J&K: Sharda Peeth, one of the most ancient and revered centres of learning and worship in the Indian subcontinent, is now at the crossroads of history, heritage preservation and geopolitical diplomacy. Just about 10 kilometres from the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan occupied J&K (PoJK), the centuries-old temple stands in ruins. Its spiritual legacy and importance is fading due to neglect, but many people are now asking for a pilgrimage corridor to help devotees and scholars visit again.
In March 2023, India’s Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Maa Sharda Devi mandir in Teetwal, Kupwara district, a site historically associated with the broader pilgrimage route to Sharda Peeth and barely 40 kilometres from the original complex. This was seen as both a spiritual revival and a strategic step toward strengthening pilgrim support while bilateral negotiations continue.
Despite growing advocacy, realising a Sharda Corridor faces significant challenges. The area’s security sensitivity, just kilometres from the LoC, complicates any large-scale cross-border movement. Both India and Pakistan have longstanding mutual distrust. Moreover, frequent tensions in the broader Kashmir region make the collaborative projects difficult to implement.
Furthermore, proponents argue that successful implementation would require reciprocal arrangements that address wider travel and cultural exchange, leading some analysts to call for broader people-to-people routes alongside the corridor. Earlier calls even suggested that such initiatives could help ease bilateral tensions and promote peace dividends through cultural diplomacy.
Sharda Peeth, named after the goddess Sharada, the Kashmiri form of Maa Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge and wisdom, was historically one of South Asia’s most important Maha Shakti Peethas and educational centres. Its origins are traced back to at least the 6th century CE, with scholars suggesting the temple and adjoining learning institutions flourished under various regional powers, most notably the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty and later indigenous Kashmiri rulers.
The site derived immense spiritual significance from Hindu belief. Tradition holds that the right hand of Goddess Sati fell here during Bhagwan Vishnu’s journey with her dismembered body making Sharda Peeth as a holy shrine among the revered 18 Maha Shakti Peethas.
During its heyday between the 6th and 12th centuries CE, the temple complex was more than a place of worship, it was one of the foremost temple universities of the region. It boasted an extensive library and attracted scholars from across the Indian subcontinent and beyond, influencing the religious, philosophical and linguistic landscape of the time. In fact, an ancient script used for Sanskrit and Kashmiri languages; the Sharada script is believed to have been developed in the intellectual ecosystem of Sharda Peeth.
Noted historians and travellers, including the 11th century scholar Al-Biruni, referenced the Peeth in their works, noting its spiritual and scholarly reputation even when political boundaries shifted.
The turning point in Sharda Peeth’s accessibility came after the Partition of India in 1947 and the subsequent division of the princely state of Kashmir. Located in what became Pakistan administered Azad Kashmir, the temple fell across the newly drawn LoC. It immediately limited access for Indian Hindus, especially the Kashmiri Pandit community for whom the shrine held deep cultural and religious meaning.
Over the decades, reduced pilgrimages and a lack of preservation efforts have left the temple structure in a decayed state. Reports from heritage observers indicate that environmental wear and limited restoration work have contributed to its deteriorating condition.
The 2005 Kashmir earthquake further damaged the site, and subsequent efforts at conservation on the Pakistani side have been minimal. Although the Supreme Court in PoJK has occasionally intervened in heritage protection cases, active restoration remains limited amid political sensitivities given the proximity to the LoC.
For Kashmiri Pandits and devotees across India, Sharda Peeth is more than archaeological ruins. It is a symbol of identity, memory and intellectual heritage. Many community leaders and cultural advocates emphasise the role of the Peeth in shaping Kashmir’s unique religious and scholarly traditions, alongside sites like the Martand Sun Temple and Amarnath.
Today, displaced Kashmiri Pandits conduct substitute pilgrimages within Indian territory, reflecting a profound longing for reconnection with their sacred site. Some idols historically housed in the original temple were moved after 1947 to locations such as Tikker in Kupwara and Devibal in Baramulla to preserve remnants of ritual continuity.
The effort to restore Sharda Peeth’s religious significance has gained fresh momentum with proposals for a Sharda Corridor, a trans-LoC pilgrimage route inspired by the Kartarpur Corridor, which allows Sikh devotees from India to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan without a visa.
Discussions around a corridor specifically for Sharada Peeth gained traction around 2019, when Pakistani media reported that authorities had approved a plan for a Kartarpur-style corridor to the site. Indian political leaders and Kashmiri Pandit organisations welcomed the proposal as a potential bridge for religious tourism and cultural reconciliation. However, officials later clarified that a formal decision remained pending.
While political negotiations are underway, the heritage conservation community emphasises the need for preserving what remains of the Peeth’s structure. Archaeological surveys and documentation efforts highlight that proper restoration, even if symbolic, can safeguard this piece of South Asian history for future generations.
There has also been a renewed interest in digital documentation and virtual tours, aiming to bring global attention to the Peeth’s history and architectural legacy. At the same time, scholars are working to bring back the Sharada script, which is important for Kashmiri and Sanskrit studies.
