In a series of remarkable discoveries, many ancient temples have been uncovered across Uttar Pradesh, shedding light on the forgotten history and spiritual heritage of the region. Among these, a rediscovery took place in Sambhal’s Sarai Tarin area, where an abandoned Radha-Krishna Temple was reopened after decades.
The temple, once a vibrant place of worship surrounded by Hindu families, had been largely abandoned after the families migrated. For years, it remained locked and was only sporadically opened during festive occasions. On Tuesday, the rediscovery occurred when authorities, acting on specific information, reopened the temple premises. Police and local administration promptly started cleaning and restoration efforts to revive the sanctity of the site. This reopening came shortly after another major find in Sambhal—Shri Kartik Mahadev Temple—on December 13 during an anti-encroachment drive.
On December 14, as part of an extensive anti-encroachment and anti-electricity theft operation in the Shahi Jama Masjid area of Sambhal, officials stumbled upon another significant structure, a Shiva temple that had been inaccessible for a staggering 46 years. The temple was found inside a locked house in Mahmood Khan Sarai, which had remained shut since the 1976 communal riots. Historical accounts indicate that the house, formerly owned by a Hindu family, was abandoned following the unrest and subsequently sold.
The discovery of the Shiva temple rekindled local interest in the area’s history. On December 16, following the temple’s reopening, locals initiated the excavation of an old well situated nearby. At a depth of around 25 feet, they unearthed three desecrated idols of Hindu deities. The idols, believed to have been submerged for decades, were in a broken state but retained significant historical value Shrish Chandra, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) of Sambhal, confirmed the recovery and provided details: “These are broken idols that were found during the digging of a well. One of the idols appears to be of Ganesh ji, while another seems to depict Kartikeya ji.”.
Comments