, stretched to the Koil Plateau in Pulwama, and at sunset reached the Martand Plateau — testament to its extraordinary scale.
The town's religious significance is vividly chronicled in ancient texts including the Vijeshwara Mahatmya, the Nilmata Purana, and Rajatarangini. The text claimed there was no parallel to Vijeshwara Kshetra in terms of spiritual merit, knowledge, and the path to liberation.
Founded by Emperor Vijaya, the shrine is mentioned in texts since Emperor Ashoka's time. During the Buddhist period, the town was known as Vijaya Vihara — a renowned centre of learning rivalling Nalanda and Taxila. Scholars from Central Asia, China and India came here to study philosophy, astrology, astronomy, architecture and medicine.
Pandit Kalhana (author of Rajatarangini), Achariya Somdev (Katha Sarit Sagar, Vaital Pacheesi), and Khem Raj (Shiv Sidhant) all had connections to this sacred town.
| Deity | Lord Shiva (Vijeshwara) |
| Original Construction | Emperor Vijaya era; mentioned since Emperor Ashoka's time |
| Built by | Raja Vijayanand (year 334 of Kaliyug era); reconstructed by Maharaja Gulab Singh |
| Original Height | Eleven storeys; shadow reached Koil Plateau (Pulwama) at sunrise |
| Scripture References | Nilmata Purana, Rajatarangini, Vijayeshvara Mahatmya (Bhringisha Samita) |
| Current Status | Dilapidated — partial structure remaining; active advocacy for restoration |
| DPR Status | Archaeology Dept. DPR under review; Executive Committee meeting expected |
According to the Vijeshwara Mahatmya, Lord Shiva descended to the valley to rid it of the demon Jaladbaw (Jalodhbhava Asura) who terrorized the region. Wielding his divine weapon, the Chakra, Shiva vanquished the demon, creating a blazing fireball that fell upon Chakradhara, now present day Chakdhar in the Vijeshwara area. Thus the town of Vijeshwara, with its temples and spiritual sites, was established as a holy place of pilgrimage.
The Chota Amarnath shrine is located in Thajiwara on the Bijbehara-Pahalgam road, approximately 5 kilometres from Bijbehara town. Known as Sthalvat in ancient times — from which the present name Thajiwara derives — it is a historical village and shrine of deep significance in Hindu mythology.
According to the Thajiwara Mahatmya, one who is not in a position to pay obeisance at the Holy Amarnath Cave for any reason can have a pilgrimage to Chota Amarnath at Thajiwara and be bestowed with the same spiritual benefits as the Sri Amarnath pilgrimage. Its importance and antiquity were well known even by the 12th century since Kalhana's Rajatarangini mentions it.
A natural cave about 7 feet wide, 8 feet high and 7 feet deep. The cave faces east — and the first sun rays of Shravan Purnima fall directly on the Shiv Lingam half-merged in water, representing the eternal cycle of life, death and rebirth. Water trickles from the roof forming a sacred pond. This stream is called Amar Ganga, signifying the flow of divine knowledge.
On 17th August 2023 at 7 p.m., while levelling the fourth terrace during construction work started by the Trust in May 2023, labourers found the original Shiv Lingam lying beneath the earth — buried since 12th May 1995 by a mob. A small spring also emerged on the spot. This miraculous discovery spread like wildfire.
| Location | Village Thajiwara, 5 km from Bijbehara on Pahalgam road |
| Cave Dimensions | Natural — 7 ft wide × 8 ft high × 7 ft deep |
| Shrine Complex | 51 Kanal of land; 3 terraces; 7 Chinar trees; 86 walnut trees |
| Sacred Water | Amar Ganga — natural spring from cave roof; devotees bathe before proceeding to sanctum |
| Special Vibhuti | White earth from base of Karewa (right side of cave); applied as holy Vibhuti |
| Pilgrimage Day | Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan) every year |
| Govt. DPR | Rs 562.63 lakh DPR pending — framed by J&K Archaeology & Culture Dept, not yet sanctioned |
According to scriptures, Mother Goddess Parvati observed extreme penance at this place (Thajiwara) to please Lord Shiva for revealing to Her the eternal truth of this universe. Pleased by Her penance, the Lord selected a place in the Himalayas to reveal Her the eternal truth — the story of Amar Katha. The day this was revealed by Lord Shiva happens to be Shravan Purnimashi, at Sri Amarnath Cave. From that day, Thajiwara shrine became the intrinsic part of Sri Amarnath Pilgrimage.
Situated on the Jaya Plateau on the western side of Bijbehara, Mata Jaya Devi Temple is one of the two great abodes of divine feminine power that flank the sacred Vijeshwara Kshetra. As described in the Vijeshwara Mahatmya, the plateaus of Jaya and Vijaya are named after the divine guardians of the sacred Vijeshwara Kshetra.
These sacred sites, located on the western side of the town, became focal points of spiritual devotion, attracting pilgrims from across the Kashmir region and beyond. The goddess Jaya Devi is venerated as a powerful protector of the land and the people of Bijbehara.
The temple is visited during the Annual Vijeshwar Yatra, forming a key stop in the sacred circuit of Bijbehara's shrines. Devotees seek the blessings of the goddess before proceeding to other holy sites in the tehsil.
The two smaller plateaus to the west of Bijbehara — Jaya and Vijaya — are named after the twin divine guardians of Vijeshwara Kshetra. These geographical formations, along with their resident deities, form the natural spiritual cradle in which Bijbehara has flourished for centuries.
Mata Jaya Devi is an integral stop in the Annual Vijeshwar Yatra. Devotees visiting Mata Jaya Devi, Mata Vijaya Devi, Vijeshwar Dham, and Chota Amarnath at Thajiwara complete the full sacred circuit of Bijbehara.
| Deity | Mata Jaya Devi (divine feminine power) |
| Location | Jaya Plateau, western side of Bijbehara |
| Significance | Named after divine guardian of Vijeshwara Kshetra; mentioned in Vijeshwara Mahatmya |
| Yatra Inclusion | Part of Annual Vijeshwar Yatra circuit |
| Trust Status | Under trust custodianship and protection |
Situated on the Vijaya Plateau, the companion temple to Mata Jaya Devi, Vijaya Devi temple forms the second of the twin abodes of divine feminine power on the western side of Bijbehara. Together, Jaya Devi and Vijaya Devi represent the complete divine feminine protective force of Vijeshwara Kshetra. The plateaus are named after them. Pilgrims on the Annual Yatra visit both temples as part of the sacred circuit.
| Deity | Mata Vijaya Devi |
| Location | Vijaya Plateau, western Bijbehara |
| Associated with | Mata Jaya Devi (twin divine guardians) |
| Yatra Inclusion | Part of Annual Vijeshwar Yatra sacred circuit |
Located at Harish Chander Ghat on the left bank of the Vitasta (Jhelum) River, this is one of the important religious sites of Bijbehara. The temple was reconstructed by Maharaja Gulab Singh and Maharaja Ranbir Singh after being destroyed by Sultan Sikander. The Ghat serves as a sacred bathing site on the banks of the holy Vitasta River.
| Deity | Ekadash Rudra (eleven forms of Shiva) |
| Location | Harish Chander Ghat, left bank of Vitasta, Bijbehara |
| Reconstructed by | Maharaja Gulab Singh and Maharaja Ranbir Singh |
| Destroyed by | Sultan Sikander Bhutshikan |
| Sacred features | Vitasta riverbank Ghat; sacred bathing ghats (Yarbals) |
Standing on the Chakdhar hillock near Semthan (ancient Simhasthaana), approximately 2 km from Bijbehara, the Chakradhara (Chakdhar Khrewa) site is of profound historical and religious significance. The site appears in ancient texts including the Nilmata Purana and Vitasta Mahatmeya. It is associated with Vishnu and is referenced by the historian Jonaraja.
| Deity | Lord Vishnu (Chakradhara) |
| Location | Chakdhar hillock (Semthan), 2 km from Bijbehara |
| Ancient name | Simhasthaana (place of tigers); Wuder in ancient texts |
| Historical references | Nilmata Purana, Vitasta Mahatmeya, Jonaraja's chronicles |
| Archaeological finds | Greek coins, Parthian & Kashmiri king coins, Brahmi script seals — excavated 1977-81 by ASI |
| Notable feature | Haathi Dwara (Gate of Elephant) — historically significant entrance |
During the turbulent reign of King Susal (1112–1120 CE), the royal army faced defeat at the hands of adversaries. The people of Vijaykhetra rose to defend the sacred Chakradhara temple. Despite their efforts, a man named Janak Raj set the wooden wall ablaze — a devastating fire that led to numerous casualties. The hillock of Chakradhara became their final resting place. This episode highlights the fierce loyalty of the people of Vijaykhetra. The temple was repeatedly burned over centuries, yet continued to hold spiritual significance. According to Jonaraja (1389–1459), Sultan Sikandar destroyed the image of Vishnu housed in this temple.
Legend speaks of Kah Kah Pal, a revered stone nestled within the temple complex of Vijeshwara Temple at Bijbehara, resting along the left bank of the majestic Vitasta river, adjacent to the renowned Padshahi Bagh.
The stone is said to rise when eleven individuals touch it simultaneously with their index fingers, invoking a sense of awe and reverence among devotees. Its mystical presence has woven tales of wonder and spirituality, drawing pilgrims from far and wide to experience its transcendent power firsthand.
Kah Kah Pal, characterized by its distinctive light green hue and conch-like shape, stands as a symbol of reverence. Despite its seemingly ordinary appearance, this revered boulder — weighing no more than 60 kilograms — holds profound significance in the hearts of devotees.
As eleven individuals encircle the boulder, their collective energy converges as they press their eleven index fingers upon its base, chanting the evocative words "Kah Kah" in unison. In a mesmerizing display of divine intervention, the boulder gradually ascends from its earthly resting place, defying the laws of physics. The term "Kah" symbolizes the sacred number eleven in the linguistic heritage of Kashmiri culture, infusing the stone with an aura of mysticism. Remarkably, despite its modest weight, Kah Pal yields easily to the touch of a single person — a further testament to its spiritual essence.
| Location | Vijeshwara Temple complex, Bijbehara (Padshahi Bagh vicinity) |
| Appearance | Light green hue, conch-like shape; approximately 60 kg |
| The Miracle | Rises when 11 people touch simultaneously with index fingers chanting "Kah Kah" |
| Name meaning | "Kah" = eleven in Kashmiri; Kah Kah = double eleven |
| Legends | Once thrown into the river — it reappeared on the bank the next day |
| Present status | Missing since 1990 — stolen or broken by mob during exodus of Kashmiri Pandits |
The Mangala Devi Temple at Batgund village in the Krandigam area of Bijbehara stands as a significant symbol of the ancient Shakti tradition of Kashmir. Dedicated to Mata Mangala — a revered manifestation of Goddess Durga — the shrine has historically served as the Gram Devta (village deity) for the Kashmiri Pandit community of Batgund and its adjoining habitations.
The site lies approximately 3–4 kilometres from Bijbehara town, approachable via local link roads from the Bijbehara–Krandigam route. It is situated in a serene rural setting surrounded by traditional habitation and agricultural landscape typical of South Kashmir, lending it a profound spiritual ambience.
While precise antiquity is not documented in surviving written records, oral traditions and inherited memory place the temple's origin in the early medieval period of Kashmir — when the Vijeshwar belt flourished as a sacred landscape dotted with shrines, temples and Vedic learning centres. The shrine endured periods of neglect during political upheaval, and the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990 led to its near-abandonment.
In recent years, the Vijeshwar Devasthan Trust (Regd.) undertook the reconstruction of the Mangala Devi Temple in collaboration with local residents of Batgund — a historic act of cultural reconciliation, reconnecting displaced devotees with their ancestral roots and reviving traditional Shakti worship at this site.
| Deity | Mata Mangala Devi (Manifestation of Goddess Durga) |
| Tradition | Shakti — Gram Devta (Village Deity) |
| Location | Batgund village, Krandigam area, Bijbehara, Anantnag, J&K — 192124 |
| Distance from Bijbehara | Approx. 3–4 km via Bijbehara–Krandigam route |
| Devotees | Kashmiri Pandit community of Batgund and adjoining habitations |
| Current Status | Revived and Reconstructed ✅ |
| Stewardship | Vijeshwar Devasthan Trust (Regd.), Tehsil Bijbehara |