THE Punjab Archaeology Department is setting up a museum at Katasraj near Chakwal to highlight the culture and history of this fine historical treasure. A team consisting of ex- perts and a few Punjab University Archaeology Department students is working on the site these days looking for archeological fragments found in and around Katas.
The researchers are also working on the architecture in the area and will record their findings in a report. The site is famous for its temples, the most famous among them the one dedicated to Shiva. It has existed since the days of Mahabharata and the Pandava brothers spent a substantial part of their exile here.
Punjab Archeology Department Director Shahbaz Khan says the museum would have a pictorial gallery in which Hindu mythology will be highlighted through historical references. Another gallery would he on architecture in which fragmented pieces found from Katas will be put on display Other exhibition areas will also be established in the museum.
Mr Khan tells Dawn the museum will be set up either at flari Singh? Haveli located inside Katas and has been conserved or at the Bayragi House. The work is being done on the finalization of the location, for museum, he added. The temples were abandoned by local Hindus when they migrated to India in 1947. It has always been the site of holy pilgrimage for people of various faiths. Even today, worshippers from all faiths perform pilgrimages to the temple every year and bathe in the sacred pool here.