Bagh Sardaran Temple Complex | |
---|---|
باغ سردارن مندر کمپلیکس | |
Spires and domes of the temples and gurdwaras as viewed from outside the complex | |
Religion | |
Affiliation | Hinduism |
District | Rawalpindi District |
Province | Punjab |
Location | |
Location | Bagh Sardaran |
Country | Pakistan |
Geographic coordinates | 33°37′10″N 73°03′19″E / 33.619532055861384°N 73.05535867617137°E |
Architecture | |
Type | Mughal |
Creator | Sardar Band Singh Sardar Milkha Singh Thehpuria |
Completed | 1895 |
Haveli Bagh-e-Sardaran Complex, also known as the Raghunath Temple Complex, is a temple complex located in the Bagh Sardaran area of Rawalpindi in the Punjab province of Pakistan. [1] [2] [3] It is considered to be the second-oldest temple in the city, having been built in 1895. [1]
The complex has three non-functional Hindu temples and two Sikh gurdwaras. [4] [5] It not only served as a religious site, but also as a welfare center for the local communities. Most of the complex now acts as an office and residence for the Special Branch of the Police. [1]
The complex is frequented annually by Sikh visitors on the occasion of Vaisakhi. [1]
The foundation is said to have been laid by Sardar Band Singh, who was a descendant of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, laid the foundation of Bagh-e-Sardaran. He, along with Sardar Milkha Singh Thehpuria, helped with the construction arrangements. [1] The complex is also said to have built to foster inter-faith harmony among the surrounding Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim communities. The locals claim that the complex also housed a swimming pool and a garden, and covered an area of 6 acres (24,000 m2). [1]
After the Partition of India, most of the Hindus and Sikhs of the area migrated to India. The complex was then converted into a recreational spot by the remaining Muslims. Allotments and encroachments resulted in the reduction of the remaining complex area to only a few marlas. [1]