A four-member team from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) recently inspected the newly discovered Shri Kartik Mahadev Temple, also known as the Sambhal Bhasma Shankar Temple, along with five 'teerth' sites and 19 wells in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh.
The district magistrate, Dr. Rajender Pensiya, confirmed the survey to news agency ANI.
“The ASI team conducted an extensive 8-10 hour survey in Sambhal, covering around 24 locations, including the newly uncovered temple,” said Dr. Pensiya. He added that the ASI would submit a detailed report based on their findings.
The district administration has also requested carbon dating of the temple and wells to determine their age, according to sources.
The ancient Shri Kartik Mahadev Temple was reopened for prayers on December 13 after being closed for decades. Officials rediscovered the temple during an anti-encroachment drive near the Shahi Jama Masjid earlier this month.
Reports suggest the temple had been shut since 1978 following communal violence in Sambhal that displaced Hindu families.
Also Read: Sambhal Admin requests ASI for carbon dating, site security
This discovery follows recent unrest in the area. On November 24, clashes erupted between police and locals over a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid.
The violence claimed five lives and left 20 police officers injured. Security forces remain deployed at the site to maintain order.
The Supreme Court, citing the Places of Worship Act (1991), recently instructed civil courts to stop hearing new cases related to ownership or disputes over religious sites, including ordering surveys of such places.
This significant find sheds light on Sambhal’s historical and religious heritage while highlighting ongoing tensions in the area.
Also Read: ASI surveys temple, 5 pilgrimage sites, 19 wells in Sambhal
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