Dharmarth Trust (also spelt Dharmartha) in Jammu and Kashmir was founded by Maharaja Gulab Singh in 1846 as an endowment for religious charity, and to manage and support Hinduism.
[1] In 1884, and under Maharaja Ranbir Singh, the Ain-i-Dharmath (in Persian) or 'The Regulations for the Dharmarth Trust' were formulated and a government department for religious affairs was created.
[6] In 1826 Gulab Singh, a Dogra Hindu Rajput who had become the Raja of Jammu four years before,[7][8] put aside funds which would be utilised towards religious charity.
[11] Any foreign religious person coming to the state was to be brought before the Maharaja, welcomed accordingly, and given parting gifts according to their status.
[6] As part of the Smart Cities Mission in Jammu and Kashmir temples under the trust are being upgraded for devotees, pilgrims, and tourists.