SHRINE OF BABA SHAKUR-UD-DIN WALI
Baba Shakur-ud-Din is the most famous Shrine in Bandipore District in North Kashmir and is located 17 kms in the North East of Sopore on the hillock at Sher Kot on a mountain overlooking the magnificent Wular Lake. It is also known as KralSangri. It is situated between Sopore and Bandipore. Baba Shakur was basically from Manchamapargana, village Arwat tehsil Badgam. He was adisciple of Baba Zain-ud-Din. On the advice of his teacher he spent about 12 years inmeditation at Shangpal (Forest) in Khoiham pargana. Towards the end of his life he stayed in a cave on SherKot hill for meditation in solitude,where he had expressed his will that he should be buried there. However,was buried at another spot in the same hill side where a tomb was built in his memory. The Shrine were paired from time to time.In 1974, the Shrine was built afresh where baba meditated. During the regime of Sadiq Saheb (1964-71), a new masjid was constructed at the site of old mosque. In the West of mosque there is a big gate in wood work which is said to be gifted by Baba Payam-ud-Din Rishi. In the ground floor of the Shrine there is a langar and beneath it a musafir khana built very recently for the stay of devotees. Towards the West of the Shrine is the grave of Baba Ragi Reshi. In addition to it is the grave of Baba Roop Reshion a peak of hillock towards Wular Lake. Devotees visit the Shrine round the year due to which langar remains always functional to serve food to the devotees. As his fame grew, people from all religions flocked to him for help and spiritual guidance. Baba Reshi of Tangmarg was once his assistant, and impressed by his services, Baba Shakur-ud-Din blessed and settled him in Tangmarg. Baba Reshi gifted a decorated wooden door to the Shrine, known to have spiritual powers.
This door is prominently displayed at the entrance to the Shrine. In 870 Hijri, the Baba dug a grave for himself and stepped into it.The Peer Baba is also known as ‘Topandaz-e-Kashmir’ and is locally believed to neutralise evil, for the wellbeing of the people of Kashmir. The 27thof the Arabic month of Jamidul Sani is celebrated as the ‘Urs’ of Baba Shakur-ud-Din.
