Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has announced the reopening of the historic Naranag Temple in Ganderbal district for devotees and tourists. The decision comes after a thorough security review, allowing visitors to once again access the temple. MLA Kangan Mian Mehr Ali had urged the L-G to reopen the temple for public visits.
Following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, by Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants, several tourist spots were closed as a precautionary measure. However, with improving security conditions and a comprehensive security audit, various places in the Valley are gradually being reopened to visitors. Naranag Temple, known for its ancient ruins and as a Hindu pilgrimage site, is located near Ganderbal town in the Kashmir Valley.
Situated around 16 km from Kangan and 10 km upstream from the Sind stream, Naranag Temple is renowned for its scenic beauty, including meadows, lakes, and mountains. It serves as the starting point for treks to Mount Harmukh and Gangabal Lake. The temple complex, dedicated to Lord Shiva and believed to have been built in the 8th century AD by Lalitaditya Muktapida of the Karkota dynasty, is a significant archaeological site in the country.
Officials are available at a tourism hut in Naranag to provide information and assistance to visitors. The site offers accommodation facilities and is a key attraction for tourists. The temple comprises a group of temples facing each other, with historians suggesting that King Awantivarman contributed to the site by donating a bathing pedestal at Bhuteshwar.
