Shingardar Stupa in Barikot - Swat Valley
Shingardar Stupa in Barikot Swat is a remnant of the Buddhist era, and it is one of the thousands of ancient monuments in the Swat Valley. It was built by Uttarasena, the ancient king of Swat, to incorporate his portion of Buddha relics. The stupa structure is made up of large stones and layers of thin slate. On the way to Mingora there is a statue of Buddha carved on a rock to the right of G.T. the road. There are also the remains of a cave near this statue.
The Shingardar stupa in Barikot swat was identified by Colonel Deane and S.A. Stein with a famous stupa built by King Uttarasena at the site where the white elephant holding the Kings section of Buddha relics stood. When he got to the place, the elephant suddenly fell down and died and turned into a stone. Next to the rock the King then erected the stupa.
This stupa myth is based on local customs (Deane, 1886, Stein, 1930). This tradition is preserved by Hieum Stang who visited Swat in the 7th century A.D. It is said that when the elephant arrived at the site with Buddha’s remains on his back, his body miraculously turned to stone after his death
It is said that the mountain peak, facing the main stupa to the north, depicts a small statue in it, which is visible only to the religious eye. G.Tucci, however, does not agree with the identification, and states that the stamp was not made by King Uttarasena. He places a mythical stupa somewhere near the Naway Kalay about 500 feet north of the town of Kota.
The controversy over the transfer of Uttarasena’s portion of the Buddha’s remains to Swat on an elephant’s back and the transformation of an animal into a stone requires further investigation and research.
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Structural Features of the Shingardar Stupa
Originally the plinth of the stupa was square in plan, but the inhabitants of the village removed the well-dressed facing stone and also the great portion of the interior masonry around the podium,for construction of their houses and road.
The stupa consists of a lower drum decorated with two cornice, upper drum and a dome measuring 12m.The total height of the stupa from dome to the existing base is 27m.
The masonry comprises large dressed slabs of white stone separated by small columns of dark slate pieces, and narrow horizontal packing between the courses.
Some traces of stucco plaster on the drum are still visible. The lower drum measuring 04.87m is garnished with slightly projected pilasters with bearing rather flat brackets.
The cornice above the lower drum is 0.60m high and comprises a plain course of slabs and above this a projected part built in thin slabs which are set vertically on their shorter edge.
The upper cornice is marked by a shallow recess about 0.50m high producing a light and shade effect. Antiquities robbers cut the stupa dome on the northwestern side, common practice in this area. On the eastern and southern sides of the stupa about 15 metres from the base, traces of Buddhist settlement can be seen, now occupied by the modern houses.
The masonry of these latter structures is very rough and probably belongs to a monastery complex. Due to the importance of thus imposing stupa, the excavation at this site as stated earlier, becomes imperative for the protection and preservation of the monument.
Shingardar Stupa is strongly recommended for people who are engrossed in archaeology and history as this place has a lot to tell. So what are you waiting for? Plan your trip by clicking on the following button and fill the form.
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