Architecture Features and Conservation Issues of Kafir KotTemple District D. I. Khan

Abstract

Archeology deals with the study of evolutionary changes which have occurred in human behavior at different eras in the prospects of agriculture, life style, buildings, culture and the archeologists explore the reasons of rise and fall of these endeavors. This can be made possible through the exploration or deciphering the archeological sites, their historical scenario and noticing conservation practices. This study was conducted to explore the architectural features and conservation issues of Kafir Kot temples. Kafirkot is divided into two main complexes, Tilot Kafirkot (north) and Bilot Kafirkot (south), these are believed to be 8 Temples Complexes built by the Hindu Shahi Rulers till the time the Dynasty fell in the 11th Century. Archaeologists have dated this particular complex at Kafirkot to the 7th Century CE, as a fascinating example of medieval fortifications. Tilot Kafirkot (north) sits on a table-top hill on the west bank of the Indus, just west of the Chashma Barrage. Bilot Kafirkot (south) is situated near Bilot Sharif, a village 56km from Dera Ismail Khan, on the bank of the Paharpur canal and located on a hill, nearly 60 meters above the nearby ground. The significant segments of the Bilot Kafirkot include decorations consisting of rosettes, amalaka fruit, horseshoe and geometrical patterns, and pilasters; jagati made of kajur and limestone blocks; superstructure on Latina Nagara sikhara pattern; praggriva walls; T-shape entrance and blind niche with chess-board pattern. The archaeological exploration carried out in the region has unfolded different sites and monuments ranging from the early Hindu Shahi period to the Muslim periods. This research is organized in four chapters. The first chapter gives brief geographical boundaries and historical accounts, second chapter shed light on the previous research on Kafir Kot temples, in the third chapter, discuss architecture feature of Kafir Kot Temples while the conservation issues of Kafir Kot temples in the fourth chapter and at last researcher has concluded all the chapters