The Khuiratta caves are four rock-cut chambers in Kot village, Khuiratta tehsil, about 35 km south of Kotli city in Azad Kashmir, tentatively dated to the 7th or 8th century CE. Locals call them Parian di Khothian, the fairies' rooms, and the AJK archaeology department records inscriptions in the Sharada script, the old script of Kashmir. They are small and unsigned, and they lie close to the Line of Control, but for anyone interested in Kashmir's pre-Islamic past they are one of the oldest things you can see in Kotli district.
This guide covers what the caves are, what is known about the inscriptions, how to find them and what to pair them with.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Where | Kot village, Khuiratta tehsil, Kotli district |
| Coordinates | About 33.359 N, 74.020 E (official record) |
| From Kotli | About 35 km south by the official record; Khuiratta town is about 29 km south-east of Kotli |
| Date | Tentatively 7th to 8th century CE |
| What | Four east-facing chambers cut into living rock, reached by nine steps |
| Status | Protected under the AJK Preservation and Protection of Antiquities Act, 1986 |
| Fee and hours | None |
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What are the Khuiratta caves?
The federal Department of Archaeology and Museums classes the site as a rock-cut sanctuary. Its record, based on a 2020 survey by the Taxila Institute of Asian Civilizations at Quaid-i-Azam University (Ashraf Khan and Ghani-ur-Rahman), describes four caves cut into the living rock, all facing east, approached by a flight of nine steps rising about 3.3 metres.
"Sanctuary" is the important word. These are not natural caves but chambers deliberately cut for religious use, in the centuries when this hill country looked towards Kashmir. The published records do not say which faith they served.
Why are they called Parian di Khothian?
In Pahari, Parian di Khothian (recorded as Pariian da Kotha in the federal listing) means the rooms or houses of the fairies. Rock-cut rooms whose builders were long forgotten often picked up names like this across the region. The name is folklore; the chambers themselves are man-made.
What is the Sharada script?
The AJK Tourism and Archaeology Department records that the inscriptions at the site are in Sharada, a script derived from Gupta Brahmi. Sharada was once widely used across north-west India before it became restricted to Kashmir, where it was used for Sanskrit and Kashmiri for centuries. It takes its name from the goddess Sharada, whose temple at Sharda in the Neelum valley is the best-known Sharada-period site in Azad Kashmir.
No full reading of the Khuiratta inscriptions has been published that we could find, so do not expect labelled panels. Look closely at smoothed rock faces around the openings, and photograph anything you see rather than touching or chalking it.
Are there other inscriptions near Khuiratta?
Yes. The Department of Archaeology and Museums also lists the Bihal Baoli inscription, a stone plaque at a stepwell in Bihal village near Khuiratta, about 29 km from Kotli city. It was found during a 2013 survey and is tentatively dated to the 11th to 14th century. Six lines have been partly read, including what may be a ruler's name, and the work is listed as in progress. It is on private land and not protected, so ask before you look.
Kotli district also has other rock-cut sanctuaries, such as the Khoi Kotli Saulan caves, which have a small verandah with two carved pilasters. Together they show that this corner of Azad Kashmir has an early history that has barely been studied.
How do you find the caves?
- Base yourself in Kotli; our hotels in Kotli guide lists options.
- Drive about 29 km south-east to Khuiratta town.
- Ask for Kot village and the Parian di Khothian. The official coordinates put the caves close to Khuiratta town, but local directions are more reliable than a map pin.
- Allow half an hour to an hour on site.
There is no fee, no gate and no guide service that we could confirm. Wear shoes with grip for the rock steps. The cooler months from October to March are best; avoid wet days, when cut rock steps are slippery.
What else is nearby?
Karjai Fort, a large hilltop fort in the Bannah valley, is the other heritage site near Khuiratta, though reaching it involves a climb and local help. The shrine of Mai Toti Sahiba at Pandli Sharif, about 4 km from Khuiratta, is described in our guide to shrines in Azad Kashmir. See our experiences page for other heritage trips in the region.
Is it safe to visit Khuiratta?
Khuiratta is only about 7 to 8 km from the Line of Control. The UK government advises against all travel within 10 miles of the Line of Control and against all but essential travel to the rest of Azad Kashmir, so overseas visitors should check their own government's advice, which can void travel insurance if ignored.
Pakistani visitors do travel to Khuiratta, but Kotli district was affected by the deadly unrest in Azad Kashmir from June 2026, with long phone and internet shutdowns. Check local news, ask the police in Khuiratta before heading out, and do not photograph security posts. Our Azad Kashmir safety guide has more.
Are the Khuiratta caves worth the trip?
They are worth it for travellers who enjoy early history and do not mind a site with no interpretation: few places in Azad Kashmir let you stand in rooms cut more than a thousand years ago. Paired with Karjai Fort, they justify a day from Kotli when the area is open.
They are not worth the drive for families looking for a day out or anyone expecting a museum-style site. The chambers are small, there are no facilities, and the inscriptions are hard to make out.
Frequently asked questions
Where are the Khuiratta caves?
In Kot village, Khuiratta tehsil, Kotli district, about 35 km south of Kotli city according to the federal heritage record.
How old are the Khuiratta caves?
They are tentatively dated to the 7th to 8th century CE.
What does Parian di Khothian mean?
It means the fairies' rooms, the local folk name for the rock-cut chambers.
What script is used at the caves?
The AJK archaeology department records inscriptions in Sharada, a script derived from Gupta Brahmi and later associated with Kashmir.
Is there an entry fee for the Khuiratta caves?
No. It is an open, unstaffed protected site.
