Hari Parbat Srinagar

Hari Parbat, locally known as Koh-e-Maran and among the Hindus as Sharika Peeth, is a hill overlooking Srinagar, the largest city and summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is the site of the Durrani Fort, built in 1808. It has the famous Shakti Temple on the western slope and shrines of Hamza Makhdoom and Badakhshi on the southern slope. On the southern side of the outer wall there is a Gurudwara which commemorates the visit of Guru Har Gobind.Durrani FortThe 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 TempleThe hill is considered sacred by the Kashmiri Pandits due to the presence of a temple of a goddess called Jagadamba Sharika Bhagawati who is depicted with 18 arms.Makhdoom SahibNestled below the imposing Mughal Fort is the shrine of Hamza Makhdoom. Shrine is towards the southern side of Hari Parbat Hill. It is one of the most sacred shrines in Kashmir. This double storied, many-pillared structure displays a remarkable architectural style. This shrine is visited not only by Muslims but by people of all faiths, throughout the year. Makhdoom Sahib, also called Hazrat Sultan, was a Sufi saint.