A Hindu Temple is a Hindu worship place called, “Mandir”. It is a place or a home of god on earth. The Mandir incorporates all elements of Hindu cosmos. It represents the good, the evil and the human, as well as the elements of Hindu sense of cyclic time and the essence of life – symbolically presenting Karma, Dharma, Kama, Artha, and Moksa. Hindu temples are constructed in a different style in a different location of different countries.
Pakistan is the most Islamic republic’s country in the world. There are many historical Hindu temples in Pakistan located in different cities. Of the 300 Hindu temples that Pakistan inherited in 1947 at the time of partition, hardly three dozen have managed to survive. Some of these Hindu temples are still in good conditions and some are demolished ruined conditions. These are listed below:
1.Sun Temple/ Aditya Sun Temple
This is an ancient Hindu temple located near the high court of Multan. In is so much old that it was mentioned by Greek Admiral Sky lax as well as Herodotus. It is believed that it was constructed by Samba (son of lord Krishna).
Address: Nr.the High court of Multan, Multan City of Pakistan.
2. Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
In Pakistan, this mandir was built in 1849 near M.A.Jinnah road Karachi. This temple was dedicated to NarNrayan Dev Gadi.
Address: M.A.Jinnah road Karachi, Pakistan.
3. Jagannath Temple
Jagannath temple was built near 2007. The government granted Rs.2, 00,000 for the construction of this temple. This temple is located on Sialkot’s Paris Road.This temple was dedicated to god Jagannath.
Address: Paris Road, Sialkot, Pakistan.
4. Krishna Mandir
Krishna temple is a most famous temple in Pakistan. It is located in Wachhowali, Rang Mahal in the city of Lahore. The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) invested gave Rs.1.2 million for the extension and conversation of this temple in 2005. This extension has been completed in 2006.
Address: Wachhowali, Rang Mahal in the city of Lahore, Pakistan.
5. Hinglaj Mata Temple
This temple is located in the Hinglaj town in the district Lasbela of Balochistan. This is a one of the most famous temple in Pakistan. This temple is dedicated to Hinglaj Mata.
Address: Hinglaj, District Lasbela of Balochistan, Pakistan.
6. Prahladpuri Temple
Prahladpuri Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located in Multan, Punjab, Pakistan. It is named after Prahlada and dedicated to the god Narasimha. The original temple of Prahladpuri had been built by Prahlad, son of Hiranyakashipu, the king of Multan (Kashya-papura) in honor of Narsing Avatar, an incarnation of Hindu god Vishnu, who emerged from the pillar to save Prahlada. This temple is located in Multan. The temple is at present in ruins, since its destruction in 1992 by a mob.
Address: Multan, Punjab, Pakistan.
7. Katasraj Temple
This is an ancient temple located in Katas village near Choa Saidanshah in the Chakwal district of Punjab in Pakistan. Dedicated to Shiva, the temple has, according to Hindu legend, existed since the days of Mahābhārataand the Pandava brothers spent a substantial part of their exile at the site and later Krishna himself laid the foundation of this temple and established his hand made Shiv ling in it.
Address: Katas, Choa Saidanshah in the Chakwal, Punjab, Pakistan.
8. Illa Jogian Temple
Illa Jogian is the highest peak in the Eastern Salt Range in Punjab, Pakistan. At 975 meters (3200 ft) above sea level, it is about 25 km to the west of Jhelum city and 10 km west of the model village of Khukha. It is located on a commanding place near the Jhelum River.
Address: Near Jhelum River, Punjab, Pakistan.
9. Sadh Belo Temple
It is an island in Indus River near Sukkur, Sindh, Pakistan. On it is a Hindu religious establishment founded in 1823 by Swami Bakhandi Maharaj Udasi; the gaily-painted buildings are, however, more or less modern.
Address: Sukkur, Sindh, Pakistan.
10. Shri Laxmi Narayan Mandir
Shri Laxmi Narayan Mandir is one of the oldest temples. It was constructed around 200 years ago. It is a worshiping site for the Hindus of the local community. It is located under the Native Jetty Bridge, a landmark in Karachi, in the Sindh province of Pakistan.
Address: Native Jetty Bridge, a landmark in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
11. Shri Varun Dev Mandir
It is the old temple. The exact date of the temple’s construction or foundation is not known (it may be thousands of years old) but it is widely believed that the current structure was built in around 1917–18. At present, the building is not used for worship and the last ritual was held in the 1950s.
Currently, this temple is under the Hindu Council of Pakistan. It is located in Manora Island in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
Address: Manora Island in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
12. Saidpur Temple
This is an old temple located in Islamabad at Saidpur village. Beside the temple is located a gurdwara which is believed to have been built by Sikhs in early 20th century. This temple used to house an image of Lakshmi and Kali. Lower class Hindu were not allowed to enter in this temple rather they could take darshan from a distance. Only upper-class Hindu could take both darshan and parsad.
During the war, its whole structure was damaged. After partition, gurdwara turned into a school and temple turned into a historical place. In 2008, the Capital Development Authority completed the remodeling of Saidpur into a tourist attraction by giving it the look and feel of a quaint village.
Address: Saidpur village, Islamabad.
