Rare photos of Sharada Peeth (Destoyed By Paksitan)- Pakistan Occupied Kashmir

[Guest guest]

POSTING FROM A DIFFERENT FORUM:

(kpindia-Kashmir Pandits India

group)

 

 

Pictures of Sharda

Peeth

 

Sanjay Wali

Date:

Wed May 4, 2005 6:53 am

Subject:

SHARDA PEETH

 

Dear All

Namaskaar ,

 

Sometime back I came across a person through net and we exchanged

emails regarding J&K problem. As he was from POK so I requested him to

get some pics of Sharda Peeth for me from POK. As he was in Canada so

he promised me to get some pics as soon as he reaches his POK.

 

Now he has emailed me about his visit to POK (text is Below ), so

please be ready to share recent Pics of our Sharda Peeth.

 

Warm Regards,

Sanjay

Wali

 

Hi Sanjay

 

When I wrote to you 3-4 weeks ago, immediately after I set off from UK

to Pakistan and then Azad Kashmir. It was a quick

whistle-stop trip of 2 weeks to see

some relatives and take photos. Since I had made a

promise to you, I had to photograph Sharda even it

was just plain land; I had to keep my

promise.

 

Although I had heard of Sharda, I had no idea where it was.

Enquiries revealed that it was in Muzaffarabd distt. but some 140km

from Muzaffarabad city. Along with some friends, I travelled

to Muzaffarabad and then onto Atthmuqam which is about 70km

away. We stayed there overnight and then hired a jeep to Sharda

travelling another 70 km on a partially metalled road.This part of

the journey was the most interesting. We travelled along the

Neelum Valley and along Neelum river which acts as the LOC. We could

see AK settlements and Pak army on this side and JK houses and Indian

army across the river. Until the recent cease-fire, visitors were not

allowed in this area as there was constant firing and shelling. Now it

was quiet and peaceful. Although the people are not allowed to cross

the river/LOC they can now live in peace and communicate with each

other using sign-language and shouting.

 

Anyway, we arrived in Sharda to be told that the Sharda

temple was inside Pak army barracks and permission had to be

obtained to see it. Apparently, the Pak army moved there a long time

ago, taking over the temple complex and the surrounding area

for their barracks.The upside of this was that the remains of the

temple were being maintained and protected by Pak army.

Anyway, we got permission to see the temple but

were not allowed to take photographs due to some law (I

think it was more to do with the current political climate etc).

Anyway, we talked to the commanding officer and he gave us

permission for photography. As you can imagine, my camera did not

stop clicking for a good 10 minutes. The temple was very much in ruin

but some of the walls, stairs and court yard had been saved. I did not

know too much history about the place so was unable to relate places.

Facing Sharda village was a snow-capped mountain range called Narda

which was housed a shrine visited by people in days gone by. Also

below the temple was the area which was once the university. The

university dating back 2-3000 years had been a seat of learning during

Budhist, Hindu and Muslim era. There is not much of it left now.I

heard that the AK govt announced that Pandits would be allowed to

visit Sharda sometime in the future. I also heard on the grapevine

that a few Pandit folks had already submitted applications to travel

to AK on the peace bus and visit Sharda.

 

I will try to sort out the photos and put them on the web this weekend

for you to see.

Regards. (

 

----

 

The

pictures have been uploaded by setlurbadri these pictures in his

folder, just click the link and transport yourself to the era

where Samskrit ruled Pravarapurva (the current day Srinagar) and when

the entire culture was destroyed by the suvar ke bachche. Peace,

Tranquility, Creativity and Knowledge deserted Kashmir with

the destruction of this revered seat of knowledge by the

stupid sultan.

 

http://uk.pg.photos./ph/setlurbadri/album?.dir=/e51b

 

Dhanyavaad