Shah Allah Ditta caves to be revamped

Islamabad: The government has planned to review various aspects to further improve the Shah Allah Ditta caves in Margalla Hills to attract tourists.

According to an official, a large number of local tourists as well as foreigners regularly visit the Shah Allah Ditta caves. He added the number of tourists could be double while taking various measures for promotion of this 2400 years ancient relics and increased facilities for tourists there.

The scenic Margalla Hills hides the gem of archaeological master piece of Shah Allah Ditta caves preserving around 2400 years old Bhuddist era murals. The ancient caves depict one of the nestling places of Buddhism in the region that are located in sector E-11 of the federal capital.

Shah Allah Ditta caves have various engravings of Buddha on its wall that are extremely pleasing and appealing, he added.

He said that interestingly, relics of the Buddhist era dating back to the 8th century can be found here. After a meticulous observation of the site it could be seen as the archaeological evidence indicates that the caves and the platform-like formations surrounding the area were first used for meditation by Buddhist monks and later by Hindu sadhus before Muslim ascetics took over during the Mughal period,he said.

He informed that Shah Allah Ditta caves in different have remained the centre of attraction in different epochs of rising religions in the subcontinent. These caves also have religious significance for local people because the devotees visit this place quite often.

“There were omens of burning ’diyas’ on walls of the cave that and many amulets or ’taveez’ were also tied around the roots of Banyan trees,” he stated. The village is believed to be more than seven hundred years old and was used as route from Kabul to the Gandharan city of Taxila by Alexander The Great and Sher Shah Suri while Mughal rulers and other emperors often passed through while traveling from Afghanistan to the Hindustan.