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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Old stone Shivalinga unearthed in Trimbakeshwar

Mumbai: The Archaeological Survey of India is going places, literally. Barely a week after unearthing rare copper plates linked to two powerful ancient dynasties, the ASI struck ‘history’ again - this time at the famed Trimbakeshwar Temple in Nashik district, officials said. In a stunning discovery during an ongoing conservation drive, ASI archaeologists found an old stone Shivalinga resting in the silent depths of the temple’s historic Amrit Kund, a massive water reservoir where it...

Old stone Shivalinga unearthed in Trimbakeshwar

Mumbai: The Archaeological Survey of India is going places, literally. Barely a week after unearthing rare copper plates linked to two powerful ancient dynasties, the ASI struck ‘history’ again - this time at the famed Trimbakeshwar Temple in Nashik district, officials said. In a stunning discovery during an ongoing conservation drive, ASI archaeologists found an old stone Shivalinga resting in the silent depths of the temple’s historic Amrit Kund, a massive water reservoir where it remained submerged beneath years of silt, mud and stagnant water. The Shivlinga emerged into view only after the ASI team drained the lakhs of litres of water and undertook an extensive desilting operation in the Amrit Kund. Resting silently at the bottom of the nearly 20-metre-deep reservoir, the ancient relic left conservation experts plus archaeologists astonished and the locals excited. Since it was lying at the bottom of the 65-feet (20-metre) deep Amrit Kund, it is not immediately clear if the Shivalinga will be extricated from there and relocated to a new terrestrial site, or make its way to some other location or a museum. The water tank will be again filled up to the brim as the current monsoon gets underway. It was constructed by Peshwa Balaji Bajirao-III, revered as Nana Saheb, between 1755-1786 AD along with the reconstruction of the main Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple that was destroyed by the Mughal army between 1680-1690 AD. The discovery marks the second major archaeological breakthrough by the ASI in a week. Last week, the ASI had announced the recovery of two rare copper plates belonging to the Chalukyas of Navasarika (655–750 AD) and the Traikutaka dynasty (388–495 AD), from the World Heritage site of Elephanta Island off Mumbai, shedding fresh light on western India’s ancient political and cultural history. ASI to revamp Red Fort The ASI this week announced that it will carry out major restoration drives at 140 of Delhi’s 170 protected historical monuments, including the historic Red Fort from where the Prime Minister addresses the nation on Independence Day (Aug. 15) every year. The other sites are: Humayun’s Tomb, Purana Qila, Begumpur Mosque, Kotla Maqbara, City Wall and Hauz Khas complex. The works will comprise big and small repairs and conservation at all these monuments over the next few years.

Omar welcomes Indus Water Treaty suspension, calls it “most unfair document” for J&K



SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday welcomed the Central government’s decision to suspend the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan following the deadly Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 lives. He also referred to the treaty as the “most unfair document” for the people of J&K.


“The Government of India has taken some steps. As far as Jammu and Kashmir is concerned, let’s be honest. We have never been in favour of the Indus Waters Treaty. We have always believed it to be the most unfair document to people of J&K,” Abdullah told reporters in Srinagar after meeting representatives from the tourism, trade, and industry sectors. However, he noted that the long-term impact of this move is still uncertain.


The IWT suspension is part of India’s response to the brutal attack. Other actions include expelling Pakistani military attaches and shutting down the Attari land-transit point immediately.


When questioned about the impact of the April 22 attack on the region’s tourism industry, Abdullah dismissed concerns about monetary losses. “At this juncture, we are not counting rupees or paisa. Not one of the businessmen or stakeholders in the tourism industry who attended the meeting lamented the loss of business. Not one of them expressed any concern about what would happen to them.”


“Right now, our priority is to express solidarity with the bereaved,” he said, adding, “At some point in future, we may sit down to discuss the financial implications (of the attack) on J&K’s economy. But not a single stakeholder present in the meeting raised a demand for monetary relief for the losses they are suffering.”


Omar described the tourist exodus from J&K after the massacre as “heartbreaking”. The future of the Valley’s tourism sector remains uncertain, with widespread trip cancellations following the attack.

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