𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐮𝐦

NEW DELHI: Minister for FCS&CA, Transport, Youth Services and Sports, IT, Science & Technology, and ARI & Trainings, Satish Sharma, inaugurated a 40-day photo exhibition on “Ambaran – The Historical Buddhist Citadel” at the National Museum’s Ajanta Hall in New Delhi on Wednesday.

The exhibition, organized by the National Museum of India in collaboration with the Centre for Himalayan Asian Studies and Engagement (CHASE), features photographs by veteran photographer Vijay Kranti and his son Akshat Kranti.

Speaking at the event, the Minister acknowledged his late father, former MP Madan Lal Sharma, for his efforts in preserving the historic site of Ambaran, which holds religious significance for Buddhists. He highlighted that the exhibition recognizes years of dedication in promoting Ambaran and Akhnoor as key destinations in Buddhist tourism.

Sharma described the site’s terracotta figures, including intricately designed Buddha heads and statues, reflecting influences from the Graeco-Buddhist and Gandhara art schools. He also conveyed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s commitment to preserving Jammu and Kashmir’s cultural heritage and boosting tourism.

Emphasizing Akhnoor’s rich cultural and historical assets—including the Ambaran monastic site, Akhnoor Fort, Jia Pota Ghat, the Chenab River, and the region’s peaceful environment—Sharma reaffirmed the government’s pledge to promote Akhnoor as a prime tourist destination.

He further announced that similar exhibitions would be held in Jammu and Srinagar following the New Delhi event. Concluding his speech, Sharma described the exhibition as a tribute to India’s archaeologists and the people of Akhnoor.

Notably, Ambaran is among the latest archaeological discoveries by the Archaeological Survey of India and the oldest known Buddhist site in Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh. The 14th Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, visited this ancient site in November 2012.