Rehabilitation Of Archaeological Sites Can Promote Tourism In The Province-Imran

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief, Imran Khan has said that rehabilitation and renovation of archaeological

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Nov, 2017 ) :Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief, Imran Khan has said that rehabilitation and renovation of archaeological and heritage sites can help promote tourism by attracting tourists to contribute to the provincial exchequer.

Speaking at a function held in connection with the discovery of ruins of 14-metre long Mahatma Bhudda at Bhamala village in Haripur district on Wednesday, Imran Khan said that peace had been restored and the international tourists can come here to visit the scenic places and archaeological sites in Pakistan, particularly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, provincial Chief Secretary Muhammad Azam Khan, Secretary sports, Tourism, Archaeology and Youth Affairs Muhammad Tariq, Director Archaeology Dr Abdul Samad and a number of foreign envoys including Sri Lanka, Austria, Korea, Mauritania and others were present on the occasion.

Directorate of Archaeology and Tourism Department had jointly organized the briefing on the discovery of ruins of 14-metre long Bhudda at Bhamala village in Haripur district for the foreign dignitaries.

Switzerland is a small country, but its budget is more than Pakistan which is earned from the tourism sector, the PTI chairman told the gathering. Imran Khan said tourism had developed owing to the restoration of peace as more and more foreign tourists are coming to Pakistan especially KP to visit serene places and heritage sites.

He said that ruins of Budhism of China, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Korea and others were existed here and followers of the religion in those countries could come here to visit their worship places.

Briefing the dignitaries, Chief Secretary Muhammad Azam Khan said that provincial government had dismantled encroachment near archaeological sites in the province. He said that work was going on rehabilitation and renovation of heritage sites in Swabi, Mardan, Bannu, Peshawar and elsewhere in KP to attract tourists and develop archaeological tourism.

He vowed that provincial government had taken tangible steps for the protection and preservation of the archaeological sites. It merits to mention here that the Buddhism ruins are located in the village of Bhalama along the Haro river and the foothills of Murree, a colonial era town located on the Pir Panjal Range.

Bhamala Stupa is a ruined Buddhist stupa that was listed in the National Heritage in 1980 and nominated in UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The inclusion of the stupa in this list is of vital importance.

Bhamala is not only famous for a cross-shape stupa and monastery built dated back to 4th century CE but it was also a first destination for trade caravans of Silk Route.

It is vivid from the small votive stupas built along the Haro river on its both the sides.

Bhamala stupa is an archaeological site and is also known as Bhamala Buddhist Complex. The first excavation of Bhamala site was started in early 1930-31 by Sir John Marshall during which, the main cross-shape stupa and 19 other small votive stupas and a number of monasteries were discovered.

However, the excavation of Bhamala ruins was restarted by the Archaeology Department of Hazara University in collaboration with the Wisconsin University of United States in 2012-13. Keeping in view its importance, the Archaeology and Museum Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with the cooperation of Hazara University re-launched digging of sites for the discovery of ruins in 2014, which continued till 2015-16.

During this period, important discoveries were found including the death site of 14-metre long Mahatma Bhudda, stupa (B), small chapels of lime made stupas besides hundreds of artefacts belonging to three-five centuries CE.

Moreover, clay made Bhuddas, copper and silver coins and iron made tools dated back five century CE were also discovered during the excavation. At the end of five century, Kaidar Kushan was defeated by the White Huns attackers.

It not only ended the trade and routes but also deprived the monasteries from the government supervision. It was the economic fall that forced the followers of Buddhism to leave the far-off monastery.

That was why the decline of this monastery started. The Cross-shape stupa that is considered to be the biggest one was discovered during the excavation conducted by John Marshall. The access to the main stupa had been made from all the four sides through steps.

There are lion and elephants sketches engraved under the east-western and north-southern steps. 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 19 but small votive stupas in courtyard surrounding the main stupa. The floor is decorated with clay tiles having embroidery and floral engravings. There are also different lime-made statues under the cross-shape statue highlighting the sight of death of Mahatama Buddha.

The statue has now been put on display at the Taxila Museum. The ruins of cross-shape statues could be found in Shaji Ki Dheri in Peshawar, Seri Behlol in Mardan. They had been faded with passage of time but the statue in Zar Dheri in Mansehra is somewhat in a better condition.

Bhamala site enjoys a unique status because of its size and structure in Taxila and Gandhara for it carries death scene of Buddha.