News Context: Recent excavations in Baramulla have revealed a massive Buddhist complex dating back to the Kushan Period (1st–3rd Century CE).
- Historical Context: Kashmir was a major center for the Sarvastivada school of Buddhism. The 4th Buddhist Council (under Kanishka) is believed to have taken place in nearby Harwan or Kundalvana.
- Architectural Significance: The Zehanpora site shows a mixture of Gandhara and local Kashmiri styles, featuring diaper pebble masonry typical of the Kushan era.
- Wholistic Insight: This discovery reinforces Kashmir's role as a "Gateway" for Buddhism moving from the Indian heartland to Central Asia and China via the Silk Route.
IAS-2026 - OPTIONAL / GEOGRAPHY / PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION / SOCIOLOGY / ANTHROPOLOGY / ORIENTATION ON 03 & 04-10-2025 
