For every Sanatani, God and temples have their own importance. A temple could be seen every 10 kilometers in India. In such a situation, it won’t be wrong if India is called a country of temples.
A large number of temples existed even prior to division of the country in 1947. But after the partition, the number of temples in Pakistan had started going down. Even if some temples remain in the Islamic country, they are not in good condition.
History
There are temples of Lord Shri Ram in many countries around the world. A grand, divine and huge temple of Ramlala is being built in Ayodhya.
Also, there is a temple of Lord Shri Ram in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. This temple is closed ever since the partition took place and Hindus can’t worship in it.
There is a belief about this temple, which is located in Syedpur village of Islamabad, that Lord Shri Ram, his wife Sita and brother Laxman stayed at that very place during their exile.
They drank water from the pond built there. The pond is called ‘Ram Kund’.
The temple was built by Raja Man Singh in 1580.
Raja Man Singh also built four ponds – Ram Kund, Sita Kund, Laxman Kund and Hanuman Kund.
The temple had metal idols of Lord Shri Ram, Mata Sita, Laxman, Hanuman, Maa Lakshmi and Maa Kali.
Built with red brick, it has a rectangular courtyard with a high platform in the middle. The idols were seated on this platform.
Current status of the temple
Till the year 1947 i.e. before the partition of India, this temple and the ponds built here were the main centers of faith of Hindus. According to the official record of the Rawalpindi Gazetteer of 1893 issued by the Government of Pakistan, a fair was organized every year on the banks of Ram Kund.
Hindus from Islamabad to Rawalpindi used to participate in this fair. According to the gazetteer, at least 8000 people used to come to the fair every year. But now neither people come here nor the fair is held.
In fact, after the partition of India, most of the Hindus were either killed or became victims of forced conversion. At the same time, some Hindus were displaced. In simple words, the number of Hindus left in Islamabad was very less.
Taking advantage of this, the Ram temple complex was sealed calling it enemy property. However, a few years later, local Hindus had demanded to open the temple. But instead of opening the temple, in the year 1960, the temple was converted into a girls’ school. In the year 2006, this temple was converted into a tourist destination by the Capital Development Authority of Islamabad, considering it a ‘heritage village’.
About this temple, Pakistani journalist Gulbaz Mushtaq Advocate says, “Everything changed after the partition. The Hindus living in the village went to India and the brass idols of Maa Kali and Lakshmi also went away. The ponds have disappeared and the village has been taken over by Des-Pardes, Dera Pakhtoon, Andaaz, Tira and other expensive restaurants. The temple has become empty and ruined and is now only used for selfies.”
Now the condition of the temple is such that there is no idol in it. The door of the temple is now open but Hindus are not allowed to worship. Local Hindus have been demanding to worship in the temple from time to time. Hindus say that people who come here walk around wearing shoes in the temple, which insults the temple.
It is worth noting that there are 300 houses of Hindus in Islamabad. But even after this there is no temple for worship. Hindus have to go to the Krishna temple located in Sadar, Rawalpindi, about 25 km away, to worship. The Pakistan government has promised many times to rebuild the Ram temple and hand it over to the Hindus. But the government’s words prove to be false every time, just like election promises.
The temple is situated in Islamabad of Pakistan
To go to Islamabad from India, travelling by would be better. Transport facilities are good in Islamabad.
One can go to Syedpur village by a taxi from the airport.
