Incredible pictures reveal Buddhist temples and artifacts dating to 1,500 years ago in India
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Archaeologists discovered an ancient Buddhist temple and dozens of other well-preserved structures and artifacts in one of India’s tiger reserve parks.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) shared photos of caves, temples and other remains found in the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, the largest state in central India.
“An ASI team has covered nearly 170 square kilometers in the area of the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve during months of exploration of the region undertaken for the first time since 1938,” the ASI wrote.
Archaeologists discovered an ancient Buddhist temple and dozens of other well-preserved structures and artifacts in one of India’s tiger reserve parks
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) shared photos of caves, temples and other remains found in the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, the largest state in central India
“An ASI team has covered nearly 170 square kilometers in the area of the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve during months of exploration of the region undertaken for the first time since 1938,” the ASI wrote.
According to the ASI, the time period of the findings includes the reign of the kings Shri Bhimsena, Maharaja Pothasiri, Maharaja Bhattadeva.
Some of the places deciphered in the inscriptions are Kaushami, Mathura, Pavata (Parvata), Vejabharada and Sapatanaairikaa.
“In an exploration, 26 temples, 26 caves, 2 monasteries, 2 votive stupas, 24 inscriptions, 46 sculptures, other scattered relics and 19 water structures have been identified,” the team wrote.
It is believed that the reign of these kings took place between the second and fifth centuries, which would make the ruins about 1500 years old.
Some of the places deciphered in the inscriptions are Kaushami, Mathura, Pavata (Parvata), Vejabharada and Sapatanaairikaa
“In an exploration, 26 temples, 26 caves, 2 monasteries, 2 votive stupas, 24 inscriptions, 46 sculptures, other scattered relics and 19 water structures have been identified,” the team wrote.
Coins from the Mughal era and the Sharqi dynasty of the Jaunpur sultanate were also discovered in the ruins.
“For me, the most surprising finds are the remains of Buddhist structures in the region where a Hindu dynasty ruled,” Jabalpur Circle chief archaeologist SK Bajpai, who led the team, said at a news conference.
“It suggests religious harmony, but who built these Buddhist structures is not yet known.”
Researchers hadn’t expected inscriptions from older cities like Mathura and Kaushambi, because these cities are in another Indian state, Uttar Pradesh.
“Names of these towns which are far from Bandhavgarh suggest that there was trade ties and people from other towns may have donated something, but again it’s a matter of guesswork,” a senior ASI official said at a press conference at headquarters. from ASI in New Delhi, according to News week.
This is the first time ASI has explored Bandhavgarh since its 1938 exploration by archaeologist NP Chakravarti. Many structures there are documented,” Bajpai said.
“We have reported and documented more structures, including ancient caves, temples, Buddhist relics, mathematics, sculptures, water bodies, murals in ancient scripts such as Brahmi and Nagari.”