The Utpala Dynasty
855 to 939 CE
Avantivarman founded the Utpala dynasty and a new town, Avantipura, with two great temples. His engineer Suyya reshaped the Jhelum's course to control floods and open new farmland. Kashmir's reputation as a centre of Sanskrit learning grew stronger through these years.
2 events · 5 exhibits
Events
855
Avantivarman founds the Utpala dynasty
Avantivarman took the throne and began a period of relative peace and rebuilding after the last troubled years of the Karkotas.
In the museumAvantivarmanAvantipora Temples
late 9th century
Suyya tames the Jhelum
Avantivarman's engineer Suyya cleared blockages in the Jhelum, moved where rivers met and drained marshes, opening new farmland and reducing floods. The town of Sopore, once Suyyapura, is named after him.
In the museumSuyyaThe Jhelum
In this wing

Avantipora Temples
9th century
Two ruined temples built by King Avantivarman.
- Text placard
Avantivarman
Reigned 855 to 883
Founder of the Utpala dynasty and patron of scholars.
- Text placard
Suyya
Late 9th century
The engineer who reshaped the Valley's rivers.

Buniyar Temple
c. 9th century
One of the best preserved temples of the period.

Pandrethan Temple
c. 913 to 921
A small Shiva temple that stood in a pool of water.
Further reading for this period
Books that cover this period. They are places to read further, not sources for any single sentence on this page.
- Kalhana's Rajatarangini: A Chronicle of the Kings of KashmirM. A. Stein (translator), 1900
- Ancient Monuments of KashmirRam Chandra Kak, 1933