Now Reading: Second phase of Kashmir Buddhist site excavation begins
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Second phase of Kashmir Buddhist site excavation begins
Excavations for the second phase of the 2,000-year-old Buddhist site at Zehanpora in Baramulla, north Kashmir, begin Saturday. Jammu and Kashmir chief secretary Atal Dullo will inaugurate the project.
Excavations for the second phase of the 2,000-year-old Buddhist site at Zehanpora in Baramulla, north Kashmir, begin Saturday. Jammu and Kashmir chief secretary Atal Dullo will inaugurate the project.
The site was discovered last year by University of Kashmir professor Mohamad Ajmal Shah. It gained national attention after Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned it on his Mann Ki Baat radio programme on December 28, 2024. Modi noted that what locals thought were unusual rock formations were actually three Buddha stupas, identified using old photographs from the Guimet Museum in France.
Shah and his team began digging in November 2024 and found an apsidal stupa, iron and copper artefacts, needles, and decorated objects. Shah believes the site may be linked to the Fourth Buddhist Council of the 1st century CE and that more structures remain buried. Further excavation is planned.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Kashmir was a major centre of Buddhism from the 3rd century BCE onward, with the region hosting the Fourth Buddhist Council under Kanishka. The Zehanpora site could help fill a gap in physical evidence of that era, as many ancient Buddhist structures in the valley were damaged or lost over centuries. The J&K archaeology department's backing suggests official interest in preserving the site. The key figure to watch is how many additional structures and artefacts are unearthed in this phase, which could determine whether the site becomes a protected monument or a tourist destination.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
