Hari Singh Di Haveli, Katas, District Chakwal, Punjab

(various online sources)

 There is an old Hindu temple complex at Katas, in Chakwal district of Punjab, which may probably date back to at least the 10th c AD/CE.

Katas is a very sacred place for the Hindus. It is located on a hill six kilometers from village Choa Saidan Shah of Chakwal district. The place is mentioned in the 'Mahabharata' and according to Hindu religious belief, both Katas and Paskar (Ajmer) are the eyes of Shiva. Paras Nath Jogi breathed his last here. The Founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak Ji also visited Katas and had set his foot here. This place thus also came to be known as 'Nanaknawas'. It was the abode of contemplation for groups of mystics, ascetics and Jogis etc.

It also has great historical significance because it was the place where the Arab traveler and historian Al-Beruni attempted to measure the circumference of Earth, and where he studied and learnt Sanskrit, and eventually wrote his renowned “Kitab-ul-Hind”. Even today groups of Hindu pilgrims come from India to visit it regularly to worship.

At Katas, is also a small fortified mansion or traditional 'haveli' which goes by the name of 'Hari Singh Nalwa di Haveli' (the Haveli/Mansion of Hari Singh Nalwa). This Hari Singh was a famous Sikh general and administrator who served as governor in Kashmir and Hazara areas during Maharaja Ranjit Singh's time, and one of the bulwarks of the Sikh regime in Punjab. He died in 18 at Jamrud, in the Pashtun tribal areas, and his death was a major set back or blow to Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Sikh power generally.

According to local information, this 'haveli' at Katas, named after Hari Singh, was probably made by this able commander sometime in the 19th century, some 10-12 years prior to his death. He also used to come and visit this holy site and stay here and it is presumed he built it for his own use as well as a sort of garrison to protect this holy site. Not much is known about this place now, local people dont seem to have much knowledge, and the government are equally clueless and disinterested. Despite being a place much-visited by Hindus, the temple complex and this fine old 'haveli' and other old buildings, are falling to rack and ruin.

Remnants of the past-Haripur old town

by Sufiyan Baig

Haripur (meaning 'town of Hari') is an old town, in Hazara region of North-West Frontier Province (some call it KP now) of Pakistan. The town was founded in 1822 , along with the famous 'Harkishangarh Fort' by the able and strong Sikh general Hari Singh Nalwa. Nalwa had been appointed to control and bring order to the turbulent Hazara region, by order of the Sikh Darbar (court) of Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Lahore.

By establishing a strong fort and garrison at this location in lower Hazara, and by setting up a rich and prosperous market town (mostly famous for its grain, fruits and vegetables) Nalwa was eventually not only able to control this area but also monitor and check activities in upper Hazara, and to pacify most of this region. In this process, he also gave Hazara a valuable new town, which went on to become its capital and remain thus, until 1853 when after British annexation (1849) Major James Abbott shifted the seat of local administration up to the new Abbottabad town founded by him.

Haripur used to have a number of old bazaars and 'mohallas' (neighborhoods) around the massive Harkishangarh Fort,  with their mosques, temples, Sikh 'gurdwaras' and so on. Most of these were, sadly, over the years since 1947 (Partition of British India and Independence of Pakistan) , were slowly destroyed to be replaced by new shopping markets of modern outlook. Some buildings and old sites from that time are surviving but in poor condition. Many of these are occupied illegally by 'qabza groups' (land-grabbing gangs) or forcefully taken over by supporters of big political persons and parties. So, by and large, nothing much now survives of the rich and beautiful past of Haripur. Only, here and there, we can see glimpses of that lost glory, in some 'haveli' which is gradually falling down; or in a doorway or arch or such structure, telling us some story of by-gone days-- for how long, I wonder.

It's no doubt a good idea to try to record and preserve at least what is left by photos and these accounts, since we can't save these sites themselves. Our federal and provincial governments have time and money for expensive foreign tours, for special allowances and perks for MNAs and MPs, for all sorts of wasteful expenditure, like the recent bakery bill of NWFP (KP) Chief Minister of Rs 4-5 lakhs (400, 000 or 500, 000 rupees) . Why worry about falling old buildings and temples, when you can have delicious cakes and pastries?

         Surviving doorway of an old and partially destroyed 'haveli' building