Ancient Hindu idols and Shivlings were discovered during excavation work for a spring renovation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district, officials reported. The artifacts, unearthed at Karkoot Nag in the Salia area of Aishmuqam, are linked to the Karkoota dynasty, which ruled Kashmir from 625 to 855 CE, holding deep significance for the Kashmiri Pandit community.

The Public Works Department, overseeing the restoration of the sacred spring, uncovered the relics during routine excavation. Officials from the Jammu and Kashmir Department of Archives, Archaeology, and Museums visited the site and confirmed that the idols will be sent to Srinagar’s SPS Museum for material analysis and carbon dating to determine their age and origins.

A local Kashmiri Pandit suggested the site, located 16 km from Anantnag’s district headquarters, may have once housed a temple, as it has long been a pilgrimage center. “These Shivlings and sculptures were found in the sacred pond. We urge the government to protect them and rebuild a temple to restore the site’s glory,” he said. The discovery has ignited calls for preserving the artifacts and reconstructing a temple to honor the region’s ancient heritage.

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