Tapa Khazana monastery, (in) Kabul, Velayat-e Kabol, AF

Raw data

"In Kabul itself, a Buddhist monastery and stupa were found in 1930 on a spur of the Kuh-i Shir Darwaza (the mountain which borders Kabul to the south)." Vogelsang (202:154) http://books.google.com.au/books?id=9kfJ6MlMsJQC

"Kuh-e-Sher Darwaza (Mountain of the Lion's Gate)" - afghanistan.travel-culture.com/3days_kabul_tour.shtml Kuh-e- Sherdarwaza - http://afghanistanonmymind.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/photos-of-bala-hissar-in-1879.html

"An example of historical architecture influenced by the Buddhist style in eastern Kabul is a site that was excavated in 1933 and which dates back to the 2nd century AD […] Tapa Khazana is located at the foot of the Shair Darwaza mountain, near the Hazara-ha-e Chandawal [Chindawool - tmciolek] neighborhood and to the East of Ebin Sina Hospital [Abne Cina Hospital]. […] In 1933, the site attracted archaeologists for the first time. After studying the area […] an excavation was conducted. It was determined that Tapa Khazana was in fact a Buddhist astopa [stupa - tmc], constructed in the mid 3rd century AD. After the decline of the Buddhist faith in the region, it was converted to a fire temple by the Zoroastrians.
The majority of the artifacts from this astopa [stupa - tmc] consisted of small, clay heads skillfully crafted. Late in 1933, the heart of Tapa Khazana was opened. This time, more finely crafted, priceless statues were unearthed. It was obvious why the hill was named "Tapa Khazana" — Treasure Hill.
[…] In 914 (Lunar, Islamic), Babar ordered the construction of small gardens [=Takht-e Shah, "The Throne of the King." - tmciolek] below the ruins of Tapa Khazana and near the Ebin Sina Hospital." Kohzad (1997).

Note: Takht-e Shah gardens are not to be confused with the Koh-e Takht-e Shah (Kabul) site
at Lat 34.4869 Long: 69.1767 http://www.getamap.net/maps/afghanistan/kabol/_takhtesah_kohe/
Input by: tmciolek, Mar 31, 2012

Tepe Khazana (Kabul province)
In 1934, on a steep hill called Sher Darwaza, north-east of Kabul, the Afghan expert g. Mohayodin Khan discovered what was probably a very large monastery that had been destroyed by a great fire several centuries ago. The flames had reduced the decoration and figures to burnt clay and the local children were selling fragments of the finds in town. The team saved about fifty heads and a few fragments that came to the Kabul Museum. These sculptures date from the fifth century ad.
Bibliography:
H. A. Kohzad, 1967.
Z. Tarzi, 2001 (unpublished).
Src: Tissot (2006)
Input by: tmciolek, Aug 01, 2014

Final data (and their sources)

Last updated: 19 Jul 2014

Lat/Long coordinates' accuracy:
The monastery in question is assumed to be situated actually no farther than 200 m from the point defined by the coordinates below.

Location of Tapa Khazana monastery, AF.

General location of the Tapa Khazana monastery, AF.
Lat 34.508 Long 69.175
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2012.


Google Map link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=34.508+69.175+(Approx.%20loc.%20of%20the%20Tapa%20Khazana%20monastery,%20AF)&ll=34.508,69.175&spn=05.0,05.0&t=k&hl=en

Final data - explanatory notes

1. Monastery's name

  • Tapa Khazana monastery - Kohzad (1997).

2. Monastery's modern country & province

  • Afghanistan:Velayat-e Kabol

3. Monastery's alternative/historical names

4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates

  • Approx. Lat 34.508 Long 69.175 - based on the visual identification of the place situated E of the Ebin Sina Hospital [Abne Cina Hospital] and close to the Chandawal [Chindawool] neighborhood, using maps and satellite imagery maps.google.com - tmciolek, 31 Mar 2012.

5. Other known nearby Buddhist monasteries

  • [missing data]

6. Modern name of the known nearest city, town, or village

7. The settlement's alternative/historical names

8. The settlement's coordinates

9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition

  • [missing data]

10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition

  • [missing data]

11. Date-early

  • 2nd century AD […] Tapa Khazana is located at the foot of the Shair Darwaza mountain Kohzad (1997).

MBM chrono-tag <=0200 - tmciolek 19 Jul 2014
<=0200 0200-32c 0233-66c 0267-99c 0300-32c 0333-66c 0367-99c 0400-32c 0433-66p dated-el

12. Date-intermediate

  • mid 3rd century AD. After the (temporary?) decline of the Buddhist faith in the region, it was converted to a fire temple by the Zoroastrians. Kohzad (1997)

MBM chrono-tag 0233-66p - tmciolek 19 Jul 2014 

13. Date-late

  • Sculptures from the destroyed monastery date from the fifth century AD. - Tissot (2006)

MBM chrono-tag 0433-66p - tmciolek 01 Aug 2014 

  • […] In 914 (Lunar, Islamic) [= 1505-6 AD tmciolek], Babar ordered the construction of small gardens [=Takht-e Shah, "The Throne of the King." - tmciolek] below the ruins of Tapa Khazana." Kohzad (1997)

14. Details of contacts with other monasteries

  • [missing data]

15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery

  • Art stylistic

16. Additional notes

  • [missing data] (incl. details of the size of the monastic population)

17. Corrections & addenda to this page were kindly provided by

  • [missing data]

end of page

0200-32c0233-66c0267-99c0300-32c0333-66c0367-99c0400-32c0433-66p200m<=0200afghanistancentral-asiadated-elplacesouth-asiastupattradition(?)
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