Srinagar’s Vichar Nag temple sees puja again, LG says ‘revival serves as historical bridge’

Vichar Nag Temple. File | Photo credit: The Hindu

A ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony was held at the historic Vichar Nag temple in Srinagar on Sunday (July 20, 2026), once a hub of militancy.

Dozens of Kashmiri Pandits attended the ceremony in the area that was once home to a number of Pandit families forced to flee their homeland due to militancy in the 1990s.

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Manoj Sinha visited the shrine and reviewed the renovation work.

“For millennia, this sacred temple has anchored India’s spiritual, intellectual and philosophical journey. Its revival serves as a historical bridge that connects our past, present and future. It marks the return of a consciousness that for centuries has nurtured an unbroken tradition of reflection, dialogue and learning. The restoration of Vichar Nag is a vital step towards preserving the diverse cultural heritage,” Jammu said.

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He said that Vichar Nag has a sacred place in the cultural and spiritual heritage of Jammu and Kashmir. “The revival of this historic site, once a vibrant center of knowledge where scholars from all over the world came together for intellectual discourse, is deeply gratifying,” said Mr. Sinha.

After a long break, the devotees assembled in the sanctum to perform yajña and havan.

The Lieutenant-Governor was accompanied by Rajiv Pandey, Deputy Inspector General; Akshay Labroo, Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar; and Dr. GV Sundeep Chakravarthy, Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar.

Vishwa Kashmiri Samaj (VKS), a Pandit body, appreciated the restoration and development work in the temple complex.

Published – 20 Jul 2026 02:50 IST