Pakistan - Archaeological Site of Ranigat

The famous Buddhist archaeological site of Ranigat, is located in Tehsil Totalai, District Buner, N.W.F.P. The remains of Ranigat are scattered in the valley along the ridge in an area. The Buddhist monuments at Ranigat had attracted the attention of many researchers like Sir A. Cunningham an eminent Archaeological Surveyor who visited the site in 1848. Later on , the site was visited by H.W. Bellew in 1864, H.H. Cole, Curator of Ancient Monuments of India who conducted here small scale excavations. In December 1881, A. Stein also carried out survey of this historic site. In 1898, M.A. Foucher visited Ranigat site who noticed that the site was destroyed through illegal diggings by treasure hunters. The site in question is declared as a protected antiquity in terms of Antiquities Act, 1975 by the Department of Archaeology & Museums, Government of Pakistan. A joint Pakistan-Japanese team is carrying out a project sponsored by the Department of Archaeology & Museums, Government of Pakistan; UNESCO and Japanese Trust Fund with the experts input from the University of Kyoto. Excavated area of the site is mainly divided in to four sectors i.e. east area, south area, southwest area and west area. All the excavated area is already protected with barbed wire fencing. A number of facilities, site protection and development works i.e. approach road, stepped path, existing barbed wire fencing partially replacing with G.I. wire netting and iron bar panels, visitor shed, watchman shelter, shelter over stupas, main entrance gate, benches, boards , storm water collecting tank and complete eradication of wild growth in some portion of the site including proper dressing to eliminate water stagnation/storm water drainage have been carried out and provided.