Last Updated: October 25, 2021
Famous Temples In Pakistan: From Karachi To Punjab
Are you eager to know more about the remaining famous Hindu temples in Pakistan? Then you’ve come to the right place because this guide features the best and most famous temples in Pakistan.
From the many temples of Karachi to the most famous temples of Punjab Province, Pakistan is still home to many Hindu temples that were built back before the country even existed. They’re not all in the best shape and in some places you can only see ruins and remains of former temples, but that shouldn’t stop you from exploring at least a few of the most famous Hindu temples of Pakistan.
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Katas Raj Temples
Katas Raj Temples is a complex of Hindu temples in Pakistan. The temples are connected to one another with walkways, and the entire complex surrounds the Katas pond, which is thought to be sacred by Hindus. It is said that the pond was created from the tears of Shiva, after he roamed around the Earth, inconsolable following the death of Sati, his wife.
The temples are also mentioned in Mahabharata, an important Sanskrit epic of ancient India. In the epic poem, it is believed that the Pandava brothers spent some time in these temples while they were in exile, as well as that this is the place where they engaged in the riddle contest with the Yakshas (nature spirits).
This is the most famous Hindu temple complex in Pakistan, as well as the most important one for the Hindus. The Katas Raj Temple complex is located in the Punjab province, very close to the M2 Motorway and Choa Saidanshah town.
Shaktipeeth Shri Hinglaj Mata Temple
Shaktipeeth Shri Hinglaj Mata is a temple in Hinglaj, which is an important Hindu pilgrimage place in Pakistan. It is located in the desert in the Balochistan province, and the entire area is very arid. The temple is in Hingol National Park, which is known for lunar landscapes, a mud volcano, and distinctive rock formations.
The riverside temple is located inside a small cave and it features a low mud altar. It is one of the two Shakti Peethas in Pakistan, which are important pilgrimage destinations and shrines in Shaktism, a Hindu tradition that regards the goddess as the supreme godhead.
This temple is the main temple of Hinglaj Mata, a powerful goddess who is said to bestow good upon all her devotees. There are also temples dedicated to the deity in India, and it’s also worth noting that, while Hinglaj Mata Temple remains the most significant Hindu temple in this area, it’s certainly not the only one in Hingol National Park.
Travel to the desert to admire this famous pilgrimage site, but don’t forget to explore the nearby temples as well!
Shree Swaminarayan Hindu Temple
Image courtesy of Haddid Uddin, CC BY 3.0
Shree Swaminarayan Hindu Temple is the only Swaminarayan temple in Pakistan and it is more than 200 years old. The temple is famous for its size and architecture, and it features a sacred cowshed on the temple premises. It is located in the center of a Hindu neighborhood in Karachi, in the Sindh Province.
This temple hosts important religious festivals that are celebrated by the Hindus, and it also doubles as a marriage venue. Additionally, the famous Hinglaj yatra pilgrimage starts from the Shree Swaminarayan temple each year, which sees thousands of pilgrims making their way from here to the Hinglaj Mata temple.
Panchmukhi Hanuman Mandir
Panchmukhi Hanuman Mandir is a sacred Hindu temple in Pakistan’s Sindh province. It is around 1,500 years old, and it’s the only temple in the entire world to feature the natural statue of Lord Hanuman. The 1994 Sindh Cultural Heritage (Preservation) Act declared this temple a national heritage, and you can imagine just how important it is for Hindus in Pakistan.
The area of today’s temple is believed to have been visited by Lord Ram during his exile, and after a while, the statue of Panchmukhi Hanuman was excavated from the same area. Shortly after a temple was built in that place, and it has remained there for more than 1,500 years. It is believed that, if one circles the Panchmuki Hanuman idol 11 or 21 times, all of their wishes will be fulfilled.
Shri Laxmi Narayan Temple
Image courtesy of Saad Ullah Bhatti – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
Shri Laxmi Narayan Temple is another Hindu temple in Karachi. It was constructed more than 200 years ago, and it remains an important place of worship for all the Hindus who live in the area. This is also one of the oldest operating temples, as well as the only temple that is located on the bank of a creek in Karachi.
This Hindu temple is primarily dedicated to Lord Vishnu and goddess Lakshmi, but it is also home to statues of Sai Baba of Shirdi and Lord Hanuman. It hosts several important Hindu festivals, the most notable of which is Raksha Bandhan, Ganesh Chaturthi, and the birthday of Ganesha.
Sadhu Bela Mandir
Sadhu Bela Mandir is a Hindu temple situated on an island in River Indus. This island is commonly known as Sadh Belo, and it’s famous for being home to several revered Hindu temples. Sadhu Bela Mandir is the most famous of them all, but it’s certainly not the only worthwhile sight on this island in the Sindh Province.
A boat ride on the Indus River will get you to the island, and you might even spot some Indus river dolphins. The five-minute boat ride is absolutely worth it, but it’s important to note that all non-Hindu visitors require permission to explore the temple grounds. You can easily obtain one of those, so don’t forget to do it before you get in the boat to explore this fascinating temple in Pakistan!
Varun Dev Temple
Image courtesy of Sam4u1w – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
Varun Dev is another Hindu temple in the Sindh Province. It’s located on the Manora island, and it is dedicated to Varun Dev, the chief-governing deity of all the oceans, seas, and the Sindh river in Hinduism. According to a legend, the temple was commissioned in the 16th century by a wealthy sailor, but unfortunately, there is no concrete evidence to support that claim.
It’s believed that the present temple structure was renovated around 1917, but the exact years of the temple’s foundation and construction are unknown.
The famous Hindu temple is not in a very good state today. Because of its waterside location, humid winds have helped dilapidate the temple a lot over the decades, and not that much has been done to preserve it. There have been some attempts to renovate and preserve the Varun Dev temple, thanks to a US government-funded project.
Abandoned Suraj Kund Temple
Abandoned Suraj Kund Temple features ruins and remains of an ancient Hindu sun temple. The Sun Temple of Multan used to be here, and it was the base for the sun-worshipping Hindu sect devoted to Surya.
It was a highly revered temple, and countless Hindus from the region would go on a pilgrimage to the temple – this tradition continued even for the first few centuries of Islamic rule. However, the Muslim leaders of the region were not too keen on the large number of pilgrims that visited the area, and the temple was destroyed in the 8th century and the golden Aditya idol was taken away.
Local Hindus made attempts to rebuild the temple and they even brought a wooden idol to put in the place of the golden one, but in the 10th century the entire temple was destroyed and an Ismaili congregational mosque was built in its place.
Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple
Image courtesy of Iqra Khalid Zakaria – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple is a historic Hindu temple in the Karachi district. It is best known for being an underground temple, located in Cliffton, very close to the Cliffton beach. This temple hosts the annual Shivatree celebration, which welcomes about 25,000 pilgrims to the temple grounds.
It is believed that Lord Shiva used to live inside the temple cave for a while, which is the main reason why this small temple hosts such an important celebration.
The fascinating underground temple has six levels, and there are staircases near the Jehangir Kothari Parade promenade that lead visitors underground. The fourth and fifth levels are especially notable – the fourth level features a courtyard floor made from marble, while the fifth level boasts a tunnel that is thought to lead to the Mohatta Palace.
Also, there are idols that represent Hindu gods on each level, and there’s even a stream of fresh water inside the temple.
Shri Krishna Mandir
Shri Krishna Mandir is a temple dedicated to the Hindu deity Krishna. It’s located in Lahore, Pakistan, and it is one of only two Hindu temples in Lahore. The temple was in the center of a controversy back in 2006, when a local newspaper reported that the temple had been demolished. The reports turned out to be untrue since the demolition took place several kilometers away from the temple grounds.
The temple is quite small, featuring images and statues devoted to Krishna. But since it is one of only two Hindu temples in Lahore, you can imagine just how significant it is for Hindus who live in this area.
About the Author Anna Timbrook
Anna is the co-owner of expert world travel and can't wait to share her travel experience with the world. With over 54 countries under her belt she has a lot to write about! Including those insane encounters with black bears in Canada.
