Babor Temple in Jammu & Kashmir – An Architectural Delectation

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Shri Babor Temple is situated at a distance of about 45 km from Jammu in the hamlets of Babor in Manwal town of Udhampur district, Jammu & Kashmir. The five partially ruined temples in the region attract pilgrims to this shrine whose construction dates back to the 10th and 11th Centuries. The shrine is located at a distance of 72 km from the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, which is the major connectivity path of the region. Local people have great faith in Lord Shiva and so they serve for the protection and maintenance of this shrine.

With each year passing by, The Babor Temple is brimming with devotees belonging to different religions. The shrine has statues of gods and goddesses having intricately made carvings. Even the slabs, beams and, pillars are beautifully carved and decorated with sculptures like elephants and lions head on them. The finely sculpted idols of Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati is the most interesting sculptures here, where Shiva is shown three-headed and crowned. The statue of Maa Ganga is the most exquisite of all the statues in the Babor Temple complex. The picturesque surrounding of Kashmir with a view of the valley and beautiful hillocks of the Himalayas add to the beauty of this shrine.

According to Ithihas, the construction of this shrine was done by Raja Babharvan of the Dogra regime, which is influenced by the Greek-Roman architecture form. The entire construction of the temple was completed without using any binding material, which adds to the uniqueness of the temple. The captivating temple of Babor, which was built in the 11th century, recorded the visit of Kirtidhara, the ruler of Babhapura (presently known as Babor) in Rajtarangini, whose detailed exposition was given by Kalhana. According to Hindu Ithihas, it is believed that the temple belongs to the era of Mahabharata which happened in the Dwapara Yuga(more than 5000 years ago). The kingdom which was then ruled by the Raja Babruvahana, the son of Pandava prince Arjuna had Babor as its capital.

As Babor Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, Mahashivratri is the major festival celebrated here. People of this town decorate the temple in a festive manner, thus creating an aura of joy and enthusiasm in the town. Mahashivratri is regarded as the day when Lord Shiva got married to Maa Parvati. For a period of three days, the shrine is decorated like a bride to celebrate this festival. Pooja and Aarti performed daily to honour Lord Shiva attract a huge number of tourists to this shrine for pilgrimage. Apart from that tourists love to frequent the place from March to October as the weather condition in the region is very inviting and pleasant for enjoying skiing and other winter sports.