Re: Historical Places of the Subcontinent
Re: Historical Places of the Subcontinent
Ghareeb ka bhala na ho kabhi bhi 
Re: Historical Places of the Subcontinent
^ bhallay kay liyay mureed banna parray ga peer don of Bahria shareef ka...
Re: Historical Places of the Subcontinent
Raja Riaz is making history
BTW, recently they show a couple going on honey moon to Kataas mandar (near Chakwal) in a geo TV drama. They picturised it beautifully. Let me find the video.
Re: Historical Places of the Subcontinent
Yes please do.
Re: Historical Places of the Subcontinent
here you go about the latest clipping of katas used in a drama.
Watch for initial 30-40 seconds and then after 1:50
Re: Historical Places of the Subcontinent
Thanks bro, yeh Larki tou veena lag rahi hay :D
Re: Historical Places of the Subcontinent
lols. her bigRi larki Veena nahin hoti
PS: Aap kattas dekhen, larki nahin 
Re: Historical Places of the Subcontinent
BBC News - Mohenjo Daro: Could this ancient city be lost forever?
It is a sign of the desperation of those who love Mohenjo Daro, and who are pained to see a city that once rivalled sites of its contemporary civilisations in Egypt, Mesopotamia and China, losing its glory in this undignified way.
Re: Historical Places of the Subcontinent
^ Mohenjo Daro is not the only ancient sight under threat many of its rivals face the same problems both natural and human, but theres a worrying level of apathy in Pakistan, people are struggling to survive the present let alone think of thier past. This is a bad situation for everyone.
Re: Historical Places of the Subcontinent
^ i agree, but I hope somehow we could maintain our heritage. In countries like US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand they have buildings not more than 200-300 years ago and they try to keep them in excellent condition. As far as we are concerned we are blessed to have such a rich heritage and it would be a shame if we lose it due to our incompetence.
Re: Historical Places of the Subcontinent
Ghar ki murghi daal barabar. We only used our civilisation as a card for politics 
Re: Historical Places of the Subcontinent
Swat civilization which has sustained invaders for thousands years but in the end was damaged by savages called the taleban during their short stint.
Re: Historical Places of the Subcontinent
What can we expect from those who destroyed the peaceful image of the religion they claim to follow :bummer:
Re: Historical Places of the Subcontinent
Amluk-Dara stupa: Excavators discover unique complex – The Express Tribune
****SWAT: **It is often said that Pakistan, particularly the north, is a tourist paradise waiting to happen.
**
Local and foreign excavators revealed on Wednesday that a unique part of a previously-discovered site of the Gandhara civilization at Amluk-Dara, Swat, has been uncovered jointly by Italian Archaeological Mission in Pakistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s (K-P) Directorate of Archaeology and Museums.
Sheltered by the great Mount Elum, the Amluk-Dara stupa is an ancient relic two kilometres from the main road which travels from Barikot to Buner and stands with ancient majesty and can be seen from the surrounding mountains.
Excavators working on the site that dates back to the third century recently discovered an entire complex surrounding the four-metre long stupa — which was first discovered by the Hungarian-British archaeologist Sir Aurel Stein in 1926. It was later studied by Domenico Faccena in the 60s and 70s.
“Actually, Amluk-Dara is not a new discovery but a re-discovery. Sir Aurel Stein in 1926 reported the ruins and wrote that the main stupa was possibly one of the best preserved pieces of Buddhist architecture he had ever seen in Gandhara. The main stupa with its sacred area was founded around the third century and lasted until 10th or 11th century,” said Dr Luca Maria Olivieri, director of the Italian Archaeological Mission in Pakistan.
Remarkably, the archaeological site lasted until a time when 90% of the Buddhist sites in the Swat Valley had already been abandoned. “Certainly, the site was visited by Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang in the 7th century but unfortunately the text of Xuangzang could not be translated very well which creates some doubts, so now we are looking forward to reading the new translation by professor Max Degg, which is under progress,” revealed Dr Olivieri.
The ancient relic was vandalised and looted by archaeological smugglers where until recently illegal excavation was going on. “Though the site was already selected for excavation by the Archaeology Community Tourism (ACT), we were requested by K-P’s Archaeology Department to start the activity a bit earlier than planned after the police arrested some smugglers on the spot.”
Sculptures or fragments of the sculptural decoration of the stupas, interesting architecture – including a small pyramid-roofed shrine built just in the middle of the main stupa’s staircase – stucco decorations, potsherds and painted Shahi pottery dating back to the 7th-11th century were discovered during the excavation.
The site is partly acquired by K-P’s Archaeology Department and partly leased by the ACT. Along with Udegram, Barikot, Balo Kale and Abba-Saheb China, the site will be handed over to K-P’s Archaeology and Museum Department along with trained watch-keepers in April 2014 soon after the completion of the project. “That will be a very important step in order to provide continuity and sustainability to the ACT’s results,” Dr Olivieri added.
“It is, without a doubt, a very important excavation. As smugglers were actively busy in illegal digging, we requested the Italian Archaeological Mission to start their activity earlier. Now the site is completely protected,” said Faizur Rehman, curator at the Swat Museum.
He added that further excavation was required to expose the entire site which could potentially become a rich tourist point.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 2[SUP]nd[/SUP], 2012.
Re: Historical Places of the Subcontinent
Nice sharing and good news.
Re: Historical Places of the Subcontinent
^ thanks
Katas: The Hindu Temples | DAWN.COM
Katas: The Hindu Temples
Mariam Magsi | 2 hours ago
**I have a deep fascination with temples, ruins ancient landmarks. Ever since exploring the Aztec and Mayan ruins and pyramids in Mexico, my obsession with knowing more about the decaying areas of the world has increased tenfold. Erosion is a look into the depths of history and answers many questions about our origins as people. However, the one area I have not burrowed into extensively, until this year, is my homeland, Pakistan.
**
**Pakistan is rich in heritage, history, culture and is the inheritor of one of the oldest civilizations in the world: the Indus civilization. We have archaic ruins and cities that are practically antediluvian, such as Moenjodaro and Taxila, but we also have one of the most beautiful and neglected temples I have ever come across during travel exploration: the Katasraj Mandir.
**
http://dawncompk.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/katas-01.jpg?w=200&h=133http://dawncompk.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/katas-02.jpg?w=200&h=130 http://dawncompk.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/katas-03.jpg?w=200&h=132
I began my trek to the salt range with two explorer friends, bottles of water and home made sandwiches. Once we had walked through the underground, dark wonders of the salt mines we emerged into a blazing Punjabi sun, well on our way to the sacred temples of Katas. We had to ask around quite vigorously, because the innocent and curious pedestrians carrying hay and goats on their backs kept pointing us in the wrong direction. I knew I would not leave Punjab without laying my eyes on this mandir. It had called out to me, and I was going to succumb to it’s visual splendor.
http://dawncompk.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/katas-04.jpg?w=115&h=170 http://dawncompk.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/katas-05.jpg?w=253&h=170 http://dawncompk.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/katas-06.jpg?w=258&h=170
The complex and architecturally wondrous temple was located in the village of Katas in the Chakwal district of glorious Punjab. It was perched steeply, above the surrounding rugged and rural landscape, shining in all its forgotten glory, awaiting visitors, pilgrims and tourists. The large temple dates back to 6th century AD and the smaller, but in no way insignificant temples, are much more recent, having been built around 900 years ago.
http://dawncompk.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/katas-07.jpg?w=104&h=181 http://dawncompk.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/katas-08.jpg?w=119&h=180 http://dawncompk.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/katas-09.jpg?w=269&h=177
There are beautiful legends and stories attributed to the romanticism and highly charged energy engulfing the deserted mandirs, involving characters from the Mahabarat, but the most important, and my personal favourite, tale is that of Lord Shiva’s tears. It is said that at the death of his wife, Sati, Lord Shiva was so devastated, he cried hysterically and his tears formed a holy pool of water at the foot of the temples, where many a pilgrim bathed to seek salvation. Unfortunately, as we entered the space in which the temples were enclosed, with our soft footsteps and ever-ready cameras, we were met with the demise of Shiva’s tears. The water was heavily polluted and most of it had been pumped out for industrial purposes. A starving duck was struggling to get out of it’s murkiness, as two men drained away what seemed to be the last of “shiva’s tears.”
It should be noted that the disappearance of this sacred pool and the overall neglect of the temples has disappointed Hindus in more ways than one. These sites, including the surrounding areas and the salt range, have unearthed fossils, artifacts, weaponry and treasures, and are representative of human history and heritage. A heritage that is now largely ignored because Pakistan is slowly, but surely, losing the voice of it’s minorities; negligence of sacred sites such as these is a prime example of the indifference we are facing as a nation. In fact, many Hindu families have complained of their marginalised plight, lack of freedom of religion, desecration of holy sites and the desire to leave Pakistan for greener pastures: India. It is estimated that in 1951 Hindus made up at least 22 per cent of Pakistan’s population (Bangladesh included) and now their population has decreased to a measly1.7 per cent.
http://dawncompk.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/katas-37.jpg?w=243&h=160
Any other place in the world and highly informed archeologists and paleontologists would be brought in to conduct thorough research, providing us with answers from century old times. In the face of these fundamentally intolerant times, not even the statues and faces of the gods/goddesses remain in the temple complex. I hope that in seeing and observing the photography conducted in this area, you will be able to take a visual journey into what stimulated me most during my recent travels to Pakistan.
Photos by Mariam Magsi – Mariam Magsi Art and Design
[HR][/HR]*
http://dawncompk.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/80x80-mariam-magsi.jpg?w=670
Mariam Magsi is a photographer, writer and curator working in Canada. Her professional work can be viewed at Mariam Magsi Art and Design. She is the recipient of a prestigious publication award from the “World Poetry Movement” for poetic works highlighting natural disasters in Pakistan.*
Re: Historical Places of the Subcontinent
I so want to visit Kattas. I got chance, but missed. One of my friend in Chakwal invited me on his marriage, but can’t attend due to official assignment 
Re: Historical Places of the Subcontinent
I have passed near Chakwal many a times, but never knew about Katas Raj before. I have also added that into my itinerary, will post pictures of it when I do visit the place.
Re: Historical Places of the Subcontinent
Interesting didnt know about any historical sites in Islamabad.
**ISLAMABAD, Aug 17: Fearing for the future of architectural remains, the Department of Archaeology and Museums (DOAM) has pointed out that the capital city could gradually lose more than 150 sites of historical significance within the capital ****territory to new housing societies and roads.
**
“These sites are vulnerable to destruction. And there have been incidents of illegal digging,” said Ali Awan a senior official of the department referring to Pun Fakiran near the Buddhist Caves in G-13.
**The recent victim of development were the area around the Buddhist Caves in sector G-13 where the civic authority had developed a park and put a boundary around it.
**
All the sites in Islamabad were unprotected. The only two sites protected under the Antiquities Act 1975 were the 15th century AD Pharwala Fort, situated 30 kilometres from Islamabad and the 16th century AD Rawat Fort.
Both the forts, according to officials in DOAM, were also as vulnerable to destruction and illegal excavations as the other unprotected sites.
The forts were missing conservation and enforcements teams.
However, critical of the urban sprawl, DOAM pointed out that all construction projects big or small by civic authorities and private builders were undertaken in violation of the Antiquities Act.
The Section 22 of the Act said that no development plan or scheme or new construction on, or within a distance of 200 feet of a protected immovable antiquity should be undertaken or executed unless the Director General of Department of Archaeology and Museums grants approval.
“Whenever a development scheme is undertaken at the historical site, the DOAM is not contacted. Worst yet, the department had also not set its foot down to prevent damage to the sites with the exception of one or two incidents,” said the official.
The department asserted that the need for an NOC from DOAM for development projects in Islamabad – with a history that went back five million years – was as important as any other approval.
The Mesolithic rock shelter in sector G-13 on the Kashmir Highway was another example where possibility of discovering stone articles used by cave people two million years ago was lost. The rock shelter was almost destroyed when Pakistan Housing Society levelled the ground all around it to make way for new houses. DOAM interfered and declared some 200 feet area around it as protected.