PAYER TEMPLE
Payer village lies about 3 kms toward the South of Pulwama District Headquarters. This village is situated 18 kms from Pampore and 18 kms North East of Shopian. Some travellers called it Payech temple.On the South side of the village, near the bank of the stream and surrounded by walnut and willow trees is an ancient temple which is considered superior to all the temples in Kashmir. Its superstructure is composed entirely of 10 stone slabs only. The temple has doorways on each side and is 6.30 metres high including the plinth. The doorways are rectangular and surmounted by trefoil arches having pediments. The pediments rest on the pilasters surmounted by capitals depicting geese. The pilasters of the trefoil arches are crowned by bull capitals. Its architecture matches that of Pandrethan Temple, this being the best-preserved medieval Kashmiri Shrine. The Shrine is open on all four sides and consists of a single flight of steps. The crowning feature of this temple is a conventionalized water-pot. The articulated shikhara is of pyramidal type and divided into two sections by an ornamental consisting of square spaces alternately projecting and receding. The dome of the temple rests upon the cornice. The central stone is decorated by an expanded lotus and the roof is supported by the outstretched arms and legs of winged figures probably yakshas.
