8/11/2019 Katasraj Mandir
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Katasraj Mandir is a Hindu mandir or temple complex situated in
Katas village near
Choa Saidanshah in the Chakwal district of Punjab in Pakistan.
edicated to Shiva!
the temple has existed since the da"s of Mah#bh#rata and the
Pandava brothers
spent a substantial part of their exile at the site. $ccording
to historian this place
was known as %Shiva netra &shiva's e"e(). *he Pakistan
+overnment is considering
nominating the temple complex for ,orld Heritage Site
status.
-ocation
*he Katasraj mandirs are located / kilometres from Chakwal
istrict. 0t takes a
little e1ort to reach Katasraj b" road 2 one has to go o1 the
motorwa" 2 &0slamabad2
-ahore( at the Kallar Kahar interchange! *hen follow the road to
Choa Saidan Shah
for 3 km and after passing the cement factor" the road passes
through the temple
complex! with the major temple complex and the pond on the
right.
Architecture
*he Katas site houses the Satgraha! a group of seven ancient
temples! remains of a
4uddhist stupa! a few medieval temples! havelis and some
recentl" constructed
temples! scattered around a pond considered hol" b" Hindus.567
*he temples at
Katas are mostl" constructed on s8uare platforms. *he elevation
of the sub shrines
seems to form a series of cornices with small rows of pillars!
crowned b" a ribbed
dome.
*he 9amachandra Mandir is situated to the east of the Hari Singh
Haveli and is
closed from all sides except for an entrance on the east. *he
double2storiedstructure has eight rooms of various dimensions on
the ground :oor and a staircase
at the south leading to the ;rst :oor. *he mandir has two
jharokas &balconies( that
have been severel" damaged.
*he Hanuman Mandir is on the western extreme of a high
rectangular enclosure
with entrances on the south and the north. *he temple in
Sanskrit. 0t is from this name that the word Ketas is derived.
$nother version of the
legend mentions the two pools at Katasraj and ?ainital.
