An ancient temple found in a mountain in Pakistan, was built 1300 years ago during the Hindu royal period

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An ancient temple found in a mountain in Pakistan

Peshawar: A 1,300-year-old Hindu temple has been discovered by Pakistani and Italian archaeologists in a mountain in the Swat district of northwest Pakistan.

This temple was discovered during excavations at Barikot Ghundai. Announcing this on Thursday, Fazle Khalik of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Department of Archeology said that this temple belongs to Lord Vishnu. He said that this temple was built 1,300 years ago during the Hindu royal period.

Hindu Shahi or Kabul Shahi (850-1026 AD) was a Hindu dynasty that ruled in the Kabul Valley (eastern Afghanistan), Gandhara (modern Pakistan) and present day northwest India. Archaeologists have also found cantonments and watchtowers near the temple site during excavations.

An ancient temple found in a mountain in Pakistan

Experts have also found a water tank near the temple. Possibly the devotees used to bathe there before worship. Khalik said that for the first time traces of Hindu royal period have been found in the area. Dr. Luca, head of the Italian Archaeological Mission, said that this is the first temple of Gandhara civilization found in Swat district. There are also many places of worship of Buddhism in Swat district.

During their excavation, the archaeologists also found traces of cantonment and watchtowers near the temple site. The experts also found a water tank near the temple site which they believe was used by the Hindus for bathing before worship.

Khaliq said that Swat district is home to a thousand-year-old archaeological sites and the traces of the Hindu Shahi period have been found for the first time in the area.

Dr. Luka, the head of the Italian archaeological mission, said this was the first temple of the Ghandhara civilisation discovered in Swat district.

Swat district is among the top 20 sites in Pakistan which is home to every kind of tourism such as natural beauty, religious tourism, cultural tourism and archaeological sites.

Several places of worship of Buddhism are also situated in Swat district.

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