The history of Kheer Bhawani is as ancient as the mountains of Kashmir itself. Mentioned in the 12th-century historical chronicle 'Rajatarangini' by the poet Kalhana, the shrine has been a focal point of devotion for millennia.
Legend states that the location of the spring was lost to history for a period until it was rediscovered by a local priest named Krishna Pandit, who had a vision of the Goddess appearing to him and guiding him to the spot in the marshes of Tulmulla. The current structural form of the temple was primarily developed during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Maharaja Pratap Singh of the Dogra dynasty, a deeply religious ruler, commissioned the construction of the marble temple over the spring in 1912. Later, Maharaja Hari Singh further renovated and expanded the complex, adding to its architectural grace. Throughout history, the temple has been visited by numerous saints and scholars, including Swami Vivekananda, who visited in 1898.
Vivekananda was deeply moved by the spiritual energy of the shrine and famously had a mystical experience here regarding the divine will of the Mother. The temple has withstood centuries of political and social shifts in the valley, remaining a steadfast beacon for the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community, who continue to return to Tulmulla from across the globe to reconnect with their ancestral roots and seek the blessings of the Mother.
