Sharada Peeth, Archaeological ruins in Sharda, Pakistan
Sharada Peeth is a stone temple ruin near the Neelum River at 2,200 meters (7,200 feet) elevation, showing Kashmiri building elements. The rectangular layout sits among mountains, surrounded by slopes that fall toward the valley.
The temple arose between the 6th and 12th centuries and became a major place for Sanskrit studies. By the 14th century, the temple lost its role and gradually fell into decline.
The ruins once served as a seat of the goddess of wisdom, drawing scholars from across the region for centuries. Pilgrims still visit the remains to pray at a place that was once a center of learning.
International visitors need a permit to enter the site, which is only accessible during daylight. The route follows the road through the Neelum Valley, passable depending on weather conditions.
The walls carry inscriptions in Sharada script, an ancient system from Kashmir that shaped regional writing traditions. These characters remain visible on the stones today and show the connection of the place to scholarship.
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