Hari Parbat

Hari Parbat Fort

Main article: Hari Parbat Fort

The first fortifications on the site were constructed by the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1590 who built an outer wall for the fort as part of his plans for a new capital at the site of modern-day Srinagar city in Kashmir. The project, however, was never completed. The present fort was built in 1808 under the reign of the Governor of Kashmir Province of the Durrani Empire, Atta Mohammed Khan.

The fort can be reached via two sides of the city, (a) via Rainawari through Kathi Darwaza Gate and (b) via Hawal through the Sangin Darwaza Gate. The fort was closed for almost 2 decades and thrown open to the public in 2007.

The Indian government on 15 August 2021 (the 75th independence day) hoisted a 100 feet tall Indian flag on the top of the fort.

Shrines

Hindu temple

Hari Parbat is considered sacred by Kashmiri Pandits. According to Hindu Mythology, the area of Hari Parbat was inhabited by an asura named Jalodbhava. People went on to pray to goddess Parvati for help. She took the form of a bird and dropped a pebble on the asura's head. The pebble grew larger and larger until it crushed the asura. Hari Parbat is revered as that pebble, and Parvati is worshipped under the name Sharika, its temple occupying the middle part of the western slope of the hill. She is depicted as having 18 arms and sitting in Shri Chakra.

Muslim shrines

The southern side of Hari Parbat features Makhdoom Sahib, the shrine of Hamza Makhdoom, a 16th-century Kashmiri Sufi saint locally.

Built below the fort is a mosque dedicated to Shah Badakhshi, a 17th-century Qadiri Sufi saint. The mosque was built by Mughal princess Jahanara Begum.

Gurdwaras

Gurdwara Chatti Patshahi at Kathi Darwaza, Rainawari, is believed to be the place where Guru Har Gobind, the sixth Sikh guru, stayed for few days while travelling through Kashmir.

Gurdwara Guru Nanak Dev is a place where Guru Nanak sat and had discourse with people in early sixteenth century. It was earmarked with a pedestal by Mohammad Ata Khan, a general of Akbar who built the Durrani Fort. A small Gurdwara was later built at the place by Guru Har Gobind.

Gallery

File:HariParbat.jpg|Hari Parbat from Dal Lake, Srinagar. File:Hari Parbat, Srinagar, J&K.jpg|Hari Parbat as seen from downtown Srinagar, Kashmir. File:Ancient Temple-Hari Parbat.JPG|Sharika Temple File:Ancient Temple-Hari Parbat-2.JPG|Sharika Temple File:Wooden windows of Hari Parbat Temple.JPG|Wooden windows of Hari Parbat Temple File:Sheikh Hamza Makhdum Shrine2.JPG|Shrine of Hamza Makhdoom, Srinagar. File:Gurdwara Chatti Patshahi.jpg|Gurdwara Chatti Patshahi, Rainawari File:Hari Parvat.jpg|Hari Parvat File:WLM@J&K-Kathi Darwaza.jpg|Kathi Darwaza

References

References

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