What Zehanpora stupas shed light on: Kashmir's rich Buddhist past, Pg19

Key Highlights:

• Mounds in Zehanpora, Baramulla, initially mistaken as natural landscape, are now identified as 2,000-year-old man-made stupas.
• The discovery, dating back to the Kushan era, was highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Mann ki Baat address.
• Archaeological excavations, led by Dr Mohamad Ajmal Shah, suggest the site was a significant Buddhist center and part of ancient trade routes.
• A photograph of the site was discovered in a French museum, confirming its historical importance.

Detailed Insights:

• The Zehanpora site, resembling a man-made plateau, had been mentioned in historical texts but remained largely unexplored until recently.
• Initial mapping using drones and remote sensing indicates the presence of extensive structures and a possible wooden superstructure.
• The excavation is expected to provide insights into ancient trade routes passing through Kashmir and the region's Buddhist influence.
• Buddhism in Kashmir is believed to have existed even before the reign of Mauryan King Ashoka, as per Kalhana's Rajatarangini.
• The Buddhist legacy in Kashmir is evident through various archaeological sites across the region, including Kanispora, Ushkur, Parihaspora, and Harwan.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Stupa: A dome-shaped structure serving as a Buddhist shrine, often containing relics.
• Kushan Era: A period in ancient history, from roughly 30 AD to 375 AD, known for its cultural and economic prosperity in Central Asia and Northwest India.
• Rajatarangini: A 12th-century historical chronicle of the kings of Kashmir, written by Kalhana.