29-03-2018
33°49'58.52"N
72°58'34.92"E
Bhamala Stupa is a ruined Buddhist stupa and National Heritage Site
near Haripur, Pakistan. The Stupa is different
from other stupas found in Gandhara. The ruins date back to the 4th century CE.
The ruins are situated very near to the Khanpur Dam. The stupa is cross shaped and
looks like an Aztec Pyramid. Bhamala stupa is an archaeological site and is also known as Bhamala Buddhist Complex.
Sir John Marshal first excavated the site in the late 1920s and
early 1930s but The site was never studied in depth again. It is nominated at
UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The nomination lead to the restoration of the
ruins (mainly the Stupa). The site , as of June 2015, is under the control of
Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,
Government of Pakistan. The site is believed to be one of the best preserved
sites in the Taxila Valley
According to the current understandings, the shape of main stupa
is cruciform and it is the biggest surviving example of this shape in Taxila
and Gandhara region. There are about nineteen but small votive stupas in
courtyard surrounding the main stupa
According to archaeologists
this discovery is the largest statue ever found in Gandhara depicting the death
of Buddha as well as a ‘double-halo’ Buddha statue, the first of its kind to
have been found at the Bhamala Stupa site.
The rare discovery was made
during excavations at the Buddhist stupa and monastery dating back to 4th
century AD.
According to Dr Abdul
Samad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa director, Department of Archaeology and Museums, this latest discoveries by the archaeologists
have opened new chapters in the history of the ancient Taxila valley civilisation.
“This is one of the few
sites in the world to have the cruciform Stupa which was reserved for Buddha
himself.”
The death of the Buddha
scene is known as ‘Maha Pari Nirvana’. The statue depicting the scene, measures
14 metres in length, and is the largest ever statue of its kind found in the
archaeological history of Gandhara civilisation. The image is placed on a 15
metre long platform.
Buddha’s head is missing as
the site appears to have been targeted by illegal treasure hunters.
“Other parts of the statue
such as the left leg and arms were also found in a damaged condition,” he said.
Other images in terracotta
have been found near the Par Nirvana scene. Pari Nirvana scene was exposed from
a long chamber to the west of the main Stupa facing towards east. He added that
access to this chamber is given through three openings at regular intervals.
The chamber is made of stone in semi ashlars masonry. This statue of Buddha
with double halos was unique and such a statue had never been found at this site.
In the past statues, heads of Buddha statues and coins from the Kushan period
had been found at the site.
“In the first leg of this
excavation, archaeologists have opened a new chapter in the archaeological
history of the Taxila valley. Through the recent discoveries, it has been
confirmed that the site dates back to 3rd century CE. Recently discovered
Buddha heads are made in baked soil which dates to the third century, rejecting
archaeologist John Marshal’s claim from 1930 that the site was from 12th century
CE.”
During this leg of
excavations, other relics such as a carnelian seal depicting what appears to be
the Gaja Lakshmi deity, one of the forms of Hindu goddess Ashta Lakshmi have
been discovered. Other relics with Kashmiri influence have added new dimensions
to what we know about these ancient civilizations. Several terracotta and
stucco Buddha statues and copper coins were discovered at this site which date
back to the Kidara-Kushan period (4 to 5 CE). This indicates that Bhamala was
not isolated from main Taxila. Material found in Bhamala could improve our
understanding of Buddhist culture, development and contact in this region.
The success of the Bhamala
Stupa study would also encourage other archaeologists to come to Pakistan.
The Bhamala complex was
different from other sites in Taxila valley.
The stupa, shaped like a
cross, resembles Aztec Pyramids and such constructions had only been found in
Kashmir, in the past. Main stupa was cruciform and there were about 19 small
votive stupas in the courtyard surrounding the main stupa.
During the recent
excavation, a total of 510 relics were discovered, which included terracotta,
stucco sculptures as well as iron objects including nails, hooks, door
fittings, hair clips, copper artifacts and 14 coins from the late Kushan
period.
main stupa is cruciform
main stupa is cruciform
