Type: Monument - Temple
Province: Azad Jammu and Kashmir
District: Poonch
Period: Historic
Relative Chronology: 7th - 8th Century CE
Description: The site is located in Dera about 1 km south-west of Rawal kot City and approached by Kharick Road. The ruins of Dera temple located at a mound about 3 km from Rawal kot city. The temple has been named after the name of the town Dera. Dera temple stands on a high plinth and its construction period is estimated to 6th -7th CE. The temple has lost much of its architectural features and survives in ruins. Only northern wall, stairs and plinth can be seen. Presently, the total height of the temple is 4 m and width is 4.5 m following up the northern wall. The temple was made-up in square chamber and there is no evidence of ceiling. Perhaps, the temple was covered with wooden roof, but nothing can be written accurately about its ceiling. This temple has one entrance way from the western side and sanctum hall was approached with footsteps which lies on the front of doorway. Large stones were used for its construction especially for foundations of the walls. No evidence of mud plaster can be seen on the surface of the temple. This niche was used to place the statue on outer side of the wall. The sanctum hall is square in plan measuring 3.6 m. Stone plinths surrounding the temple were often used for circumambulation by pilgrims. Stones of the fallen parts of the temple are scattered in large quantity all around and the temple can easily be rebuilt by reusing these fallen boulders. There is another Hindu temple called Dera. Dera is derived from word locally means the place to keep things. The site is located over the mound. It is square in plan, raised on a platform with steps at its facing side i.e., south-west. The surrounding area is presently used as a Muslim graveyard. Drainage has been provided in south-east side of the main temple. Traces of lime pilaster are visible on the surviving structures which indicates that the temple proper was plastered with lime mortar. The temple is built with properly dressed lime stones. A small number of red ware pottery in fragmentary form has been collected from the landing of the site. Important measurements are include length of each side of platform: 6.07 m; length of each side of main temple: 4.80 m; preserved height of the temple: 3.60 m, length of staircase: 1.70 m; height from the ground: 0.80m. The site is tentatively assigned to the 7th-8th CE.
Latitude: 33.846954902
Longitude: 73.743093476
Ownership: Private
Legal Status: Not Protected
Title of Publication: Threat to the Cultural Heritage of Pakistan Survey and Documentation of Tangible and Intangible Heritage of Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan
Published In: Taxila Institute of Asian Civilizations, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 2020
Year of Publication: 2020
Bibliography/Reference: Khan, Ashraf, Ghani-ur-Rahman
