Butkara Stupa

The circular stupa features six construction phases, with each new structure built over the previous one, creating distinct architectural layers at the site.

Archaeological excavations in 1956 led by Domenico Faccenna revealed coins from Chandragupta Maurya's period, dating the initial construction to the 2nd century BCE.

The structure exhibits Indo-Greek architectural elements, including Indo-Corinthian capitals and Buddhist reliefs that demonstrate the fusion of Hellenistic and local styles.

Visitors can explore multiple archaeological layers of the stupa, which represent different construction periods and architectural techniques spanning several centuries.

The seated Buddha statue discovered at Butkara represents one of the earliest Buddha images in North Western India from the late 1st century BCE.

Location: Swat District

GPS coordinates: 34.75710,72.36220

Latest update: March 11, 2025 12:46