Archive · 28 Dec 2025
PM Modi Highlights Ancient Buddhist Ruins in Kashmir
Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about some very old Buddhist ruins in a village called Zehanpora in Kashmir.
These ruins are from a long time ago, around 2000 years, during the Kushan period.
People found stupas, walls, and other cool things there.
They used drones and special tools to find these ruins.
This discovery shows that Kashmir was an important place for Buddhism a long time ago.
It also connects to old stories and texts about the area.
The ruins are like a big puzzle that helps us understand the history of Kashmir better.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted ancient Buddhist ruins in Zehanpora village, Kashmir, during his 'Mann Ki Baat' address.
The ruins, dating back to the Kushan period (1st-3rd centuries CE), include stupas, walls, pottery, and terracotta art.
Discoveries were made using drones and ground-penetrating radar, revealing a significant Buddhist centre in ancient Kashmir.
The site is linked to the Gandhara region and the Kushan Empire, with connections to historical accounts by Chinese monks like Xuanzang.
The architectural features mirror those found in key Gandharan sites, placing Zehanpora as a part of a thriving cultural exchange system.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Archaeologists, Locals
- What
- Discovery of ancient Buddhist ruins at Zehanpora village
- When
- Excavations and surveys conducted recently, with historical context dating back 2000 years
- Where
- Zehanpora village in Baramulla district, Kashmir
- Why
- To uncover and understand the rich cultural and religious heritage of ancient Kashmir
- Location
- Zehanpora village, Baramulla district, Kashmir
- Period
- Kushan period (1st-3rd centuries CE)
- Discoveries
- Stupas, walls, pottery, terracotta art, copper artefacts
- Significance
- Major Buddhist centre during the Kushan dynasty
- Discovery Method
- Drones and ground-penetrating radar
- Historical Connection
- Linked to Gandhara region and Kushan Empire
- Historical Text
- Nilamata Purana
