Jama Masjid in Kashmir

Charar-e-Sharief is located on the way to Yusmarg, 40 kilometers from Srinagar. Charar-i-sharief is probably one of the most ancient of shrines which stands tall in the valley of Jammu & Kashmir.

At the holy town of Charar-e-sharief, lies one of the most divine Muslim shrines of Jammu & Kashmir. Known as Hazrat Sheikh Noor-ud-din Wali, this is a sacred Muslim destination dedicated to Sufi Saint Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani. He was a benefactor saint of the Muslims in Kashmir. During his lifetime, the sheikh witnessed a religious and ethnic transmission around him from Hinduism to Islam. Thus, he produced a number of philosophy works in poetry, prose and verses after getting inspiration from historical events.

Charar-e-Sharief is a beautiful town in Badgam District. The tomb of Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani here has been famously called Alamdar-e-Kashmir. This shrine place is situated 28km to the south-western side of Srinagar and its land belonged to Sangram Dar. Dar was a follower of Alamdar-e-Kashmir who built a mosque here. This is also where Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani offered his Friday Namaz.

As per one legend, after the sad demise of Alamdar-e-Kashmir, his coffin flew for some distance and got laid at the site exactly where the shrine lies and this is where the great Muslim patron has been laid to rest. Charar-e-Sharief is regarded as one of the best sacrosanct shrines of Muslims in India. This shrine is approximately 600 years old.

History

This archaeological town is well known for the tomb of Hazrat Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani, who expounded Islam via his poems and prose. The shrine is highly famous for Urs celebrations done every year. Millions of people, no matter from what religion visit the tomb. The complete town of Charar-e-Sharief got burnt in the year 1995 during the combat between Mujaheedin and Indian army.

Architecture

After the destruction of this shrine in 1995, it was reconstructed on the basis of Asian style architecture. One interesting aspect after reconstruction was the ceiling, which has been crafted on the basis of conventional Khatamband design. This work has been done by professionals of Kashmir. Conventional Kashmiri work of ziarat designed with a pagoda-shaped top has been also featured in the new building.

While the present building has been designed out of brick and cement, the previous one was made of wood. On the 600th anniversary of Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani in the year 1979, Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages launched a stone carving at the site of the mazar.