World’s biggest Buddha sculpture awaits tourists

The world’s biggest Buddha carving in Jahanabad, Swat, Pakistan despite its majestic attraction, has not been able to draw tourists since the militancy.

The defaced sculpture of Buddha in Swat. PHOTO: FAZAL KHALIQ /Express Tribune

According to archaeologists, the meditating Buddha is the most remarkable piece of rock carving in the entire Gandhara region.

Situated in a peaceful isolated area, its serene surroundings feature a spring with crystal-clear water flowing downhill as well as a stream traversing verdant fields, enhancing the historical site’s beauty.

Archaeologists believe the structure is the biggest Buddha sculpture in the world, second only to the monumental statues in Bamiyan, Afghanistan, destroyed by the Taliban in 2001.

Describing the splendour of the statue, Tufail Anjum, who has a keen interest in archaeology, said, “It is an iconic figure which outshines all other carvings. Its gigantic size makes it unique and its exquisite rendition characterises its historical significance.”

“Buddhists believe Buddha visited Swat spiritually so the region is of paramount importance for his followers,” said Suvastu Arts and Culture Association Chairman Usman Ulas Yar, who actively fought to preserve the archaeology of Swat valley during militant rule.

He also suggested repairing Buddha’s disfigured face with the help of skilled artisans so the magnificent structure could regain its original splendour.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14^th, 2012. 

Read More

Leshan Buddha [ China ] - the World's Tallest Buddha Statue

The world's tallest Buddha statue dwarfs a visitor to Leshan, China. The 231-foot-tall (83-meter-tall) Buddha was carved from a riverside cliff in the 8th century to safeguard boaters on the treacherous waters below.

The Leshan Giant Buddha was built during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). It is carved out of a cliff face that lies at the confluence of the Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi rivers in the southern part of Sichuan province in China, near the city of Leshan. The stone sculpture faces Mount Emei, with the rivers flowing below his feet. It is the largest carved stone Buddha in the world.

The Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. It was not damaged by the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.

Construction was started in AD 713, led by a Chinese monk named Haitong. He hoped that the Buddha would calm the turbulent waters that plagued the shipping vessels travelling down the river. When funding for the project was threatened, he is said to have gouged out his own eyes to show his piety and sincerity. After his death, however, the construction was stuck due to insufficient funding. About 70 years later, a jiedushi decided to sponsor the project and the construction was completed by Haitong's disciples in AD 803.

Apparently the massive construction resulted in so much stone being removed from the cliff face and deposited into the river below that the currents were indeed altered by the statue, making the waters safe for passing ships.

At 71 metres (233 feet) tall, the statue depicts a seated Maitreya Buddha with his hands resting on his knees. His shoulders are twenty-eight metres wide and his smallest toenail is large enough to easily accommodate a seated person. 

There is a local saying: "The mountain is a Buddha and the Buddha is a mountain". This is partially because the mountain range in which the Leshan Giant Buddha is located is thought to be shaped like a slumbering Buddha when seen from the river, with the Leshan Giant Buddha as its heart.

Source: FunZug

Read More

Gilgit – the China Town of Pakistan

It was awhile ago that I along with my family decided to see Khunjrab Pass – it was a rather hasty decision and hence we did not cater for the hurdles en route and the total length of journey and the leave that I have. And we just left by road. Although, Gilgit is connected by air with Islamabad but due to uncertain weather, road travel is much preferred.. Though some tourists choose to travel Gilgit by air since the road travel between Islamabad and Gilgit by Karakoram Highway takes nearly 18 hours, whereas the air travel takes a mere 45-50 minutes. 

We took the N-5 and stayed a night at Abottabad. Early next morning we reached Mansehra and from there we headed towards Pattan – where a Road Maintenance Battalion of the Frontier Works Organization is stationed (the unit is responsible for the repair/maintenance of the Karakoram Highway – the KKH).  Next morning our journey resumed and soon we were on the right bank of the roaring Indus river with its gushy muddy water ( far different from its rather bluish water at Attock). At Thakot, we crossed Indus and now we started moving on the left of the river. The small town en route were Chilas, Dasu, Besham.

Near Gilgit, the KKH branches off and continues to head towards Khunjrab Pass through Hunza (Karimabad) and Sost. We finally reached Gilgit in the evening – which is the hub of various valleys to the North Hunza and China. To the South, Diamar, Kohistan and Swat. To the East Skardu and Kashmir, and to the West Ghezir and Chitral.  Here we were told that the air service had been suspended for the last five days and while thanking our stars for choosing to travel by road, we had a pity on tourists stranded for days altogether in hotels and messes.

The Gilgit bazaars are infested with Chinese good, decoration pieces, cloth and what not – it looked like a mini China Town. While my wife got busy in looking for Chinese cloth, we window-shopped for Chinese decoration pieces and carpets. By the time we came back, we had loads of small decoration pieces and naturally ladies garments.

There is much to be seen other than Chinese stuff in and around Gilgit. There is a monument to commemorate the fact that the boy scouts of Gilgit were the spark that set the flame in the battle between Pakistan and India for supremacy over Kashmir.  Two miles out of town there are a pair of Buddha's carved in to a high rock. They go back to the 5-th century. From where we parked our car, the path up to the rocks was a nice hike – and the carving looked really awesome. I admired those who did this.

-->

One bright sunny day morning, we kicked off towards Khunjrab Top – but luck was not in our favour. Near Hunza, we were told that the road ahead was blocked and wont be open for days. So the trip ended in a mere flop and we could only visit Karimabad and the Baltit Fort – something one mustn’t miss when in Gilgit. This wooden fort is a class of its own. The fort is said to date back around 700 years. The architectural style is a clear indication of Tibetan influence in Baltistan at the time. The Fort is also listed as one of the UNO sponsored world heritage architecture. On our way back, we stopped to eat some of the most delicious apricots in the world – fresh from the apricot gardens. When we asked the garden owner to pack us a few kilos as souvenir for relatives back home, he told us that those apricots were so delicate that they would not withstand the heat even out of Gilgit – still we insisted and true to his words, those melt hardly a few hours out of Gilgit.

The best lunch that I ever had was at a  place from where the mighty Raka Poshi is seen rising from the ground and reaching its pinnacle. The Raka Poshi View Hotel was a small hutment but served us sizzling hot “parathas” with scrambled eggs and hot tea. A feast I would always cherish.

The beautiful valley of Naltar – some 35 kilometers to the south east of Gilgit has lush green pastures and green carpeted ground make it a jewel of the Gilgit. It is a forested (pine) village known for its wildlife and magnificent mountain scenery. It also houses the Skiing School operated by Pakistan Air Force. We were offered a helicopter ride to Naltar but having reached the helipad, we were told that due to extra load, we could not be accommodated – so a golden opportunity was missed out.

Well then we finally returned. En route we also encountered a road block due to falling rocks and had to wait for 4-5 hours till the road was cleared.

If you like Jaho Jalal, please follow us on Facebook
Follow @JalalsPages

Read More

Fasting Buddha

If one is visiting Lahore Museum, he would be amazed to find a masterpiece artifact, known as the Fasting Buddha. The skeleton like statue of Buddha is a priceless piece of art and craft as anyone who crafted it had the aesthetics and the finest of art living inside him. 

The anonymous artist who was behind this masterpiece has portrayed the fasting days of once a handsome prince Siddharatha who in search of truth and his creator underwent such a mental concentration that what remained of him was just bones, covered by a thin sheet of skin. It was from here that he rose to be an immortal figure of Buddha (or the Enlightened One).

The genesis of Buddhism take their roots from the areas that are now in Pakistan. It was during the 2nd century B.C. that Buddhism was adopted as the state religion which flourished and prevailed here for over 1000 years, starting from 2nd century B.C. till 10th century A.D. This was the time when Taxila (half an hour drive from Islamabad), Swat and Charsaddah became three important centres for culture, trade and learning. 

Taxila abounds in a large number of monasteries and stupas in Gandhara form of art, specially at the archaeological sites of Sirkap and Sirsukh both in Taxila. And from here the Gandhara Art spread all over the world. Oe can find beautiful statues and other artefacts that abound museums in many a country. However none matches the uniqueness of the Fasting Buddha.

Related Reading:

Taxila - The City of Stones
Fasting Buddha -The Archeological Heritage of Pakistan

Read More