Kanika Stupa, Sani village, Zanskar
In the first century C.E., northern India came under the dominion of the Kushans, who likely extended their influence over Ladakh and its neighboring areas. The construction of the Kanika Stupa (Pic-1) in Sani village, Zanskar, Ladakh, is traditionally attributed to King Kanishka, one of the most illustrious Kushan rulers. Although no material evidence has been discovered, popular belief holds that the stupa was built after the Fourth Buddhist Council, convened under Kanishka's patronage in the first century C.E.
While the legend of the Kanika Stupa continues to captivate popular imagination, more tangible proof of the Kushan presence in Ladakh lies in a scattering of ancient inscriptions found across the region.
Kushan Tamga near the Nimo-Chilling road
Viraf Mehta at Nimo-Chilling Road
In his writings on the political history of Ladakh, historian Luciano Petech references a significant Kharosthi inscription attributed to the Kushan emperor Vima Kadphises, dated to the year 184 or 187 of an uncertain era, discovered near Khaltse village. Regrettably, this inscription—considered the earliest known royal record in Ladakh—was reportedly destroyed during local road construction over 20 years ago.
A similar Kushan Tamga was documented in 2013 by Leh-based social anthropologist Viraf Mehta and Ladakhi scholar Prof. Tashi Ldawa along the Nimo-Chilling road in Leh (Pic-2, courtesy of the scholars). Unfortunately, like the Kharosthi inscription of Khaltse, it was destroyed years ago during local road construction. In Pic-3, taken in September 2024, Viraf Mehta stands at the site, pointing to the spot where he and Tashi Ldawa discovered the Tamga in 2013.
Kushan Tagma at Alchi-Lardo Road.
Along the road linking Alchi village to Lardo village, on the left bank of the Indus River, a petroglyph featuring a Tamga (Pic-4) attributed to Kushan emperor Vima Takto (around 1st century CE) remains one of the few surviving pieces of evidence of the Kushans' presence in Ladakh.