Mahmood Ghaznavi Mosque

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Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi Mosque,(Odigram) is one of the oldest in northern Pakistan,discovered by the Italian Archaeological Mission in Pakistan in 1985.[1] The mosque represents a splendid design of old Muslim architecture. In 1984 an inscription in Arabic engraved on a black marble was found by chance on the slopes of the hill below the castle of Raja Gira.The inscription attest to the foundation of a mosque in HE 440(1048-1049CE) ordered by Amir Nustagin,a Ghaznavid General(known to the history only through this inscription).[2] The excavation carried out in the area between1985 and 1999 brought to light a hypostyle Mosque with supports originally in wood . The Mosque occupies an early artificial terrace with remains of Gandharan masonary. After uncovering the ruins, the most striking aspects were traces of 30-foot-high walls, a graveyard, common rooms, student rooms and a water mill. The walls also show traces of a Buddhist stupa that was constructed before the mosque was made.[3]
The Mosque of odigram date back to the period of Mahmud or his grandson Maudud(1041-1050A.D) and is therefore to be considered to be the earliest of Northern Pakistan. The people settled there around the tomb of a saint upon which a small and simple mausolem was erected. In fact, it is the tomb of the General of Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi named- Pir Khushal, who defeated Raja Gira and embrace martyrdom there. This historical mosque is a place for visitors attractions when people visit Swat in summer.