Pilgrims from India arrive in Pakistan to visit a century-old Hindu temple

In recent days, 159 Indian Hindu pilgrims have flown from Lahore to Peshawar with Pakistan International Airline in order to visit a century-old temple in Karak.

An Indian pilgrimage had arrived earlier in the day through the Wagah-Attari border when the Pakistani national flag carrier operated a special flight for them on Saturday.

At Wagah, the pilgrims were greeted by Ramesh Kumar Vankwani of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Following a flight to Peshawar, they would stop over for one day before traveling to Karak in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, reports Samaa TV.

Today, PIA Airbus A320 performed special flight PK6350 from Lahore to Peshawar with Yatris from India onboard.

From Peshawar, the Yatris will travel to Teri Temple in Karak.

Earlier today, 159 Yatris from India reached Lahore via Wagah border.

Details: https://t.co/L2qXpaXYuf pic.twitter.com/nUjYBte0wX

— Pakistan Aviation News 🇵🇰 (@avpak3) January 1, 2022

A Hindu saint who died in 1919 is buried in the Teri temple of Karak. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu saint Paramhans Ji Maharaj, and a mausoleum resides within it.

A restoration order was issued by Pakistan's Supreme Court in 2020 to restore the temple, which had been vandalized in 2020.

At the invitation of the Pakistan Hindu Council, 250 Hindu yatris are visiting the temple from the United Arab Emirates, the US, India, and other countries, according to Dawn.

As part of their four-day trip, these 159 yatris will visit the Katas Raj temple complex in Chakwal, Punjab.

According to Vankwani, the patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Hindu Council, delegations will exchange between Pakistan and India every month.

Adding that trade visits would follow soon, he said, "we will begin the year with religious tourism in 2022."