A region in northern Kashmir above the central valley of the Jhelum river, known to the neighbouring Tibetans as Bru-zha. The location of Gilgit upon one of the main routes from India into central Asia resulted in considerable Buddhist influence, both Hīnayāna and Mahāyāna. It also became a refuge for many monks from Kashmir during the 10th century ce fleeing Muslim persecution. Gilgit is also famed as the site of a stūpa which when excavated in 1931 yielded over 200 priceless Buddhist manuscripts in Sanskrit, many of which are the sole extant copies.

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