Martand Sun Temple was built by Lalitaditya Muktapida, the greatest ruler of the Karkota dynasty, who reigned from 725 to 756 CE. Lalitaditya expanded the Kashmir kingdom to include parts of Punjab, Afghanistan, Central Asia, and eastern India, and was a great patron of art and architecture. The temple was constructed at the height of Kashmir's power and prosperity, drawing on multiple architectural traditions from across Asia.
The temple remained a major pilgrimage site for the Kashmiri Hindu community for over 600 years. In the early 15th century, the Muslim ruler Sikandar Butshikan (the 'idol-breaker') of the Shah Miri dynasty systematically destroyed the temple, along with other major Hindu shrines in Kashmir. The temple's stone blocks were reportedly used in the construction of other buildings in the valley. The ruins were neglected for centuries and were damaged further by earthquakes.
In the 19th century, British archaeologists documented the site and carried out some consolidation work. The Archaeological Survey of India now protects the site, which remains the most important archaeological monument in the Kashmir Valley.
