Tirtha Atlas

The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.

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Ancient · Buddhist · Afghanistan

Takht-e Rostam

Samangan, Samangan · 36.2457°, 68.0221°

Buddhist stupa-monasteryKushano-SasanianRock-cut
Sacred since
200 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
3rd-4th c. CE (Kushano-Sasanian)
Kushano-Sasanian

History & significance

A Buddhist stupa and monastery near Samangan hewn entirely out of the bedrock in the 3rd-4th centuries CE under the Kushano-Sasanians. After the Muslim conquests the abandoned complex was absorbed into Persian legend, which supplied its present name.

Sthala katha — the legend

Persian tradition holds that the hero Rostam of Ferdowsi's Shahnameh travelled to the kingdom of Samangan and stayed with its king at this place.

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Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Kushano-Sasanian