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Butkara I

Butkara I consists of a large central stupa that is circular in plan, surrounded by 227 subsidiary stupas, chapels, and columns. Excavation results indicate that the monastery was built in the 3rd century BCE and continued to flourish until the 10th century, during which time it experienced several natural collapses and numerous reconstructions and renovations. This makes it one of the earliest and longest-extant Buddhist sites in the Swat Valley. Current scholars identify this site as the Tuoluo Temple mentioned in the travelogue of Songyun, preserved in "A Record of Buddhist Monasteries in Lo-Yang."

“To the north of the city was the Tuoluo Monastery, which had the most Buddhist activities. The stupa was high and large, and the monks’ cells were close together. Surrounding the monastery are six thousand golden statues. The king holds annual ceremonies in this temple, and monks within this area assemble here. Songyun observed that the monks practiced their precepts with great diligence and respected their demeanor; he particularly showed them great reverence. He then gave away his two servants to assist with sweeping and cleaning.”