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SPIRITUAL PLACES

 Shrines of saints and holy men are located almost in all the areas of the district. Most of the saints and holy men have chosen the forests and hills of this district to pursue their spiritual goals. Famous shrines are detailed as under:-

  1. ABDUL WAHAB SAHIB SHRINE:- This shrine is situated in Machil.

  2. ASTHAN WALI SHRINE:- This shrine is located in Haftradda, Chowkibal. A festival used to be held at this Shrine on 11th Zilhaj every year. Syed Jalal-ud-din Bukhari performed a Chilla here.

  3. BABA ABDULLAH GAZI SHRINE:- His tomb is in Gaziriyal. He was among the first caliphs of Sultunal- Arifeen, Baba Nasru-ud-din Gazi has been his spiritual  teacher. He was a great scholar, social worker and a man of great spirituality. Reportedly he  constructed 360 gardens, 360 mosques, 360 inns, 360 small bridges and 360 springs in various areas of the valley. Some springs and mosques still exist in Gurez, Shooloora, Gazriyal and other places. The Historian Hassan Shah had seen one of his gardens in Khumriyal and eaten its strange fruits.

  4. BABA FATEH ULLAH SHRINE:- This Shrine is on the hill Gadi in Doodwan near Kupwara. He was a God fearing saint.  Near the Shrine lies the famous Darul Uloom Kupwara.

  5. BABA GANI SHRINE LAC MAWER. A festival is celebrated at this shrine every year, known as Alla Worus (Pumpkin Festival).

  6. BADRA KALI ATAPAN:- It is also a Kher Bawani Astapan located in  village  Badra Kali in Handwara Tehsil. It is palce of pilgrimage for the Hindus. There stands a dormant volcano nearby which is also sacred for Hindus. It is situated in Rajwar.

  7. DEDI MOJI SHRINE :- The Shrine is in Meelyal and she is reported to be sister of Nata Reshi. People distribute Kheer,etc.at the Shrine.

  8. HAJI BAHADOOR SHRINE:- His shrine is in village Gundi Momen, near Pazipora. It is stated that Haji Sahib  went to Mecca to perform  Haj  seven times, on foot.

  9. HAJI BEHRAM PUHRU PETH SHRINE:- As per Historian Hassan’s statement, he was the disciple of Baba Naseebudin Gazi. He worked as a carpenter, always kept fasts and prayed during nights and never ate meat.

  10. HAZRAT MEHMOOD SHAH SHRINE:- He is also known as Khoja Sahib and his Shrine is in Bubarnag. The spring and the Shrine both are  much revered. People bathe in the water of the spring for  cure of skin diseases.

  11. HAZRAT MOHAMMAD JOO JANDAL SHRINE:- His shrine is in Sohipora Haihama. Mohammad Joo was a great scholar of Islamic theology. Even Allama Anwar Shah Lolabi has been his disciple. He was actually from Badrakali, Handwara. His father Rahi Joo was also a man of spirituality.

  12. HINGAN KOOT SHRINE:- There is the combined shrine of Syed Nasirdin Bukhari and Syed Jalaudin Bukhari who were the disciples of Din Mohammad Fakir of Poonch. It is believed that Din Mohammad completed his chilla in the dangerous mountains of Shamsbari for 12 years.

  13. KASHAT BABA SHRINE:- This shrine is located in Lolab. Eleven springs ooze out from the roots of eleven  trees near the shrine. Both Hindus and Mulsims have deep faith in the Shrine.

  14. KHEER BAWANI ASTHAPAN:- This asthapan is in village Tikker and attributed to Devi Kheer Bawani. There is a sacred spring, a devi’s temple and some inns for the visitors. Mela is celebrated here every year wherein thousands of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs join. Hindus throw cloths and ornaments in the spring and have a bath therein. Hindus believe that if the colour of water in the spring on 8th of Jeth is blue the people will live a prosperous life and if it is black there will be disasters.

  15. KRALDERVASH SHRINE (HIRI) :- He has been a famous saint of recent times, who left this world a few years back. He was also known as Qadir Sahib and had many disciples. His shrine is in his native village at Hiri Trehgam.

  16. LANK RESHI SAHIB SHRINE:- He was also brother of Nata Reshi Sahib and his shrine is located in village Lank Reshi in Villagam area. People have true faith in his shrine.

  17. MALCHA KHAN BADSHAH SHRINE:- This shrine is located in Taratpora village. People of the area believe that Malcha Khan was a  pious  country man who was assassinated by some enemies. The enemies wanted to behave badly with his corpse but it disappeared due to his spiritual power and reached Tarathpora where it was buried with honour.

  18. MIR AZHAR SAHIB SHRINE:- This shrine is in Kanthpora Lolab. Azhar sahib was the son of Mir Mohammad Ibrahim and was known to be very intelligent, having high spiritual power. He was the disciple of Nunda Sahib Armpori and had adopted Qadri sect of Muslims.

  19. MIR SADRADIN SAHIB SHRINE:- This Shrine is also located in Kanthpora. He was the second son of Mir Mohammad Ibrahim. He received spiritual knowledge from Hazrat Jamaludin Indrabi. He had built a mosque in Kanthpora

  20. MIR MOHAMMAD IBRAHIM SHRINE:- This Shrine is in Kantpora. He was master in spiritual power. He has also been a political, religious and social leader and son in law of Baba Davood Narwari.

  21. MIR BABA NAZUK SHRINE:- This Shrine is located in village Diver. It is said that he was an religious preacher and has converted all the Hindus of Driver to Islam.

  22. MIR MOHAMMAD IBRAHIM SHRINE:- This Shrine is in Kantpora. He was master in spiritual power. He has also been a political, religious and social leader and son in law of Baba Davood Narwari.

  23. MIR SADRADIN SAHIB SHRINE:- This Shrine is also located in Kanthpora. He was the second son of Mir Mohammad Ibrahim. He received spiritual knowledge from Hazrat Jamaludin Indrabi. He had built a mosque in Kanthpora

  24. NATARISHI SAHIB SHRINE:- Natareshi belongs to Reshi school of thought of the Muslims. He never ate fish or meat. On his anniversary the people of Trehgam, Hayan, Hirri, Hundi, Ladarwan, Kunan and Poshpora cook only radish and turnip and the festival is known as (Goog Gee Bud Doh)

  25. PRAKASH AKHOON SHRINE:- His Shrine is located in village Gushi. Prakash Ram was a saintly person and taught Arabic and Persian and even religious books to Muslims of the area. This is why he was known as Akhoon. .

  26. QAMAR RESHI SAHIB SHRINE:-  This shrine is in Dedikoot village. Qamar Reshi Sahib was  brother of Nata Reshi. It is said that he had cut off his  genitle  organ  as somebody had alleged that he had  not moral relationships with women.

  27. RASOOL SHAH SAHIB SHRINE:- (Son of Samad Sahib of Makhdoom Mondow Srinagar). This shrine is in Takia Khurhama. Rasool Sahib had three sons, Syed Rahmatullah Pir Khaki, Syed Jalil Sahib Khaki and Wali Pir Khaki. His Shajra is stated as Rasool Shah S/O Samad S/O Noorulla S/O Ab.Khalil (Ganderpora Srinagar) S/O Ab.Jaleel S/O Mohd.Ashraf, S/O Lateef Sahib (Wanidorus) S/O Syed Ismail (Wani Dorus) S/O Syed Mohammad S/O Baba  Davood Khaki.

  28. REHMAN SAHIB CHERA KOOT:-This saint of Nakashbandi sect was a disciple of famous saint of Drava, Mian Nizamudin.

  29. SAID MALIUN OR SADHU GANGA:- It is located in the village Kandi Khas of Handwara Tehsil, about 12 Kms  from Kupwara. Pandit’s believe that it is the shrine of Panditji Goswami and the Muslims believe that it is the shrine of Syed Malik Shahib. This is why the shrine is equally respected by both the communities. People of the area believe that Syed Malik saved the area from drought by digging a spring by his spiritual powers which irrigates the land in the area.

  30. SHALOORA SHRINE:- Wirdul Mareedeen states that Sultanul Arifeen constructed a mosque in Shaloora..There are two huts in the north of the mosque, one attributed to Baba Abdullah Gazi and the second to Sultanul Arifeen. A festival is celebrated there on   17th of  Hard Bikrami

  31. SHEIKH BABA BEHRAM:- This famous and Historical shrine is located in village Karihama. Sheikh Baba had undergone a chilla in Botingu along with a disciple of Sultan-ul Arifeen in compliance to his orders. Zaiti Shah Wali has also been a disciple of this saint. It is believed that on the day of his death he himself dug a grave and descended into it, asking his disciples to close the grave as he had to breathe his last. The Historian, Hassan also authenticates it.

  32. SHEIKH BABA SHUMNAGI:- His Shrine is near the famous spring of Shumnag, about 12 kms in the west of Kupwara on road side.

  33. SHRINE OF AMIN OWASI:-This Shrine of famous theologist and saint Haji Mohammad Amin Owasi is located in Kasheera 3 Kms in the east of Kupwara. Haji Amin Owasi belongs to Owasi sect of Muslims and was a man of spiritually and had thousands of followers in the state.

  34. SHRINES:- Of Keran area are Siyan Sahib Kachil wale, Kundyan wale, Sheer Dil Ziyarat and Shahid Sahib Deiri wale Diziyara.

  35. SYED BENGAL SAHIB SHRINE :- This Shrine is in Krusan Lolab. It is said that he is one of  those syeds who came to Kashmir with Shah Hamdan.  There stands a Jamia Mosque besides it.

  36. SYED MOHAMMAD GABI SHRINE :- This shrine is located in the heart of Kupwara and is equally respected by Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs, it is believed that Syed Mohammad was one of the Sadats who came to Kashmir with Shah Hamdan. The old Jamia Masjid near the Shrine was constructed  by the Chek Rulers.

  37. ZAITI SHAH SHRINE:-  This famous shrine is located in Muqam Shahwali, three Kms  from Kupwara. Zati Shah was an Army commander of the famous ruler of Kashmir, Ali Shah Chek and disciple of Sheikh Hamzah Makhdoomi.  Zati Shah’s spring of  historical importance and a splendid Jamia Masjid are in the compound of the shrine.