World famous Buddhist Site spanned over 90 kanals at Harwan Kashmir

by Scoop News    May 25, 2011

Srinagar,May 25 (Scoop News) – JK Minister for Tourism and Culture,  Nawang Rigzin Jora has said that government is very keen to preserve the cultural heritage of the state, which has tremendous potential for promotion of cultural tourism.

            This was stated by the Minister today during his visit to world famous Buddhist site at Harwan.

            Director Libraries and Research,  Khalid Bashir, consultant tourism and culture department  Khurshid Ahmed Qadri were among others accompanied by the Minister.

            The site was identified by Sir Aurl stein at Harwan earlier. It is an, internationally reputed place where 3rd   Buddhist Conference was held during 4th century.

             Spanned over 90 kanals, the site is centrally protected monument presently looked after by Archeological survey of India (ASI).

            During excavation of the site, stupa, figured type pavement rooms which served as chappals for residential purposes, besides terrocata figures, clay votive tablets bearing in relief miniature stupa giving idea about the early kind of stupas in Kashmir.

            The tile design consists of wavy lines, fish boom patterns, conventional flowers, leaves of aquatic plants commonly found in Dal Lake. The tiles found at the site are numbered in khoroshti script depicting the perfect wavy tile laying.

            The tiles found at the site are mostly preserved with ASI and some in SPS Museum Srinagar and also in some museums of world repute.

            The Minister took detailed stock of the site. He directed consultant, Tourism and Culture to submit detailed report of antiquities excavated at neolithic site at Burzahama, ancient Buddhist site at Srinagar and Gilgit manuscripts lying with National Archeological of India so that the matter would be taken up with Union Ministry of Culture for their return to the state.

The Minister said that for giving protection to the ancient monuments the Preservation Act of 1920 was also amended after a period of 90 years. Moreover for wider protection of the heritage assets tangible, intangible and natural the Heritage Conservation and Preservation Act has been also enacted and its implementation is under process, he added.

             Jora said Jammu and Kashmir has highest number of monuments which are known for their historical, archeological and architecture importance. He said during last few years number of steps have been taken to identify and declare the unprotected monuments as state protected, besides conservation and restoration has been taken up at number of monuments. He said more monuments are under the process of conservation which include Hariparbahat fort Srinagar, ancient temple and spring khotyar, mosque and tombs of Maidin Sahib, Mubarak Mandi heritage compels, Beamgarh fort Reasi, Mughal Sari Chingus, Rajouri, Bhau fort Jammu, Jandi fort Kathua and Samba fort.

             The Minister said the number of such monuments is enormous and scattered all over the state. He said presently 69 centrally protected monuments are looked after by ASI while as 38 state protected monuments are looked after by State government.

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