Sharada Peeth, located in the picturesque village of Sharda near the confluence of the Neelum (Kishanganga) River and the Madhumati stream in Neelum Valley, Azad Kashmir (Pakistan-administered Kashmir), represents the haunting ruins of what was historically one of the most illustrious temple universities and pilgrimage sites in the Indian subcontinent. Dedicated to Sharada Devi, the Hindu Goddess of knowledge and learning (a form of Saraswati), this ancient site was revered as a major Shakti Peetha and a paramount center of Sanskrit scholarship. Its fame was widespread; the 11th-century scholar Al-Biruni mentioned it in his Kitab al-Hind, and the 12th-century Kashmiri historian Kalhana, in his Rajatarangini, extolled its significance, comparing its importance for pilgrims to sites like Kashi and Dwarka. Sharada Peeth was particularly renowned for its extensive library and attracted scholars from across India seeking knowledge and validation. According to tradition, eminent philosophers like Adi Shankaracharya visited Sharada Peeth and debated scholars here, ascending the Sarvajna Peetha ('Throne of Omniscience') after proving his intellectual supremacy. Ramanujacharya is also believed to have visited in connection with his work on the Brahma Sutras. The surviving ruins primarily consist of the main temple structure, enclosed within a large, raised quadrangular courtyard with walls and gateways, characteristic of ancient Kashmiri temple architecture (similar in layout to Martand and Avantipur). Built likely between the 8th and 12th centuries CE using large granite blocks, the temple shows distinctive features like trefoil arches. The site gradually declined due to various factors, including earthquakes, invasions, and the spread of Islam in Kashmir. After the Partition of India in 1947 and the subsequent conflicts over Kashmir, Sharada Peeth became inaccessible to Hindu pilgrims from India, falling into neglect near the heavily militarized Line of Control. In recent years, there have been growing calls and some diplomatic discussions regarding the possibility of establishing a pilgrimage corridor (similar to Kartarpur Sahib) to allow Indian Hindus access to this deeply venerated but long-lost center of their heritage.