A recent archaeological exploration in Madhya Pradesh, India, has unearthed a treasure trove of historical sites dating back to different epochs in history, notably spanning from the 2nd to the 5th centuries AD and again from the 14th to the 15th centuries.
This discovery encompasses intricately carved inscriptions and mural paintings bearing the names of ancient cities like Mathura and Kosambi. Among the findings were a relic casket and a fragment of a Buddhist pillar, the latter etched with a miniature representation of a stupa. Additionally, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) also revealed two Shaiva temples from the Kalachuri era (9th-11th centuries), alongside several coins dating back to the Mughal and Sharqi periods of the Jaunpur Kingdom (1394-1413).
Situated approximately 500 kilometers west of Madhya Pradesh’s capital, Bhopal, the Bandhavgarh forest reserve, a habitat for protected tigers, hosted these discoveries. However, much of this reserve remains inaccessible to the public.
S.K. Bajpai, leading the archaeological team, stated, “This marks ASI’s first exploration of Bandhavgarh since N.P. Chakravarti’s expedition in 1938. Numerous architectural marvels have been meticulously documented, including ancient caves, shrines, Buddhist relics, sculptures, elaborate murals, and inscriptions in archaic scripts like Brahmi and Nagari.”
Bajpai further revealed that the names of ancient cities such as Mathura and Kaushambi in Uttar Pradesh were also found inscribed on tablets and documented by archaeologists. Another high-ranking ASI official shared, “The presence of names from distant cities like Mathura indicates past trade relations, suggesting visitors from these cities might have made offerings or contributed something to the monasteries here. However, these are all speculative interpretations.”
Archaeologists noted a total of 35 temples discovered in the region, with 9 from previous explorations and 26 recently uncovered. Among these temples and caves, traces of Mahayana Buddhism have emerged in several artifacts, shedding light on the spiritual heritage of the area.
