Timeless Treasure; Unveiling the Buddhist Heritage in Shah Allah Ditta Caves
The Buddhist caves situated in Shah Allah Ditta village in the foot of Margala Hills near Islamabad remarked as great remains of bygone era’s religion. This site is believed to be over 25,000 years old. These caves have an immense significance as it welcomed Buddhist monks for meditation and reflection in 4th century BCE. The village is approximately 650 years old.
The ancient paintings from Buddhist era are adorn. These caves were a place of spiritual consolation and sanctuary. After Buddhist, the Hindu Sadhu’s were overcame these caves. And later on Muslim darvesh’s take over these caves for worship in era of Mughal Empire. These caves named shah Allah Ditta in era of Mughal empire, before it these were belonged to Buddhist monks and Hindu sadhus, in Mughal reign a saint shah Allah Ditta stayed here and became famous. Instead of these transitions, the caves are always have an immense significance of Buddhist relics, it is always considered as one of the sacred Buddhist site.
It is historically written that Gautama Buddha founder of Buddhism stayed in shah Allah Ditta village 2000 years age and he meditate in these caves also. The Gautama Buddha’s reference enhance the spiritual factor of these caves. The boundaries of these caves made of Kanjur stones that are 40 meters long, 60 meters wide and eight meters high.
In 2022, first time in centuries, a delegation of Buddhist monks from Sindh celebrated the Vesak or Buddha day festival in these 25,000 old year caves. This festival is the celebration of birth of Gautama Buddha, attainment of Nirvana and death of Gautama Buddha was celebrated in Pakistan in month of may. This festival consider as one of the important festival of Buddhism.
The caves though wrinkled by time, still have the marks of their ancient heritage. The walls of caves tell the stories of meditative practices of Buddhist monks and important cultural attributes of the caves that belongs to Buddhist era. The mesmerizing natural beauty of Margala Hills surrounds the caves attract the visitors. The Buddhist monks from all the world feels a connection to their rich cultural and spiritual heritage. A visit to these caves offers you a glimpse of great Buddhist era in this region but also u can thrive the resonance of greatness within these ancient walls.
