The Dastgeer Sahib Shrine, one of Kashmir's most cherished spiritual landmarks, has long stood as a beacon of devotion and architectural beauty. The shrine houses relics of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani (1077-1166), a Kurdish saint who earned deep reverence across the subcontinent, despite never having set foot in the region. Over the years, the shrine’s interior has drawn countless worshippers with its captivating design.
The shrine features a traditional khatamband ceiling, adorned with crystal chandeliers, and walls embellished with intricate papier-mâché artwork, reflecting an exceptional level of craftsmanship. Originally sprawling over 8,000 square feet, the shrine’s spaciousness has been altered by various structural modifications and additions over the years.
Historian Professor M. Ishaq Khan, in his book A History of Srinagar, attributes the shrine's construction to Mir Husain Qadri, who began the project in 1845, with completion in 1854. Qadri, known for his generous contributions to religious sites and public utilities, passed away during a Haj pilgrimage in Mecca in October 1883. The shrine's relics were brought to Srinagar by a Kandahar merchant in 1806. Khan also notes that an earlier khanqah (spiritual retreat) existed on the site, associated with Mir Nazuk Qadri, who died in 1614.
The Kashmir Encyclopedia, published by the state's cultural academy, suggests that the shrine was initially built in 1767 AD under Afghan governor Noor Khan Bamzai. It was constructed by Syed Ghulam-ud-Din Azad, the grandson of Shah Sakhi Muhammad Fazil, who introduced the Qadri order to Kashmir. After being damaged by fire, the shrine was repaired and expanded in 1879, during which the spire's pointed ball was gilded.
The shrine's custodians assert that it contains several significant relics, including a Quran believed to have been hand-written by Hazrat Ali, the son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad, in the sixth century Kufi script. Additionally, the family of Sheikh Syed Sakhi Shah Muhammad Fazil, a descendant of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani (RA), is interred within the shrine.
Research by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), documented in their publication Shehr-e-Kashmir, indicates that the relics were presented by an Afghan traveler to the ruler of Kashmir, Subedar Sardar Abdullah Khan, who entrusted them to Sayyid Buzarg Shah, a revered local figure. Later, in 1767, Sayyid Ghulam-ud-Din Azad constructed a repository for these relics at Khanyar and established the tradition of displaying them to pilgrims on special days each year.
The khanqah was significantly expanded in 1877 with support from Khwaja Sanaullah Shawl, a local handicrafts merchant. Over time, additional buildings, including a mosque, a hammam, and other shrine structures, were added to the original khanqah.
INTACH's inventory describes the original khanqah as having seven double-height traditional taaq buildings arranged along a north-south axis. Later expansions included buildings on the northern and southern sides, with the main burial chamber, housing the cenotaphs of prominent Qadri saints, situated to the east. The complex was connected by a wide corridor on the eastern side, with a pavilion called Noor Khana in the southeast, reserved for women. The khanqah's distinctive multi-tiered chaar baam roof, topped with a wooden dome and a stupa-style spire, exemplifies traditional Kashmiri architecture.
As a pivotal spiritual and cultural hub, the Dastgeer Sahib Shrine has seen numerous transformations in Kashmir's socio-political landscape. In 2003, the shrine came under the administration of the Waqf Board. While it attracts visitors year-round, the largest crowds gather on 11 Rabi-us-Sani, the anniversary of the saint's death.
Heritage conservationists have suggested that, instead of further construction, the surrounding area should be converted into a green zone to restore the shrine’s original grandeur. The shrine was digitally preserved by INTACH in 2010. Two years earlier, in 2008, renowned travelers Tony and Thomas, who operate the website contemporarynomad.com, created a 360-degree view of the shrine, inspired by its vibrant papier-mâché interiors.
"The Pir Dastgir Sahib was truly unique," Tony and Thomas wrote. "We have never seen anything else like it. We are heartbroken by the loss. Our thoughts are with the wonderful people of Kashmir."
The Dastgeer Sahib Shrine remains a profound symbol of Kashmir's rich spiritual and cultural heritage, continuing to inspire and awe visitors from around the globe.