Day: April 12, 2016

Nice Naturally Speaking Photos

Naturally Speaking Images I found:

You Are Here (Naturally Speaking)
Naturally Speaking
Image by The Virtual University Geoblogging Project

Shah Allah Ditta Caves
Naturally Speaking
Image by NotMicroButSoft (Fallen in Love with Ghizar, GB)
Located in Sector C-13, just few miles from the sprawling village of Shah Allah Ditta, these temples commemorate the period when the North West region of our country was home to the Gandhara civilization. The cave temples are located around a naturally occurring stream lined with ancient Banyan trees adding magic to the glory of this ancient site. Archeologists believe that this site was originally a Buddhist enclave whose history dates back to the first century of the Common Era, where Buddhist monks and other devotees came for pilgrimage..

The village Shah Allah Ditta is believed to be more than seven hundred years old and was used as route from Kabul to Gandharan city of Taxila by Alexander and Sher Shah Suri while Mughal rulers and other emperors often passed through while traveling from Afghanistan to the Hindustan. The village is named after a Mughal period Dervish Shah Allah Ditta and bears significant importance for its natural beauty and historical background.

Relics of the Buddhist era dating back to the 8th century can be found here along with burnt diyas and trees with amulets tied to them.

Marked on the ground close to the caves the location where Alexander arrived and was received by Raja Ambi, King of Taxila. The road next to the caves that leads to the top of the mountain, Shah Allah Ditta road, is said to be built on the exact path followed by Mughal Emperor Sher Shah Suri during his visit.

Despite the rich history and myths attached to this heritage site, there has been no effort at rehabilitation and the ancient site lies in ruins with no one interested in making it a focal point of pilgrimage for the Hindus and Buddhists devotees. It is the responsibility of the citizens of Islamabad to protect the cave temples as they speak volumes about our cultural history and diversity. Else the dying cave temples of Islamabad will be among the great losses that our country might have to endure.

Above photo is a panoramic shot taken from inside the caves.