In a breakthrough for Himalayan archaeology, a subterranean Shiva shrine dating to the reign of King Lalitaditya Muktapida has been uncovered in Kashmir’s Lidder Valley. The shrine was found buried under layers of alluvial silt and features a massive monolithic lingam carved from local black schist, standing over six feet tall.
The walls of the underground chamber are inscribed with Sanskrit verses praising the Sun and Shiva, suggesting a syncretic worship center similar to the famous Martand Sun Temple. Preservation experts are now working to stabilize the site, which had been protected from the elements for centuries by the natural burial process, keeping its sharp architectural details intact.