Katasraj temple is a Hindu temple situated in Katas village in the chakwal district of Punjab in Pakistan. Kattas is located at 2200 ft above sea level. Dedicated to Shiva, the temple has existed since the days of Mahabharata and the Pandava brothers spent a substantial part (4 out of 14) of their exile at the site. Archaeology department of Punjab is considering nominating the temple complex for world heritage site.
History of the site 
Most of the temples were built during the reign of Hindu kings. These several temples were built around 900 years ago or more, although the earliest of the Katasraj temples dates back to the latter half of the 6th century A.D. Scholars believe that most of the temples were actually constructed when the Shahi kingdom was driven from Afghanistan, when their ethnic cousin Mahmud of Ghaznavi came to power.
The temple was severely abandoned by Hindus when they migrated to East Punjab in 1947. But the site has always been the site of holy pilgrimage for people of various faiths. Even nowadays, worshippers from all faiths perform pilgrimages to the temple every year and take a bath in the sacred pool around which Katasraj is built. According to a myth “The pool came into being on Satti’s death, wife of shiva, Shiva cried so bitterly that his tears filled two ponds, one of them at Pushkara in Ajmer, India, and the other one at Ketaksha (now Katas Raj). Ketaksha means ‘raining eyes’ in Sanskrit.Hindus believe that taking bath in the pool removes the sins.
Architecture
The Katas site houses the Satgraha means a group of seven ancient temples, remains of a Buddhist stupa, few medieval temples, havelis and some recently constructed temples around the pond. The temples at Katas are mostly constructed on square platforms. 
The Hnuman temple is on the western extreme of a high rectangular enclosure with entrances on the south and the north. The temple's ceiling is undecorated, and lime-plastered. The temple is damaged but the archaeology department of Punjab is taking measure to preserve the temple. The Shiva temple is also built on a square platform. Its entrance is a recessed round arch with faint cusps and a rectangular opening to the north. Even after the long time, the temple has all its architectural features preserved although not in its accurate form.
The Ramachandra temple is situated to the east of the Hari Singh Haveli and is closed from all sides except for an entrance on the east. The double-storied structure has eight rooms of various dimensions on the ground floor and a staircase at the south leading to the first floor. The temple has two jharokas (balconies) on the second floor.
Several newly built temples decorated with frescoes of the time are also scattered around the pond.
Museum at Kattasraj
THE Punjab Archaeology Department is setting up a museum to highlight the culture and history of this fine historical treasure.
The museum would have a pictorial gallery in which Hindu mythology will be high- lighted through historical references. Another gallery would be on architecture in which fragmented pieces found from Katas will be put on display. Another will also display the prehistoric culture.
Prehistoric remains
Prehistoric tools and weapons such as axes and knives made of granite, and artifacts like terracotta bangles and pottery have been unearthed at the Katasraj site. According to excavated team these artifacts are similar to found at Harrapa. These fascinating ranges have a vast archaeological treasure still hidden underground.
The oldest book in Hinduism, Rig Veda was written in Katas. It is composed of 18 books and is world’s longest poem (a war epic) the Mahabharata. The book was written in 300 BC though many Hindu scholars believe it was written some time in the year 1300 BC. The book contains a detailed account of Katas, It is a wonder the place much sacred to Hindus just like Amarnath and Pushkar in India, Archaeological and one of the ancient site “Katas” has not received the publicity that it deserves.
