Mansehra Shiva Temple

Mansehra Shiv Temple is one of the oldest Hindu temples in Pakistan that is still in existence. The temple is at least 2000^[1] to 3000 years old.^[2] The temple is situated in Chitti Gatti, 15 kilometres from Mansehra in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan.^[2] The annual Shivarathri festival in the temple is visited by people all around Pakistan and from abroad.^[1]

Mansehra Shiv temple
2000 year old Shivlinga in the Mansehra Shiv temple
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
District	Mansehra district
Deity	Shiva
Festivals	Shivaratri
Location
State	Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Country	Pakistan
Shown within Pakistan Show map of Pakistan Mansehra Shiva Temple (Pakistan) Show map of Pakistan Mansehra Shiva Temple (Asia) Show map of Asia
Geographic coordinates	34°23′51.5″N 73°13′07.3″E
Architecture
Completed	2000-3000 years old (reconstructed in 1830s)
Temple(s)	1

History

According to the archaeological research there existed Hindu temples on the site where now the temple stands and the Shiva Lingam inside the temple is at least 2000 years old.^[3] The temple was restored in the 1830s by the Raja of Jammu as an act of devotion.^[4] During 1947–48, the temple was forcibly seized by some people and started occupying illegally. They also sealed up the temple on this site.^[1]

From 1948 to 2008, the temple remained sealed and abandoned.^[1] The temple remained inaccessible to Hindus till 1998. After that, the temple has been partially restored by the Pakistani Hindus.^[5]

Gallery

• 
  Mansehra Shiva Temple before renovation
• 
  Mansehra Shiva Temple after renovation

See also

• Churrio Jabal Durga Mata Temple
• Hinduism in Pakistan
• Shiv temple, Hyderabad
• Hinduism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa