Harihara
Temple, Billawar, Jammu
and Kashmir
Harihara Temple is a Hindu
Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Billawar Town in Kathua District in
Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The Temple is also famously called as Mahabilvakeshwar
Temple. The Temple is situated on the banks of Bhinni River, the main tributary
of River Ujh. Billawar is also known as Balaur, Villapur and Belapur. This Temple
is one of the listed sites under Archeological survey of India.
Legends
For brief details, please refer below link;
History
Raja Bhog Pal, a son of the king
of Kullu Valley, founded Basohli and established Billawar as the capital in 765
A.D. after subduing Rana Billo, a feudal chief who once ruled the area. The
ruling house was subsequently known as Balouria,
deriving name from Balor. Billawar was called as Villapur in ancient times. The
town was mentioned in Kalhana's Rajatarangini, the chronology of kings. During
the reign of Raja Anant of Kashmir, King Kalsha ruled Villapur. Sussala, the
ruler of Kashmir was married to the daughter of Villlapur's ruler. It was
evident that there was close political and cultural relations between Kashmir
& Billawar in ancient times.
Billawar was situated on an
important ancient trade route from Haridwar to Kashmir, which according to
Alberuni passed through Pinjor (near Chandigarh) Dahmala (Nurpur), Billawar,
Ladha and Rajapuri fort, before going to North through Pir Panjal pass. The
temple is dated to 10th Century CE. It was destroyed by the troops
of Babur. But according to others, it collapsed 150 years ago in the reign of
Raja Bhupinder Pal.
The
Temple
For brief details, please refer below link;
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about
400 meters from Billawar Bus Stand, 55 Kms from Basohli, 72 Kms from Pathankot,
73 Kms from Kathua, 79 Kms from Pathankot Airport, 88 Kms from Udhampur, 113
Kms from Katra, 114 Kms from Jammu Airport, 117 Kms from Jammu, 286 Kms from Srinagar
and 289 Kms from Srinagar Airport. Billawar is situated on Delhi – Jammu Route
on NH – 1A. Billawar is connected to Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua, Basoli, Delhi,
Haridwar, Pathankot, Lakhanpur, Lornoo etc. by regular bus service.
Location
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