An amazing archaeological discovery has been made in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, where a cache of ancient Hindu idols and Shivlings, believed to be over 2,000 years old, has been unearthed during renovation work at the revered Karkoot Nag site.
The relics were discovered by labourers on August 2 while the Public Works Department (PWD) was undertaking restoration of a natural spring at the site, as part of a broader government initiative. During excavation, workers stumbled upon 15 intricately carved idols—among them 11 Shivlings and a damaged sculpture, suspected to be a remnant of an old temple pillar.
Preliminary assessments suggest the artefacts date back to the period between 625 CE and 855 CE, during the reign of the Karkota dynasty that once ruled the Kashmir Valley. Some experts believe the idols may even predate this era. The site, already a place of pilgrimage for Kashmiri Pandits, has now gained renewed historical and spiritual significance with this latest discovery.
Archaeologists say the number and nature of the idols hint at the possibility of a once-thriving temple complex at the site. Some artefacts bear carvings of multiple deities, further reinforcing the belief that Karkoot Nag may have been home to an important religious structure in ancient times. Experts also speculate that these sacred objects might have been deliberately buried or concealed during periods of conflict.
Following the discovery, officials from the Department of Archives, Archaeology, and Museums visited the site and have taken custody of the idols. The artefacts have been transferred to the Shri Pratap Singh (SPS) Museum in Srinagar for detailed analysis, including material testing and carbon dating, to determine their precise age and origin.
The find has evoked deep emotions among the local community, with many residents and religious leaders calling for the reconstruction of a temple at the site. “This is not just an archaeological discovery—it is a rediscovery of our spiritual heritage,” a community elder remarked.
The unearthing of these ancient idols underscores the rich, layered history of Kashmir and serves as a powerful reminder of the region’s civilisational legacy, much of which still lies buried beneath the earth.