Takht-e Rostam Stupa: Afghanistan's Unique Rock-Cut Buddhist Masterpiece – Complete 2026 Guide

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Takht-e Rostam Stupa: Afghanistan's Unique Rock-Cut Buddhist Masterpiece – Complete 2026 Guide [Originally published on April 2020 and updated on January 20, 2026 with new information, 2026 travel guide, and latest preservation updates."] Afghanistan's ancient history is filled with layers of civilizations, and one of the most remarkable surviving examples of its Buddhist heritage is the Takht-e Rostam stupa and monastery complex in Samangan Province. This extraordinary rock-cut site, often called the "sunken stupa," stands as a testament to the spread of Buddhism along the Silk Road and remains one of the best-preserved pre-Islamic monuments in the country. Unlike many sites damaged or destroyed over centuries of conflict, Takht-e Rostam has endured remarkably well, thanks to its ingenious design carved directly into the bedrock. Location and How to Visit in 2026 The complex is located about 2-3 km southwest of Aybak (also known as Haibak), the capital of S...
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Heavy rain reduces thotlakonda Buddhist stupa

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Thotlakonda buddhist stupa:
The telugu name thotlakonda derived from the presence of a number of rock- cut cisterns hewn into the bedrock of the hillock.thotlakonda was influence of ancient kalinga,the important source of Buddhism to srilanka.It is located in Visakhapatnam district of andhra Pradesh. Many archaeologists and historians have been shocked by sudden collapse of restored 2200 year old Buddhist stupa at a monastery in India.some part of This monument is half collapsed due to heavy rain.
Originally it is about 16 km from the bustling city of Visakhapatnam in andhra Pradesh. This monastery was identified in 1970 by aerial survey. This stupa is about 420 feet above the sea level. When the monument was first built it was done painstakingly slowly to allow each layer of brick to set harden.
Thotlakonda came into existence along with nearby sites in Visakhapatnam like bavikonda and pavurallakonda. thotlakonda might have more than 100 bhikkhus.
 Thotlakonda's peak activity was between the 2nd century BCE and the 2nd century CE owing to roman trade and religious missions sent abroad. This complex was set up for storing food, clothes, medicine and served academic center. Mainly nikaya Buddhism appears to have been practiced. Thotlakonda had declined by the end of the 3rd century

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