Shankaracharya Temple is an ancient shrine situated on top of the
Shankaracharya Hill (Takht-e-Suleiman), to the south-east of
Srinagar, in
Jammu and Kashmir. It is believed that the first edifice on this sacred site was built by Jaluka, the son of Emperor
Ashoka, in around 200 BC.
Situated at an altitude of about 1100 ft above the city, the site offers magnificent view of the valley and the snowy peaks of the
Pir Panjal range.
Shankaracharya Temple is built on a high octagonal plinth and can be approached by a flight of steps enclosed by two side-walls which once bore two Persian inscriptions. The main surviving shrine consists of a circular cell. The inner sanctum is covered by a modern ceiling and an inscription in Persian traces its origin to the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan. The original ceiling was dome-shaped and the brick roof, it appears, is not more than a century old.
Sage Shankaracharya had stayed at this site when he visited Kashmir ten centuries ago to revive Sanatan Dharma.
The present structure was built during the reign of Emperor Jehangir.
