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Takht-e-Bahi

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Takht-e-Bahi

The Buddhist monastery of Takht-e-Bahi is 14 kilometres (nine miles) northwest of Mardan on the road to Swat. A direct road runs from Charsadda to the village of Takht-e-Bahi (see map on page 308). Turn left (north) at the crossroads in Charsadda, and after exactly two kilometres (one and a quarter miles) turn right on the single-lane surfaced road, which leads through rich irrigated farmland. Keep to the main road and after 22 kilometres (14 miles) you come to the main Mardan-Swat road. Turn left here and proceed one kilometre (half a mile) to Takht-e-Bahi.

To get to the ruins cross the level crossing in the centre of the village of Takht-e-Bahi, and after 500 metres (yards) turn right at a sign reading ‘Archaeological ruins of Takht-e-Bahi 3 km’ (two miles) in English. Cross the railway, turn left at the gate of the sugar mill, and a little further on turn right down a dirt road. You will see the ruins of a large Hindu Shahi fort on top of the hill to the right. Continue on to the end of the track—the ruins of the monastery are straight ahead. It is a steep walk 500 metres (yards) up the hill to the site, and a further 500 metres to the top of the hill.

Takht-e-Bahi is the most impressive and complete Buddhist monastery in

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