Vijeshwar Devasthan Trust is a registered non-profit organisation dedicated to the preservation, maintenance, and revival of all temple properties in Tehsil Bijbehara, Anantnag, Jammu & Kashmir.
Named after the ancient Vijeshwar (Vijayeshwar) Shiva temple — one of the holiest shrines in the Kashmir Valley — the Trust works to reconnect the Kashmiri Pandit community with its roots and ensure these sacred spaces endure for future generations.
The 5,000-year-old Vijeshwar temple deserves to stand in full glory. Help us complete the restoration of the sanctum, pillars, and surrounding complex.
Bijbehara — ancient Vijeshwara — was home to numerous magnificent temples, many dating back thousands of years. The Trust serves and preserves each one.
The primary shrine of Bijbehara, dedicated to Lord Shiva as Vijayeshwar. Constructed on a raised platform in classic Kashmiri temple architecture — the sanctum sanctorum once rose eleven storeys high. Kalhana's Rajatarangini records that Raja Vijay Anand built the town around this temple. According to tradition, the temple's shadow once fell all the way to Mattan and Awantipura.
Damaged in 1986, partially restored by the Governor of J&K, the Trust continues to advocate for its full reconstruction and UNESCO-level conservation.
One of the most revered Vaishnava shrines in the region, situated near the sacred Vitasta river. The Chakradhar temple holds deep roots in Bijbehara's spiritual landscape.
The sacred sanctum at the foot of Bheda mountain — a place of ancient Shiva worship with deep historical and cultural significance for the Kashmiri Pandit community.
Sacred confluence of the Vitasta, Veshav, and Rambhair rivers — 4 km north of Bijbehara. A revered site for ancestral Shraddha rituals and sacred dips.
Every year, hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits from across India and the world return to Bijbehara — to the temples of their ancestors, the land of their roots.
Bijbehara — ancient Vijeshwara — stands as one of the oldest and holiest towns in the Kashmir Valley, with an unbroken spiritual heritage spanning millennia.
Bijbehara derives its name from "Vijeshwara" — the place of Lord Vijayeshwar. European traveller Baron Hugel called it "Vijaypora, The City of Victory" and argued it was the ancient capital of Kashmir. The Vijeshwar Mahatam scripture describes how Lord Shiva slew the demon Jalodhbhava here, sanctifying this land for eternity.
The poet-historian Kalhana mentions Bijbehara in his Rajatarangini. King Vijay Anand constructed the magnificent Vijayeshwar temple and the town around it. The temple was later rebuilt under King Anantdev. Its shikhara was so tall that its shadow, tradition says, fell all the way to Mattan, Vodur, and Awantipura.
Bijbehara hosted a great university where scholars gathered from across the subcontinent. The Jyotishi Karyalaya has published the Vijeshwar Panchang — a sacred almanac — for hundreds of years. The Padshahi Garden, Dara Shikoh's library, and Guru Nanak's visit all reflect Bijbehara's deep pluralistic heritage.
Following the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in 1989–90, the Vijeshwar Devasthan Trust was formed to ensure these temples are never forgotten. The Trust advocates for full reconstruction, protects heritage sites, and organises the Annual Yatra — keeping the flame of Bijbehara's spiritual legacy alive.
The Vijeshwar Panchang — published continuously by Jyotishi Karyalaya Bijbehara for hundreds of years — became, after 1989, the most important surviving link connecting the Kashmiri Pandit diaspora to their homeland. Covering religious festivals, sacred traditions, rituals and astrological guidance as per the Shastras, it has guided Kashmiri Pandits worldwide in observing their dharmic life with authenticity. The Vijeshwar Devasthan Trust is committed to preserving and continuing this tradition as part of its broader mission to safeguard Kashmiri Pandit cultural and spiritual identity.
From annual pilgrimages to monthly satsangs — the Trust keeps the community connected to faith and heritage throughout the year.
Glimpses of the temples, yatra, and the sacred land of Bijbehara. Upload your photos from the annual Yatra to be featured here.
Have photos from the Yatra? Contact us to contribute to the gallery.
We accept donations through multiple channels. Every contribution — big or small — goes directly to temple restoration and community work.
The Trust is guided by dedicated community members committed to preserving Bijbehara's sacred heritage for generations to come.
For Yatra registrations, donations, temple enquiries, or to volunteer with the Trust — we are here to help.
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Vijeshwar Devasthan Trust
