Rare photos of Sharada Peeth- Pakistan Occupied Kashmir

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"S V Badri" <svbadri@g...> wrote:

POSTING FROM A DIFFERENT FORUM: (kpindia-Kashmir Pandits India group)

 

 

Pictures of Sharda Peeth

 

Sanjay Wali

Wed May 4, 2005 6:53 am

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. (

 

----

 

I have uploaded these pictures in my 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. 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,

S V Badri

--- End forwarded message ---