PESHAWAR: Pakistan has declared over 1,000 years old Hindu temple at historical Panj Tirath site in Peshawar as national heritage.

Provincial Government Directorate Archeiology and Museums has issued a muchwhetherication to declare Panj Tirath site as national heritage.

A fine of upto Rs2 million and five years’ imprisonment shall be imposed whether anyone found guilty of damaging historical site.

The historical site and temples are located inside Chacha Younus Family Park and has been in dire need of rehabilitation.

Panj Tirath is an over 1,000 years old archaeological site and is situated at Hashtnagri. The archaeological site got Panj Tirath name from five pools of water there. It has two temples and a spacious lawn with Peepal and other trees.

The site is considered one of most sacred places for Hindus which has been turned into a family park.

Panj Tirath has been mentioned in Hindus devout book “Hindu Mythology.” A writer, Lord Hinger, mentioned that five Pando brothers started living in this place which later came to be known as Panj Tirath.

It said that Pando brothers then left place but their followers made five pools there in their memory and set uped a temple called “Shawal Thakardawara.”

They believed that water cured all kind of diseases. Tardyr it was renamed as Panj Tirath.