Srinagar: A massive fire broke out at the iconic Shiv temple, also known as Maharani temple, in Gulmarg town of Jammu and Kashmir, causing the roof to burn down completely. Officials stated that the cause of the fire is yet to be determined. Due to delays in the arrival of fire tenders, the fire fully engulfed the roof and caused additional structural damage.  

To X (formerly Twitter), former J&K CM Omar Abdullah requested officials to restore the temple. “Very sorry to hear about the fire in Gulmarg that seriously damaged the famous Shiv Mandir. I hope the administration quickly establishes the cause of the fire & reconstructs this place of great religious (and tourist) significance as soon as possible", he wrote on X. 

Constructed in 1915 by Mohini Bai Sisodia, queen of Kashmir's last monarch Maharaja Hari Singh, the Mohinishwar Shivalaya Shiv Mandir, also known as the Maharani temple, was perched on a hillock amidst the meadows of Gulmarg. The shrine, crafted from wood and stone, boasted a unique pyramidal dome with windowed dormers, making it a prominent landmark visible throughout Gulmarg.

The temple was a tourist spot and had been featured in several Bollywood films, including the iconic song "Jai Jai Shiv Shankar" from "Aap Ki Kasam," starring Rajesh Khanna and Mumtaz, as well as in the movies "Andaz" and "Kashmir Ki Kali."