Hinduism in Islamabad Capital Territory
 Historical important Rama Temple at Saidpur Village | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
Approximately 947  (2023 est.)0.04% of total Islamabad Capital Territory population | |
| Languages | |
| Sanskrit (sacred) Sindhi, Punjabi, Urdu |
Hinduism in Islamabad Capital Territory is a religious minority, constituting a very small portion of the region’s population. While Islam is the dominant religion, a small number of Hindus, primarily migrants or civil servants from other parts of Pakistan, reside in Islamabad.[1]
History
[edit]The area surrounding modern-day Islamabad has a long and diverse religious history. Archaeological evidence points to the presence of ancient Hindu and Buddhist communities in the region. In the Margalla Hills, several caves exist that are believed to have been used by Hindu sadhus and ascetics for meditation in ancient times.[2] Of them, the Shah Allah Ditta caves also contains paintings of Hindu origin. Before Partition, many Hindu families were living in Shah Allah Ditta village and the caves were used for daily worship.[3] Currently, the custodian of the caves is a muslim family, a responsibility granted by the Hindu family after they left the region during Partition.[4]
Another notable historical site is the Ram temple in Saidpur Village, at the foot of the Margalla Hills. The temple was historically dedicated to the Hindu deity Rama and served as a center of worship for the local Hindu population prior to Partition. The temple complex has since been partially restored as a heritage site by the Capital Development Authority (CDA), though it no longer functions as an active place of worship.[5]
Demographics
[edit]The Hindu population in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) has remained a small minority over the decades. According to census data and estimates:
| Year | Hindu Population | Percentage of Total Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 205 | 0.025% [6] |
| 2017 | 737 | 0.037% [7] |
| 2023 | 883 | 0.039% [8] |
According to the 1998 census, 205 Hindus resided in Islamabad Capital Territory, accounting for approximately 0.025% of the total population of 805,235.[9] The 2017 census recorded 737 Hindus, comprising about 0.04% of the population.[7] In the 2023 census, the Hindu population was reported as 883 out of a total population of 2,283,244, making up approximately 0.039%.[10]
However according to other sources, the Hindu population is around 3000.[11]
Places of worship
[edit]Until recently, Islamabad had no fully functioning Hindu temple. In 2020, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) approved the allotment of land for the construction of the Sri Krishna Mandir and cremation site in Sector H-9. However, construction was halted due to legal challenges and political opposition.[12]
There is also a historically significant Ram temple in Saidpur Village, although it is not actively maintained.[13]
Other Hindu temples
[edit]There are some Hindu temples or sites which are no longer in use or available for worship. They are:[14][15]
- Jira, near Bobri village: Believed to derive from Yatra or Jiva, it was a pilgrimage site where women offered clothes to the deity as thanksgiving for fulfilled wishes.
- Sacred rocks in Peja village: A natural trinity of three standing stones thought to symbolize a divine Hindu trinity.
- Bagh Jogian; Once a site for Nath Jogis practicing asceticism; now repurposed by Muslim communities but originally held Hindu spiritual importance.
- Sacred tree in Gora Mast village: Worshipped by Hindus prior to Partition; later Islamized, with new myths about a saintly woman replacing earlier beliefs.
- Rawal Lake temple: Old Hindu temple in what used to be Rawal village. It's a rectangular building with arched openings and steps leading to the sanctum. The structure is still there but in bad shape.
- Other temples in Rawal village: There used to be at least two more temples, including one with two rooms and eight arches. Another one, called the Gurukal temple, got submerged when the Rawal Dam was built.
- Samadhi near Rawal Chowk: A small domed structure where a Nath Jogi ascetic used to meditate. It was part of the village landscape before Partition.
- Golra temple: Located just behind the haveli of the Pir of Gorla Sharif, near the old bazaar. It has carved pillars and a square tower (shikhara) with faded paintings of Hindu gods like Shiva, Ganesh, and Krishna. It's still standing but falling apart.
- Hindu site near Bari Imam: There's a lesser-known Nath Jogi site about 2 km west of Bari Imam. It’s deserted now, but jogis used to stop there while traveling.
Current situation
[edit]As of 2025, Islamabad Capital Territory does not have a fully operational Hindu temple or officially sanctioned cremation facility.[12] Due to this, the religious observances, such as Diwali and Holi, are typically held in private homes, embassy compounds or outside the capital territory(in the temples in Rawalpindi)[13] and for the cremation, hindus have to go outside the capital territory.[16]
The Hindus living in Islamabad are shifted mostly from Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to serious law and order situations in their native areas.[11]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Bharat, E. T. V. (2020-07-04). "Pakistan halts Krishna temple construction in Islamabad". ETV Bharat News. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
- ^ "Ancient caves in Margalla Hills show signs of early Hindu worship". The Express Tribune. 2022-02-06. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
- ^ APP (2024-01-02). "Minister lays foundation of Shah Allah Ditta caves' development". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
- ^ APP (2021-04-15). "Shah Allah Ditta Caves gaining popularity with tourists". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
- ^ "Saidpur's Ram Mandir now a tourist site, not a temple". Dawn. 2018-09-25. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
- ^ "1998 Census Report of Pakistan". Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
- ^ a b "2017 Census". Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
- ^ "2023 Population and Housing Census". Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
- ^ "1998 Census Report of Pakistan". Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
- ^ "2023 Population and Housing Census". Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
- ^ a b Ali, Kalbe (2020-09-20). "Temple in Islamabad is our requirement, says Hindu Council". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
- ^ a b "Pakistan halts construction of Hindu temple in Islamabad". BBC News. 2020-07-02. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
- ^ a b "Hindus to celebrate Diwali in Islamabad amid no temple". The Express Tribune. 2021-11-04. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
- ^ "Sacred Landscape of Islamabad". The Friday Times. 2019-11-01. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
- ^ Kalhoro, Zulfiqar Ali (2019-07-26). "Temples of Islamabad". thefridaytimes.com. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
- ^ Azeem, Muhammad (2016-02-23). "Allot cremation grounds, Hindus exhort govt". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2025-06-01.