Pakistan, Nov 21: A team of Pakistani and Italian archaeological experts excavated an ancient Hindu temple at Barikot Ghundai in northwest Pakistan’s Swat district. The team feels that it is a Vishnu temple and was built around 1300 years ago during the Hindu Shahi period. The Hindu Shahis, also known as Kabul Shahis (850-1026 CE) was a Hindu dynasty. It ruled the Kabul Valley (eastern Afghanistan), Gandhara (modern-day Pakistan-Afghanistan), and northwestern India.
During the excavation, the archaeologists also found a water tank near the temple site which might have been used for bathing before worship. They also found indications of watchtowers and cantonment near the site.
It was mentioned that though Swat district has thousand year old archaeological sites, the indications of the presence of Hindu Shahi period in this area have been found for the first time.