Kargah the Buddha: Golden Era of Buddhism in Gilgit-Baltistan

Kargah Buddha is an archaeological site located at the junction of Kargah and Shukogah Nalla, about 6 miles (9.7 km) west of the Gilgit city in GilgitBaltistan. Nearby locales include Barmas, Napur, and the Rakaposhi Mountain. It is a carved image of a large standing Buddha, some 50 feet (15 m) high, in the cliff-face in Kargah Nala.The carving, which is in a style also found in Baltistan, and is estimated that the carving was completed in the 7th century.

It was discovered in 1938-39, following the innovation of supposed Gilgit manuscripts in 1931.The image is surrounded by the holes for a wooden house structure, which would have sheltered it from inclement weather.

During the 3rd century to the 11th century, Gilgit was a prominent Centre of early Buddhism. During this time period, multiple powers vied for control of the region, including the Tibetan Empire, the Kashmiri Karkota Dynasty, and the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates. Nearby, about 400 metres (1,300 ft) upstream, a Buddhist monastery and three stupas containing Sanskrit manuscripts were excavated in 1931. By the 11th century, Gilgit had grown into the autonomous kingdom of Dardistan before largely adopting Islam.