Ancient Temple on the Takht Hill. B.C. 200. Kashmir
The Shankaracharya Temple on the Takht Hill is a famous landmark of Srinagar
Lord Shiva is the presiding deity of this ancient temple on Takht-e-Suleiman Hill. It is believed that Shankaracharya Temple was constructed in 371 BC by Raja Gopadatya. The base of this temple is octagonal in shape. To reach this temple, one has to climb almost hundred steps. There is a Persian inscription inside the Shankaracharya Temple that dates back to the reign of Mughal Emperor Shahjahan.
The Shankaracharya Temple was repaired many times. It is believed that Emperor Lalitaditya Muktapida (724 - 760) carried the first repair works while the second was done by Zain-ul-Abideen after an earthquake damaged this temple. The stone steps that lead to this temple were built by the Dogra ruler, Maharaja Gulab Singh. The Shankracharya Temple was connected to the electric grid in 1925.