In a stand-off between militants, led by Pakistan's Mast Gul, and Indian security forces in May, 1995, the wooden century-old shrine, the impressive Khankah mosque and hundreds of old, wooden houses in the town were reduced to ashes.
The shrine, originally constructed by the Kashmiri king, Bud Shah, in the 14th century, was destroyed in a fire. It was reconstructed by another king, Yaqub Chak. Razed under the Pathan rule, it was rebuilt by Atta Mohammad Khan and renovated by Khwaja Nizam Drabu and Mohammed Didamari in the early 20th century. This was when the interior of the shrine was decorated with carvings and calligraphy.
In fact, there are numerous shrines named after the Sheikh all over Kashmir. At Khe Jogipura in Anantnag, where he was born in 1377, a celebrated shrine draws his devotees daily. Another shrine is located at Kai-Muh, a village near Bijbehara where he spent his youth. Devotees still pray at Gufa Bal cave, where he lived as an ascetic. There is another shrine at Driyagam, where he lived for 12 years. Rupvan, where he spent his last days, is also very popular with his devotees. Charar-e-Sharief houses the tombs of the saint and his disciples, but the fire destroyed many of his relics, including a woollen robe, two wooden cups and a silver-headed staff.