Srinagar, August 3, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Jammu and Kashmir government has approved two projects worth Rs 10.95 crore for the preservation and improvement of religious sites in Anantnag district, aimed at restoring heritage structures and enhancing facilities for devotees.
The office of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced that Rs 5.03 crore has been sanctioned for the restoration and renovation of Ziyarat Sharief Khiram, while Rs 5.92 crore has been allocated for the repair and renovation of Shiv Mandir at Thajiwara in Bijbehara.
“These projects will preserve the sanctity and heritage of both religious places while improving facilities for devotees,” the Chief Minister’s Office said in a statement shared on social media.
The decision is part of broader efforts to preserve religious and cultural heritage sites in Jammu and Kashmir. Authorities have in recent years undertaken initiatives focused on restoration, protection and improvement of facilities at several places of worship across the Union Territory.
The renovation of Shiv Mandir at Thajiwara assumes significance amid continuing efforts to safeguard Hindu religious and cultural sites in the Valley. Several temples and shrines have faced neglect over the decades following the migration of a large section of the Kashmiri Pandit community in the 1990s due to terrorism.
Preservation efforts have included restoration work, legal measures against encroachments and initiatives aimed at reviving religious traditions at historic sites. The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has also issued directions to protect unattended Hindu temples and shrines from encroachment.
Several heritage sites, including the Anandishar Temple in Srinagar and Shiral Nath Temple, have witnessed the revival of religious activities after remaining closed for extended periods.
The reconstruction of the Sharda Temple in Kupwara has also emerged as a significant symbol of efforts to reconnect with Kashmir’s ancient cultural and religious heritage.
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