Dargah Hazratbal Shrine, which houses the Holy Relic of Prophet Muhammad, is all set to become the new address for pilgrims and devotees of the country and abroad.
Thanks to the mega Rs 45 crore beautification project, the shrine is all set to get a new makeover to attract pilgrims from different corners of world. From state-of-the-art landscaping to modern illumination to an Islamic Cultural Centre, the shrine is in for a new renaissance in Kashmir.
Situated on the banks of the famous Dal Lake, the Dargah Hazratbal Shrine was established in 1634 by Emperor Shah Jehan. Constructed by his subedar, Sadiq Khan, in 1623, it was converted from Ishrat Mahal into a religious place.
Dargah Hazratbal houses the Moi-e-Muqqadus, the sacred hair of Prophet Muhammad which was placed in the shrine in 1699. The relic disappeared in December 1963 and after massive agitation it was recovered in January 1964. Work on the present marble shrine complex began in 1968 and it took 11 years to complete the project.
Thirty-nine years later, the shrine is all set to undergo a new makeover in order to make it a modern-day pilgrim and tourist destination.
The salient features of the project include tensile structures for prayers during summers and rainy season, four lanes at the Dargah entrance, illumination of the shrine complex, underground ablution spots, dormitories for devotees coming from far-flung areas, re-designing of the Dargah market, an Islamic Cultural Centre and an exclusive Sewerage Treatment Plant for the shrine complex.
The project also envisages an unobstructed view of the Dal Lake from the shrine complex in a bid to make it more attractive for pilgrims coming from abroad. The project is expected to be completed in two years.
