History: Believed to be the oldest surviving temple in Kashmir , the structure rests atop an ancient geological formation of the Panjal Traps, dating back to the Permian era. While the temple’s exact construction date remains debated, its roots are steeped in legend and scripture. The temple is associated with Jaluka, son of Emperor Ashoka, anchoring it in ancient history. As per historical references, on the back of Dal Lake, a temple at the same site was built in 200 BC by Jaluka. The Shankaracharya Temple, as per Pandit Anand Kaul, was built by King Sandhiman about 2600 BC. Historically it was repaired by subsequently by King Gopaditya, King Lalitaditya, Zain-ul-Abadin and Ranjit Singh’s Governor Sheikh Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din. The stone steps leading from the Durga Naag Temple to the summit were constructed in mid- 19th-century by Dogra Maharaja Gulab Singh, though older paths once led to the Jhelum River. King of Mysore visited Kashmir and particularly this temple in 1925 AD and ensured its electrification. Dwarkapeetham Shankaracharya placed statue of Adi Guru Shankaracharya (आदिगुरु शंकराचार्य) in 1961 and consecrated it. The present structure was built by an ardent Hindu devotee, who wanted to remain anonymous. Notable visitors include Sri Aurobindo (1903) and Vinoba Bhave (1959). A 5.6-kilometre access road was built in 1969 by the Border Roads Organisation.
The 12th-century historian Kalhan (कल्हण), in his ‘Rajatarangini’ (राजतरंगिणी), refers to the hill as Gopadri or Gopa Hill and recounts how King Gopaditya (371 BC) granted lands at its base to Brahmins, establishing what is now Gupkar. He is believed to have commissioned a temple on the hill to enshrine Jyestheshwara—Shiva as Jyeshtharudra.
Some traditions link the temple’s origins to the Alchon Hun ruler Mihirakula, who is said to have built a Shiva shrine nearby. Meanwhile, British historian James Fergusson dated the current temple structure to the 17th or 18th-century, based on architectural features. Renowned Indologist Aurel Stein concurred, noting that although the superstructure appeared later, the foundations and stairs reflected significant antiquity.
Adi Shankaracharya’s Visit: Kashmiri Hindu tradition reveres this site as one visited by Adi Shankaracharya. He had meditated here. It is believed that during his time here, he composed the mystical text Saundarya Lahari, inspired by the divine feminine and the philosophy of unity between Shiva and Shakti. His visit bestowed the temple with sanctity and its present name—Shankaracharya Hill. Historically, the hill has borne several names: Sandhimana-parvata, Takht-i-Sulaiman (the throne of king Solomon), Koh-e-Suleman, and simply Takht Hill.
Today, the site remains a peaceful sanctuary of rare flora and offers panoramic views of Srinagar, including Dal Lake, the Jhelum River, and Hari Parbat. The Shankaracharya Temple endures as a beacon of Kashmir’s spiritual legacy and its harmonious blend of nature, devotion, and scholarship.