Excavation of Zehanpora Buddhist Site Begins with Second Phase Launch

Saturday marks the launch of the second excavation stage at Zehanpora, a Buddhist location in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, with J&K chief secretary Atal Dullo presiding over the ceremony. The site’s significance emerged last year when University of Kashmir scholar Mohamad Ajmal Shah identified three Buddha stupas in historic photographs from the Guimet Museum in France. Following a request for funding, the state archaeology department supported the initial dig, which revealed an apsidal stupa hall and various iron and copper items.

Using drone-derived wall alignments, the team now targets additional buried structures, speculating a link to the Fourth Buddhist Council of the 1st century CE. Shah also noted that the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang referenced nearby Baramulla, suggesting he may have visited Zehanpora as well.