A previously unknown stone temple from the Utpala dynasty has been identified in a remote forested area of the Kashmir Valley. The structure is remarkably well-preserved, featuring a unique pyramidal roof and a sanctum dedicated to a local deity associated with commerce and mountain travel. The discovery suggests that the political and religious reach of the 10th-century Kashmiri kings extended much further into the peripheral valleys than previously mapped.
Researchers noted that the temple’s exterior walls are covered in elaborate bas-reliefs depicting scenes of trade, including caravans and mountain passes, carved into high-quality limestone. This find is expected to provide new insights into the economic history of the medieval Himalayan kingdoms and their control over lucrative trade routes.