Kashmir’s Ancient Buddhist Past Unearthed: How a Forgotten Photograph in France Led to the Discovery of a 2,000-Year-Old Site in Baramulla

In a significant archaeological breakthrough, a 2,000-year-old Buddhist site has been unearthed in Zehanpora village of Baramulla district in Jammu and Kashmir, shedding new light on the Valley’s ancient civilisational history. The discovery was highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Mann Ki Baat address, where he described it as a moment of pride and a reminder of India’s deep-rooted cultural heritage.

The excavation has revealed that what were long believed to be ordinary land mounds were, in fact, remnants of a major Buddhist complex dating back to the Kushan era, a period when Buddhism flourished across the Indian subcontinent and beyond.

Archaeologists have unearthed ancient Buddhist stupas and settlements at Zehanpora (Image: MannKiBaat) | Moneycontrol

How an Old French Photograph Changed Everything

The breakthrough in Zehanpora came not from the ground alone, but from an unexpected source — a century-old photograph preserved in a French museum archive. The photograph, which depicted three Buddhist stupas in Baramulla, was rediscovered by researchers and matched with present-day satellite imagery and field surveys in Kashmir.

This visual evidence provided the missing link needed to identify the site conclusively. Once the correlation was established, archaeologists intensified their investigations, using drone-based surveys, aerial mapping, and stratigraphic excavation methods to confirm that the structures were man-made and historically significant.

What Lies Beneath Zehanpora

Excavations at the site have so far uncovered stupa foundations, stone walls, pottery fragments, and metal objects, all consistent with Buddhist religious activity between the 1st and 3rd centuries CE. Archaeologists believe the site may have housed monastic quarters, worship halls, and ceremonial structures, indicating sustained religious and cultural activity.

The location of Zehanpora near the Jhelum River and historic trade routes further strengthens the view that the site was part of a wider Buddhist network connecting Kashmir with Gandhara, Central Asia, and the Silk Route regions.

Reclaiming Kashmir’s Buddhist Heritage

Historical records and ancient travel accounts make it clear that Kashmir was once a major centre of Buddhist learning. Buddhism is believed to have reached the region during the time of Emperor Ashoka and later flourished under the Kushan rulers. Chinese pilgrims such as Xuanzang documented the presence of monasteries, stupas, and scholars in Kashmir during their travels.

Over centuries, many of these sites were lost, destroyed, or forgotten. The Zehanpora excavation stands as a rare opportunity to reclaim and document this suppressed chapter of Kashmir’s history, offering tangible archaeological evidence of the Valley’s pluralistic and Indic civilisational past.

Institutional Effort Behind the Excavation

The excavation is being conducted by the Jammu and Kashmir Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums, in collaboration with the Centre of Central Asian Studies and the University of Kashmir, with support from national archaeological bodies. Experts involved in the project have stated that the site is far larger than initially estimated and that further excavation could reveal additional structures and artefacts.

Prime Minister Modi’s reference to the discovery in Mann Ki Baat has brought national attention to the find and underscored the importance of preserving India’s ancient heritage through scientific research and institutional support.

The MGMM Outlook

Kashmir’s rediscovered Buddhist site at Zehanpora in Baramulla powerfully reinforces the Valley’s deep-rooted Indic and civilisational heritage, long overshadowed by selective historical narratives. The unearthing of a 2,000-year-old Buddhist complex from the Kushan era confirms that Kashmir was once a thriving centre of Buddhist learning, spirituality, and cultural exchange. The fact that ordinary-looking mounds concealed stupas, monastic structures, and ritual artefacts highlights how vast sections of India’s ancient past remained buried due to neglect and historical amnesia. The rediscovery, catalysed by a forgotten French photograph and validated through modern archaeological methods, demonstrates how evidence-based research can reclaim suppressed chapters of history.

The Zehanpora excavation also underscores Kashmir’s historic integration with broader Indic and trans-Asian networks linking Gandhara, Central Asia, and the Silk Route. References by ancient travellers like Xuanzang and the strategic location near the Jhelum River further affirm that Buddhism in Kashmir was neither marginal nor temporary but a sustained civilisational presence. Institutional involvement by state and academic bodies, along with national recognition through Prime Minister Modi’s Mann Ki Baat, has brought overdue attention to this legacy. As further excavation continues, Zehanpora stands as a reminder that Kashmir’s identity has always been plural, ancient, and intrinsically connected to India’s spiritual and cultural continuum.

(Sources: OpIndia, India Today, Moneycontrol)