Bhadrakali temple, Lahore

Bhadhar Kali Mandar
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
SectShaktism
DeityKali or Durga
Location
LocationThokar Niaz Beg, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan

The Bhadhar Kali Mandar is a Hindu temple located in eastern Thokar Niaz Beg, Lahore in Punjab, Pakistan.[1][2] The temple is dedicated to Kali Mata.[3][2] Other sources claim it is dedicated to Durga.[1]

History

The temple is referenced by Kanhiya Lal in his work on Lahore's history, Twarikh-e-Lahore.[1][4] The area the temple is located in used to be known as Badr Kal.[5] Iqbal Kaisar claimed the site was around 2,000 years old. In historical times, it was the site where a harvest festival was celebrated in June.[1][3][5] According to the Walled City of Lahore Authority, the celebration was Baisakhi.[4] It was the main attraction of Niaz Beg.[4]

Maharaja Ranjit Singh constructed a new temple beside the old one but according to lore, the sadhus had a dream where Kali refused to shift to the new temple that was built.[3] In 1947, the Hindu population of Lahore migrated to the Republic of India, leaving the temple abandoned.[2] After partition, the area of the temple was settled by migrants from the Mewat region.[3] The Pakistani government allocated abandoned former temple properties to the new settlers, with the temple complex becoming inhabited by the Meo community.[2] In the late 1960s or early 1970's, the former temple was converted into a mosque to prevent the land mafia from encroaching and claiming its property. Despite this, the sacred space dedicated to the goddess was kept. The temple later was converted from a mosque to a government school in 1980. In the aftermath of the 1992 Babri Masjid incident, a 150-person mob from neighbouring Hanjarwal desired to demolish the temple in December 1992 as revenge but a Muslim man named Bashir Ahmad Meo stopped them and saved the temple. He did this by explaining that destroying the temple in revenge was not in-agreement with Islam, which convinced most of the mob but some of them still burnt one of its wooden doors and damaged part of its boundary wall.[2] Locals planned to demolish the temple in 2009, with its top floor being demolished.[3] Part of the temple is now a shop.[2]

Architecture

Originally, the complex contained stupas, two temples, a step-well, and a pool, and a banyan tree, but much of the structures have disappeared over the years.[1] The temple is 20–25 feet tall and its plinth rises 6 feet from the ground. The complex has a main, three-storied temple structure with a pool (sarovar) within it that is fed by twelve wells, with four fountains on each corner, and has a drainage system. On the walls of the temple are fresco paintings depicting geometric, floral, and avian designs in orange, green, and blue pigments. At-least five samadhs survive within the complex, adorned with frescoes. There are three bolian (wells) associated with the complex.[3] A banyan tree existed by the temple's entrance but can no longer be traced, likely it was cut-down to make room for new residential constructions.[2][1]

In the 1986 film Laado, the setting of the temple complex can be seen in a fighting-scene.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Eusufzye, Khan Shehram (27 January 2019). "A temple of doom". The News International. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Khalid, Haroon; Warraich, Sameer Shafi (6 December 2019). "The Muslim who saved a Hindu temple from a mob in Pakistan". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Tara, Nadeem Omar (2 July 2009). "Locals planning to demolish temple to construct residential quarters | Department concerned must intervene". Punjabi Khojgarh. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 "Remains of the Thokar Niaz baig Walled City Gateway". Walled City of Lahore Authority. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 Zahid, Saad (6 November 2025). "Heritage Temples Lahore Tours: The Forgotten Temple of Badharkali". Saad Zahid. Retrieved 19 April 2026.


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