
A Hindu temple has been discovered in Pakistan's Swat district by a group ofPakistani and Italian archaeological experts.
The discovery was announced on November 19after an excavation projectat Barikot Ghundai. The discovered temple is believed to be 1300years old and was built during the Hindu Shahi period. The temple is believed to be of Lord Vishnu.
The Hindu Shahis or Kabul Shahis (850-1026 CE) was a Hindu dynasty that ruled the Kabul Valley (eastern Afghanistan), Gandhara (modern-day Pakistan), and present-day northwestern India.
This temple was found by the experts ata mountain in northwest Pakistan’s Swat district. They also found traces ofcantonment and watchtowers near the temple site. A water tank was also found near the site of the newly discovered temple site, which the experts believe was being used by the Hindus for bathing before worshipping to Lord Vishnu.
This is the first temple of theGhandhara civilisation to be discovered in this region, Dr. Luka, head of the Italian archaeological mission informed.Swat district, however, has been home to a few more thousand-year-old archaeological sites, but the traces of previous existence ofHindu Shahi period have been discovered for the first time.
Swat district is known for its tourist attractions which include cultural, religious andarchaeological sites, and also adorns beautiful natural beauty.Several places of worship of Buddhism are also situated in Swat district.