Avantiswami Temple

Getting there

• By road

  Awantipora lies on NH 44, the Jammu-Srinagar highway, south of Srinagar and north of Anantnag.

• By air

  Awantipur Air Force Station lies near Awantipora, about 5 km from Pulwama town.

• By train

  Awantipora railway station is on the Jammu-Baramulla line.

Rules to know

• The ruins are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Why devotees come here

Avantiswami Temple is a ruined stone temple site in Awantipora, on the banks of the river Jhelum in Pulwama district, Jammu and Kashmir. The site once held two temples, one for Shiva and one for Vishnu, and local lore says the Vishnu temple came first. Its ruins stand in the stone temple tradition of Kashmir.

The site once held two temples, one dedicated to Shiva and the other to Vishnu. Local lore says the Vishnu temple came first, and that the Shiva temple followed after a minister, a devotee, persuaded the king to build one. It is believed that the deity here was Vaikunta Vishnu.

The temple was built by King Avantivarman in 853 to 855 CE. Originally, the ancient town was known as Viswasara, and it was also a capital city.

The Avantiswami Temple is an example of the stone temple architecture of Kashmir in its era. A pillared mandapa stood in front of the shrine, and the walls carry elaborate carvings. A local guide links the Vishnu temple to the Gandharva style of building. Today, the ruins are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Tips for your visit

• The Avantishwar Shiva temple stands within a km of this one, so the two sites are close together.
• Pulwama city lies just opposite Awantipora.

Questions people ask