1200 years old Buddhist temple unearthed in Malaysia

Last week, the National Heritage Department of Malaysia and the University of Science (USM) Global Archaeology Research Centre (GARC) declared that they had found a historical Buddhist temple in Bukit Choras, which is located north of Penang Island and approximately 70 kilometers from the Thailand border.

It is estimated that the structure is around 1,200 years old and originated from the Pallava dynasty in southern India.

The National Heritage Department Commissioner, Mohd Azmi Mohd Yusof, declared the excavations that started on 28 August as the most noteworthy archaeological discovery in Malaysia since the start of 2020.

The archaeologists have determined that the temple is approximately nine square meters in size, however, further excavation is necessary to accurately measure it.

They estimate that they are around 40 per cent done with the work and have pointed out that this is the biggest temple ever discovered in the valley, making it a remarkable discovery due to its unique architectural features.

References

• Largest Buddhist temple structure unearthed in Bukit Choras, dating back 1,200 years
• 1,200-Year-Old Buddhist Temple Structure Unearthed in Malaysia