Melikawat, Archaeological site in Hotan, China.

Melikawat is an archaeological site along the Yorungkash River near Hotan with scattered ruins covering a large area. The remains include collapsed stupas and square earthen mounds that mark where residential and religious structures once stood.

Melikawat lies 30 km south of Hotan in Xinjiang. It was once a city and a major Buddhist centre in the Kingdom of Khotan, and may have been that kingdom's capital. Its first inhabitants were probably Tocharians.

The site lies in the Kingdom of Khotan, where Buddhism was a major religion; Melikawat served as a major Buddhist center and possibly the kingdom's capital. Its first inhabitants were probably Tocharians. Visitors today see remains of walls, glass and pottery that indicate the settlement's daily life and craft production.

The site sits south of Hotan and requires local transport to reach from the city. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes as the terrain is uneven and wind can be strong in this desert region.

The site lies about 30 km south of Hotan and may have been the capital of the Kingdom of Khotan, which makes its ruins more than a local Buddhist centre. Its first inhabitants were probably Tocharians, an Indo-European people. Finds of glass and pottery show that craft goods were made or traded here.