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Shah Allah Ditta

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Shah Allah Ditta is a village on the outskirts of Islamabad named after a Mughal period ‘Dervish’ Shah Allah Ditta.

The village is believed to be seven hundred and fifty years old and used as route from Kabul to Taxila by Alexander the great and Sher Shah Suri, Mughal rulers and other emperors used this way while traveling from Afghanistan to the Hindustan.

The area bears importance for its natural beauty and its historical background.

History

Relics of the Buddhist era dating back to the 8th century can be found here along with burnt diyas and trees with amulets tied to them.

Shah Allah Ditta caves[1] are located on the route leading towards Khanpur. These caves are next to the shrine and tomb of Shah Allah Ditta[2].

The caves are rarely visited by residents of the capital as most are unaware of their existence and historical significance. The people of Taxila would once visit the cave and drink from the nearby stream, believing that it had healing powers.

Marked on the ground close to the caves the location where Alexander arrived and was received by Raja Ambi, King of Taxila. The road next to the caves that leads to the top of the mountain, Shah Allah Ditta road, is said to be built on the exact path followed by Mughal Emperor Sher Shah Suri during his visit.

Moving up the mountain from the caves, we find a well and a mosque that were built by Muhammad of Ghor Shahāb-ud-Din Ghori. The mosque has broken walls and the road leading to it is dilapidated.

2,400-year-old Buddhist era murals of Buddha appear on the walls of caves at Shah Allah Ditta[3].

Mughal Heritage Preservation

  • The Taxila Institute of Asian Studies, Quaid-i-Azam University, the Natural History Museum and the Department of Architecture have urged for the government to preserve[4] such sites of Mughal heritage but concrete action is yet to be taken.
  • Reportedly Japanese Embassy offered generously to provide funds for the preservation of Shah Allah Ditta caves but “no one took the initiative”[5].

References

  1. ^ http://wikimapia.org/11599623/Shah-Allah-Ditta-Caves
  2. ^ http://pakteahouse.net/2008/04/07/islamabad-shah-allah-ditta-caves-need-immediate-preservation/
  3. ^ http://buddhistartnews.wordpress.com/2011/04/14/another-buddhist-site-found-in-islamabad/
  4. ^ http://tribune.com.pk/story/23378/caves-of-mughal-heritage-fading-from-memory/
  5. ^ http://tribune.com.pk/story/23378/caves-of-mughal-heritage-fading-from-memory/
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