Charar-e-Sharief - History, Timings & Entry Fee

At a distance of 33 km from Srinagar, Charar-e-Sharif is a Sufi Muslim shrine and mosque situated in the town of Charari Sharief in the Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir. Popularly known as the Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Wali, it is considered one of the holiest places for Muslims in India and among the top places to visit as part of Srinagar packages.

Charar-e-Sharief is around 600 years old shrines built to commemorate Sheikh Noor-ud-din or Nund Rishi, who is regarded as the Patron saint of Kashmiris. Sheikh Wali was the first person to preach Rishism in the valley and propagated non-violence, vegetarianism, communal harmony, and tolerance. It is said that when he died in 1438, about 9-lakh ardent followers gathered at the Charar-e-Sharief to pay homage to him. His remains were buried at this shrine and ever since it holds significant religious importance. Later, the eighth sultan of the valley Zain-ul-Abidin laid the foundation stone of the Charar-e-Sharief shrine at the burial site in 1446. Later in the 19th century, an Afghan governor named Atta Mohammad Khan reconstructed the shrine.

Having a splendid heritage of more than 600 years, it is counted amongst the oldest places of worship in the entire Kashmir Valley. The tomb of Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani here has been famously called Alamdar-e-Kashmir. This shrine has a wooden structure, which was destroyed during the Indo-Pak war and the militant attack in 1995. However, local authorities carried out the restoration work, and Charar-e-Sharief was brought back to its normal form.

The shrine is not only popular with Muslim devotees but is also highly revered by Hindus. During the annual Urs (death anniversary) of the saint Sheikh Noor-ud-din Wali in October, the shrine is thronged by several tourists and devotees to seek blessings.

Timings: 6 AM - 9 PM

Entry: Free