Experts have found and recorded remnants of 26 ancient temples, 26 caves, two monasteries, two votive stupas, 24 inscriptions, 46 sculptures, and other scattered ruins in what experts call the largest exploration of the region in over 80 years.

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) team members explored and recorded the remnants of 26 ancient temples, 26 caves, two monasteries, two votive stupas, 24 inscriptions, 46 sculptures, and other scattered ruins in what experts call the largest exploration of the region in over 80 years. As a result of a month-long exploration conducted this summer by archaeologists at the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), 26 Buddhist caves were discovered in Madhya Pradesh’s Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve on Wednesday (September 28). As well as the caves from the 2nd-5th centuries BCE, the ASI team also reported chaitya-shaped doors and cells containing stone beds from the Mahayana sect of Buddhism.

It was conducted by the newly formed ASI Jabalpur Circle between May 20th and June 26th this year, led by Shivakant Bajpai, supervising archaeologist, along with a dozen archaeologists, archaeologists, archaeologists, photographers, and forest guards. In the core area of the reserve, the team covered nearly 170 square kilometers in order to explore the ancient remnants in detail. The exploration revealed remarkable archaeological remains, adding a new chapter to Baghelkhand’s history. The northeastern region of Madhya Pradesh and a small area of southeastern Uttar Pradesh is known as Baghelkhand, after the Vaghela Rajput kings of the 14th century.

According to ASI, the 26 caves were found to be of Mahayana Buddhist origin, dating back to the same era as the world-renowned Ajanta caves in Aurangabad. The report by Bajpai contains information about 26 temples, two mathas, two stupas, 46 idols and sculptures, 26 fragments, and 19 water bodies, in addition to the caves. Furthermore, an inscription from the 2nd-5th century CE and a Buddhist pillar fragment containing a miniature stupa carving were mentioned.

It is estimated that the temples date from the Kalachuri period (9th-11th century CE), while the water bodies date from the second to 15th centuries CE. Among the inscriptions found in the Brahmini inscriptions are references to Kaushami, Mathura, Pavata (Parvata), Vejabharada, and Sapatanaairikaa, as well as names of kings such as Shri Bhimsena, Maharaja Pothasiri, and Bhattadeva. As part of the current exploration by ASI, the Tala Range was covered in the first phase. Bandhavgarh forest, Khitauli and Magadhi will be surveyed by the ASI in the next phases. A total of 716 km2 are covered by the three main zones of the national park, Tala, Khitauli, and Magadhi. The ASI has recently denied acknowledging the findings of another historian, Professor Nayanjot Lahiri of Ashoka University, which predate the agency’s findings.