Shina shah Stupa

A square, three-storey Buddhist stupa 22 m across and 17 m high, with three votive stupas around it.

GPGreenPak Field GuidesSourced from Green Tourism Pakistan · 2 min read

The main stupa at the site is square in plan, measuring 22m x 22m with a height of 17m, portraying three storeys including the plinth and the top third storey surmounted by a drum of the composite dome. A stair comprising twelve steps leads to the top of the square plinth of the main stupa. There are three votive stupas, square in plan around the main stupa.

Why go

✦A main stupa 22 metres square and 17 metres high
✦Three storeys, the top carrying a drum for a composite dome
✦Twelve steps climbing to the square plinth
✦Three square votive stupas set around it
✦Excavated by the Federal Department and then by Peshawar University

History

The stupa rises through three storeys including the plinth, with the topmost carrying the drum of a composite dome — the tiered form characteristic of later Gandharan building. A stair of twelve steps climbs to the top of the square plinth, and three square votive stupas stand around the main structure.

Historical Significance

A well-preserved example of the tiered square stupa, and a site whose excavation history spans both federal and university archaeology in Pakistan.

Why Visit

Take the twelve steps up to the plinth — the stupa was built to be climbed onto, not only looked at.

Interesting Facts

The main stupa is 22 metres square and 17 metres high
Twelve steps lead up to the top of the square plinth
Three square votive stupas stand around it

Planning tip

Best Time to Visit, March to November. Spring and autumn are the pick; upper Swat holds snow through winter, though Mingora and the valley floor stay open.

Getting there, Swat valley, reached via the Swat Expressway from Mardan — around four hours from Islamabad. Butkara sits on the edge of Mingora; Nimogram and Shina Shah are further out on valley roads.

Allow, An hour to ninety minutes at each; a full day to link them with the Swat Museum.

What to Do

◆Take the twelve steps to the plinth — the stupa is built to be climbed onto, not only looked at

◆Read the three storeys from the ground up; the tiering is unusually legible here

◆Find the three square votive stupas around the base

Nearby

Straight-line distance from Shina shah Stupa, within 5 km.

Nothing else genuinely close by (within 5 km of Shina shah Stupa) is published yet.