The town of Pathankot is located in the Indian state of Punjab. It is famous for the holy temple of Mukteshwar Mahadev, which is on a hilltop on the western edge of the city. It was built over several centuries and has been added on to by various Hindu and Sikh rulers.
Several legends
surround this temple. One says that it was built by Rama to commemorate his
victory against Ravana, but most historians believe that it was probably
constructed by one of the Chandravanshi kings in honor of Shiva after they
overthrew their enemies, who were worshippers of Vishnu.
The Mukteshwar Temple boasts a white marble Shivlinga that stands out against the backdrop of the surrounding hills, and the 250 stairs up to the main shrine are well worth the effort due to the breathtaking vistas.
While traveling
back in time, the spiritual and tranquil ambiance of this location will enchant
you.
Why Is Mukteshwar Temple Famous?
The temple of
Mukteshwar is a Jain temple in the Indian state of Punjab, located in the town
of Pathankot. It is a beautiful structure with carved panels depicting various
stories from Jain mythology. Mukteshwar Temple is notable for its architecture.
It’s been built from marble and features intricately carved stonework. The
temple is a notable example of the Jain style in architecture and art, which
can be seen across India.
The temple is
located at a height of nearly 800 meters above sea level, and it is the third
highest Hindu pilgrimage site in India after Haridwar and Badrinath temples. It
provides an amazing view of nearby Himalayan ranges like Pir Panjal,
Dhauladhar, Kishtwar ranges, and Kangra Valley.
Pathankot city
derives its name from the famous Pathankot Fort which was built near this site
by Raja Gulab Singh in 1805.
The Mukteshwar
Temple or Mukteshwar Dham as it is known among locals is one of the most
popular Hindu pilgrimage sites in India. The Mukteshwar temple is situated at
the foot of the Pir Panjal Range, on the banks of the river Beas. It is one of
the few temples in India where both Hindus & Muslims come together for
worship.
The temple is
also famous for its healing waters, sages, and hermits who lived here, and for
its architectural features like stone lattices, chhatris (pillared pavilions),
etc.
History Of This Historical Ancient Temple
According to the history of this historical ancient temple, it is a 55-hundred-year-old temple whose existence dates back to the Mahabharata period.
According to Hindu mythology, Shakuni, Duryodhana's maternal uncle, devises a plan to deprive Yudhisthira (the Eldest of the Pandavas) of his kingdom and wealth by defeating him in a dice game that Shakuni cannot lose due to his magical dice.
Yudhisthira, unable to resist the challenge, wagers his entire kingdom, his fortune, his four brothers, and even his wife in a series of gambits to reclaim one by staking another. As a result, the Pandavas lose their empire and are sentenced to a 12-year exile (Vanvas) and a one-year incognito (Agayatwas) period in which they must live unnoticed.
During this one year of invisibility, the five Pandavas and their wife Draupadi disguised themselves as sages, Brahmins, and hermits and went unnoticed to various locations. They reached the Ravi river's coast in a state of five rivers while disguised (Punjab). On the peak, they built four caves and one Lord Shiva shrine.
They stayed for six months in this temple. They built the temple's Shivlingam and worshipped Lord Shiva there. They built a Havan Kund, which is still visible in the temple. Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Goddess Paravati, Lord Hanuman, and Lord Ganesha surround the Shivling in the Mukteshwar Mahadev temple.
Who Built Mukteshwar Temple?
The story of Mukteshwar tells us the story of another forgotten emperor, Raja Mukteshwar. He was one of the most powerful kings in 16th century India.
He fought
against the invading Turks and regained glory for his kingdom Mewar. Emperor
Akbar recognized Raja Mukteshwar's skills and appointed him as the Governor of
Punjab.
However, in
1616 when he was on his way back to Jaipur, an Afghan chief ambushed him and
killed him in Pathankot in present-day Himachal Pradesh.
This incident
led to a war between Mewar and Afghanistan that resulted ultimately in a defeat
for both sides. And this is why Pathankot is called Afghan-ka-pattan or the
city of Afghans!
How To Reach Mukteshwar Temple, Pathankot?
The Mukteshwar
temple is located near the border of India and Pakistan, Pathankot. It is also
known as the ‘Shiva Temple’. This temple is positioned on top of a mountain
which you can only reach by foot.
If you take a
bus to Pathankot from Amritsar, it will take about 5 hours to get there. If you
want to go by train, it will take around 4 hours and 15 minutes. Once you reach
Pathankot station, there are taxis and buses available too that will take you
to the Mukteshwar Temple in around 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Pieces of information about the Mukteshwar Temple
How To Reach
Location: Doongh Village, Shahpurkandi,
Pathankot
Distance
from Pathankot: 22kms.
Temple Hours:
24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Devotees are welcome to come at any time of
day.
Pooja Timings
Morning Aarti
is at 05:30 a.m., while evening Aarti is at 7:00 p.m.
Langar Timings
Every day from
10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., there is a Langar facility.
45-60 minutes
is the average amount of time required for sightseeing.
The best time to visit is during or after the monsoon season. In this temple, photography is not permitted.
Festivals
Mukesran Da Mela in April, Shivaratri, Chaitra Chodiya, Navratri Festival, and Somvati Amavasya Mela are all popular events.
Every year, thousands of pilgrims travel from all across Punjab and the surrounding areas to worship Shiva's statue, primarily during Mukesran Mela and Shivratri.
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