Bilkeshwar—Ancient Temple of Lord Shiva in Kathua’s Billawar awaits identity on Tourism Map

Billawar (Kathua), Feb 28: Post abrogation of Article 370, the Government of India is making efforts to revive the “lost glory” of newly created Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for which developmental package worth thousand crores was announced and the tourism package is in pipeline but one of the ancient temples of Lord Shiva—famous as ‘Bilkeshwar’, situated here in the hills of Kathua district, is awaiting for its identity on Tourism map.

Looked after by the Department of Archaeological Survey of India, the Temple is located in the heart of the Billawar town and just few kilometers from famous Sukrala Mata Temple but its poor maintenance has annoyed the local populace, who were demanding to declare this ancient site as a ‘National Heritage’.

Tehsil Billawar—locally called as ‘Tapavabhoomi’, has treasure of such ancient sites and monuments and thousands of devotees visit this temple of Lord Shiva every year despite not being so popular and not getting due identity on the tourism map.

“The renovation work of this ancient temple, which is being undertaken by the Archaeological Survey of India, was never expedited and the people are unhappy the way it is being neglected,” Shanker Dass Sharma, a local shopkeeper here told UNI.

“We want the government to declare this site as protected heritage at the earliest and it will give a boost to pilgrimage tourism and generate employment for the youth,” said the shopkeeper.

“The ancient Temple is struggling for its existence on the tourism map and it is really unfortunate that this place, despite having rich tourism potential, is facing neglect,” he rued.

“Archaeological Department is not taking care of this site the way it should be and it’s now been years, no progress is seen on ground,” a retired teacher alleged.

Pertinent to mention here that the history of the Bilkeshwar temple is associated with the Pandavas.

Meanwhile, a local priest (name not disclosed), said, “If the Archaeological Department is not capable of expediting renovation and preservation work of this ancient temple, hand it over to locals, we are ready to preserve it.”

“The government should work on a war footing to preserve the Bilkeshwar temple and declare it a national heritage,” Vishal Padha, a local resident said and added that the matter was also brought to the notice of the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in a meeting recently.

Deputy Commissioner Kathua, O P Bhagat here told TNN, "district administration can launch a campaign to make this place familiar to people in coming days so that it becomes much famous."

"We will surely take initiatives in highlighting this site," expressed Mr Bhagat.