In October-November 2006, more than 200 Hindu pilgrims (yatrees) came from outside of Pakistan to visit Katas Raj.
The mention of Katas Raj, located in the salt range 18 miles south of Chakwal, is found in Maha Bharat written in 300 BC. The etymology of this place as narrated in the old edition of Tarikh-i-Jhelum (History of Jhelum) is that according to Brahaman belief, Shiv Devta wept so profusely on the death of his beloved wife Satti that two holy ponds – one at Pushkar of Ajmair and other at Katak Shell – came into being with his tears. In Sanskrit, the word – Katak Shell – means chain of tears which later on was pronounced as ‘Katas’.
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and President Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) L.K Advani 
also visited Katas Raj to inaugurate the conservation work at Satghrah temple in June this year. The photo to the right is from that occasion.
According to Gen Cunningham, Katas was considered the second largest holy place in Punjab for Hindu pilgrims after Jawala Mukhi. It is said famous Pando brothers spent 12 years in Katas and built the temples of Satghara. It is said Al-Beruni also spent some time at Katas to learn Sanskrit in a linguistic university which, at that time, was established here. Temples at Katas have been transferred from the federal government to the Punjab Archaeology Department recently.
Katas Raj is also the place where Alberuni attempted to measure the circumference of the Earth, studied Sanskrit and wrote his renowned Kitab-ul-Hind (Book of Hind) which depicted the religion, scientific knowledge, and social customs of Hindus. Paras Nath Jogi drew his last breath on Katas. Jagat Guru Nanak Ji also visited the place on the 1st of Visakh. Katas came to be known as Nanaknawas and was a site of contemplation for many large groups of mystics, ascetics and jogis. According to Hindu beliefs, taking bath in the holy pond at the site washes away all sins and makes man innocent.
[quote comment=”41676″]Please muslim brothers and sisters respect the culture of pakistan and the History , there was and still is Hindu communities in Pakistan…please let them flourish.
On a vsist to ajmer i visited Darga and took chadar with me ..i put flowers and donated to poor….bombay i went to Haji Ali i served the poor and offered red ribbons and chadar to the tombs….
i respect all places of worship in India and we should learn to respect the same in pakistan and afganistan.
My grandfather is from Kabul , both my parents are born in pakistan and i see myself as ethnic pakistani …….
I feel sad that temples shrines and deities are smashed and brutally looted. Islam does not teach to hurt others feelings and be evil.
pakistan is still very wonderful my naani and dadi still tell me how they grew up and what things were beautiful.[/quote]
That is an absolutely beautiful post my brother, and I promise you that we Janjua Rajputs are trying our best to preserve the Katas Mandirs as best as we can. We are Muslims, but we have a great respect for our heritage and the heritage of our Hindu brothers also.
The Government of Pakistan has agreed to aid preservtaion, but the day to day preservation still falls on the locals. The Katas Mandirs are within our ancestral Malot Fort of Raja Mal Khan Janjua. Cunningham was right about the poor shape, it suffered much during the Sikh age, with quite a bit of damage to the top of the right Mandir (a watch post was shabbily made on the top of it…..)
If only there were more brothers like you, the world would be a much more honourable and peaceful place Inshallah.
hey i need your help plz plz plz… cz i am having an assignment on KATAS TEMPLES…in which we hve to provide our assessor with a plan dat whether we should RENOVATE katas temples or not … in order to make it phisibal for da tourisits… i my self hve visited da temples twice n sum how i hve came to knw dat KATAS TEMPLES is supposed to be KABATULLAH of hindus like it is one of HINDU’s best SACRED PLACES… I hve stated my email address and want you to gve me FULL FLEDGE info abt it.. HOPE U’LL NOT LET ME DOWN..:P
ahhhh 1 more thing my biography:
NAME: UMAIR AHMED
AGE: 17
DESIGNATION: STUDENT OF B-TEC NATIONALS
PLACE: LAHORE- PAKISTAN
INSTITUTE: STEP-Institute of Professional Development
Let us go to Salt Range Temples / Salt Mines
The access to Salt Range Mallot Temples Distt Chakwal is as follows,
Coming from Lahore / south-western parts of Pakistan or from Islamabad / Rawalpindi we will travel on motorway till Kallar Kahar interchange. From Kallar Kahar interchange toll plaza we will be taking turn going towards Choa Saidan Shah Distt Chakwal, leaving the other turn going towards “Soon-Sakeisar valley. From there about 2km away there is a right turning called “Karuli chowkâ€
Please muslim brothers and sisters respect the culture of pakistan and the History , there was and still is Hindu communities in Pakistan…please let them flourish.
On a vsist to ajmer i visited Darga and took chadar with me ..i put flowers and donated to poor….bombay i went to Haji Ali i served the poor and offered red ribbons and chadar to the tombs….
i respect all places of worship in India and we should learn to respect the same in pakistan and afganistan.
My grandfather is from Kabul , both my parents are born in pakistan and i see myself as ethnic pakistani …….
I feel sad that temples shrines and deities are smashed and brutally looted. Islam does not teach to hurt others feelings and be evil.
if you respect these wonderful pictures and frescoes tourists will visit pakistan to see this wonderful staues and frescoes…….islam cannot show pictures as is against their fAITH, Although you can show other faith’s temples and picutres.
pakistan is still very wonderful my naani and dadi still tell me how they grew up and what things were beautiful.
[…] We left Islamabad around 2 pm. We originally had plans to visit Rohtas, Katas Temple and Tulip restaurant at the Jhelum river toll point. It took us quite some time to reach Rohtas due to traffic enroute. Interesting point here is that we traveled the same road (G.T Road) that Sher Shah built over four centuries ago. […]