Panj Tirath
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Panj Tirath | |
|---|---|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Peshawar District |
| Governing body | Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
| Location | |
| Location | Hashtnagri |
| State | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
| Country | Pakistan  |
  Shown within Pakistan Panj Tirath (Pakistan)  Panj Tirath (Asia) | |
| Coordinates | 34°00′36″N 71°34′14″E / 34.01000°N 71.57056°E |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | c. 1st millennium |
| Temple | 2 |
Panj Tirath (Urdu: پنج تیرتھ) is an ancient Hindu pilgrimage site located in the Hashtnagri area of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The site historically consisted of five sacred water pools and associated temple structures and is regarded as one of the oldest Hindu religious sites in the city.[1]
Panj Tirath is believed to be more than 1,000 years old. According to historical accounts, the site included two temples, five water pools, and a large open area shaded by trees, and served as a pilgrimage destination for Hindus from across the region.[2] Local tradition associates the site with ritual bathing during the Hindu month of Kartik, and annual gatherings were historically held at the complex prior to the mid-20th century.[3]
Following the Partition of India in 1947 and the migration of much of the local Hindu population, religious activity at Panj Tirath declined and the site gradually fell into disrepair.[4]
Heritage designation
In January 2019, the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa declared Panj Tirath a protected heritage site under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Antiquities Act, 2016. The notification made damage or unauthorised alteration of the site a criminal offence, punishable by fines and imprisonment.[5]
