Hari Parbat ()<!--This name of this place is always pronounced is an emphasis on the sound हा --> is a hill overlooking
Srinagar, the largest city and summer capital of
Jammu and Kashmir,
India. It is the site of a
Durrani fort, built in 1808. It has the famous Shakti Temple on the western Slope and Muslim shrines of
Khwaja Makhdoom Sahib and
Akhund Mullah Shah on the southern slope. On the southern side of the outer wall there is a Gurudwara, which commemorates the visit of
Guru Hargobind.
History of the fort
The first fortifications on the site were constructed by the
Mughal emperor
Akbar in 1590. He built an outer wall for the fort, and planned a new capital called Nager Nagor to be built within the wall. That project was never completed. The present fort was built in 1808 under the reign of
Shuja Shah Durrani.
Sharika Temple
The hill is considered sacred by the
Kashmiri Pandits due to the presence of temple of Sharika. Temple is of goddess Jagadamba Sharika Bhagwati. She has 18 arms and is regarded as the presiding deity (`isht`-Devi) of Srinagar city. The goddess is represented by a Swyambhu Shrichakra (Mahamaha Shrichakra), also called Mahashriyantra, which consists of circular mystic impressions and triangular patterns with a dot (bindu) at the center. Sharika Devi is believed to be a form of Durga Mata or Shakti.
Makhdoom Sahib
Nestled below the imposing Mughal Fort is the shrine of
Sheikh Hamza......
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