Parihaspora Archaeological Site

Parihaspora Archaeological Site is an excavated ancient capital located at Parihaspora village near Pattan in Baramulla District, Jammu and Kashmir, about 27 km from Srinagar. Founded in the mid-8th century CE by Karkota ruler Lalitaditya Muktapida, it contains extensive ruins of a Buddhist stupa, chaitya, Rajavihara monastery and Hindu Shiva temples built on a plateau above the Jhelum River.

Visitors can expect an open-air archaeological plateau with scattered stone ruins, foundations, carved blocks and partially standing structures of a large Buddhist stupa, chaitya, monastery complex and Hindu temples. The site is set on elevated ground with views of surrounding fields and the Jhelum valley. There are excavated mounds, information boards and pathways between complexes. It is a quiet, low-facility heritage site suited for sightseeing, photography and historical exploration.

Parihaspora was established as the new capital of Kashmir by Karkota dynasty ruler Lalitaditya Muktapida around 750 CE and served as a political and religious centre. The city included Buddhist viharas and Hindu temples and was described by Kalhana in Rajatarangini. It was largely destroyed by fire during the reign of Suryavarman and later abandoned. Excavations by M.A. Stein in 1892 and by the Archaeological Survey of India revealed the stupa, chaitya, monastery and temple complexes dating to the 8th century CE.

The site represents the confluence of Buddhist and Hindu architectural traditions in early medieval Kashmir. It showcases Karkota-era stone temple architecture, Buddhist monastic planning and sculptural art, reflecting Kashmir's historical role as a centre of Buddhism and Shaivism. It remains an important heritage and educational site for understanding ancient Kashmiri culture and architecture.