Shankaracharya Temple is a Shiva shrine on a Zabarwan spur about 1,000 feet above Srinagar, also known as Jyeshteshwara and reached by roughly 240 steps. The climb is the point as much as the temple: from the terrace the whole city, Dal Lake and the ring of mountains open up at once. Pilgrims come year-round and in numbers during the Amarnath Yatra.
Duke Kashmir Travels, registered with the J&K Department of Tourism as JKTA00003978 since 2011, is the Srinagar agency behind this guide. The temple is a fixture of our city sightseeing day; Kashmir itineraries start around ₹6,350 per person on twin sharing.
By Duke Kashmir Travels Team · Reviewed by Rayies Ahmad Zargar, Founder · Published · Updated
Key takeaways
- Roughly 240 steps lead from the road head to the temple hall.
- Dedicated to Lord Shiva; the older name is Jyeshteshwara, and the hill is also called Takht-e-Sulaiman.
- Named for Adi Shankara, who is said to have visited and meditated here.
- Maharaja Gulab Singh built the stairway from the Durga Nag side; the motor road followed in 1947.
- Mahashivratri is the main festival; Amarnath Yatra pilgrims come through in summer.
- About 19 km and 50 minutes from Srinagar airport.
What is the temple, and how old is it?
A stone Shiva shrine on a circular plinth, standing roughly 1,000 feet above the city on the Shankaracharya hill.
Its age is disputed and the dates you will hear locally range widely, but the structure is one of the oldest religious sites in the valley and has been rebuilt more than once. The name in use today honours Adi Shankara; the older Kashmiri name is Jyeshteshwara.
What is the climb like?
A motor road takes you most of the way, then about 240 stone steps go up to the temple hall.
Take the steps slowly if you have arrived in Srinagar the same day, since the hill sits well above the valley floor. Security checks apply at the gate and there are usually restrictions on what you may carry up, so leave bags in the vehicle.
What can you see from the top?
The full sweep of Srinagar: Dal Lake and its houseboats, the Jhelum threading through the old city, and the Pir Panjal beyond.
Early morning gives the clearest air; late afternoon gives warmer light on the water. Both beat the middle of the day, when haze usually settles over the valley.
When should you visit?
Any month the road is open. Mahashivratri in late winter and the Amarnath Yatra weeks in summer are the busiest.
Snow can close the approach for a day or two in deep winter. Regular worship continues through the year, and visitors are welcome outside prayer times.
How do you reach Shankaracharya Temple?
About 19 km from Srinagar airport by the airport road, some 50 minutes, and around 20 minutes from the Boulevard hotels.
From the ridge you look straight across at Pari Mahal on the next spur; Dal Lake and Chashme Shahi lie below. The Srinagar page lists the rest and Kashmir tour ideas the full itineraries.
Booking this with us
The agency behind this guide, Duke Kashmir Travels, was registered with the J&K Department of Tourism in March 2011 (JKTA00003978) and joined IATO in 2016. More on the paperwork is on our About Us page.
Tell us when you are travelling and how many of you there are, and a costed itinerary follows. Reach us on +91 9018 44 0000, at info@dukekashmirtravels.com, or through the contact page.
About the founder
The agency was started in Srinagar in 2011 by Rayies Ahmad Zargar, who owns it to this day, helped found the JK Tourism Council, and reads every destination guide before it goes up. His LinkedIn profile is here.