Taxila is the most important Buddhist sites in Pakistan housing
about 50 archeological remains from the 2nd century BC to 6th century AD. Taxila
was discovered in 1911 - 1922 by Sir Joh Marshal who has been regarded as the
discoverer of many other archeological sites including the Indus Civilization's
Moen Jo Daro & Harrappa.
Take a Tour of Taxila from Islamabad
Taxila is situated 40 Kilometers away from Islamabad and
Rawalpindi. As one drives to Peshawar on grand Trunk road just after Margala
pass there is a sign of Taxila Remains on the right.
The archeological sites of Taxila include buildings and Buddhist
Stupas from 5th century to 6th century AD. The main ruins of Taxila are divided
into three major cities, each belonging to a distinct time period.
The oldest of these is the Hathial area, which yielded surface
shards similar to burnished red wares (or 'soapy red wares') recovered from
early phases at Charsadda, and may date between the 6th century BCE and the late
2nd millennium BCE. Bhir Mound dates from the 6th century BCE. The second city
of Taxila is located at Sirkap and was built by Greco-Bactrian kings in the 2nd
century BCE. The third and last city of Taxila is at Sirsukh and relates to the
Kushan kings.
In addition to the ruins of the city, a number of Buddhist
monasteries and stupas also belong to the Taxila area. Some of the important
ruins of this category include the ruins of the stupa at Dharmarajika, the
monastery at Jaulian, the monastery at Mohra Muradu in addition to a number of
Stupas.
How to tour Taxila
Taxila can be visited as an excursion from Islamabad or can be
seen enroute to Peshawar or to Besham either way it is best to see the
archeological remains of Sirkap and Julian first which are the most important
one. Sirkap is the citadal of the city and was a planned city having
multicultural people living in it. When you visit Sirkap you can see the
interesting style of masonry from Kashan period to the last period of 6th
century when the city was destroyed by the while Huns. You will also see some
well marked structures which include temples markets and halls the most
important of them is the double headed eagle's temple which was a memorial to
celebrate all the groups of cultures living in the city.
Julian is a 300 meters easy climb you will see a well preserved
monastery and the main Stupa beautifully decorated with the statues of Buddha and
other deities. THe local guide will explain all the important aspects of the
monastery and Stupa. Julian was the place where Sanskirat script was invented and
it was a well known college in its times (2nd to 6th century AD)
After visiting Julian & Sirkap it will be best to see the museum
which is well organized and houses some of the most important
Jain Temple in Taxila
SITUATION OF T AKSH AS IL A (TAX I LA) ON THREE GREAT .
TRADE-ROUTES (By Sir John Marshal)
THE city of Takshasila or Taxila， as it has more familiarly been
known to Europeans ever since Alexander the Great's invasion of India, was
situated at the head of the Sind Sagar Doab between' the Indus and Jhelum rivers
and in the shadow of the Murree hills where they die down into the western
plain. To be more precise it was a little over 20 miles north-west of the
modern city of Rawalpindi and close beside the railway junction of Taxila, where
the main line of the North-Western Railway is joined by a branch line from
Havelian in the Haripur valley. Here also, in ancient days, was the
meeting-place of three great trade-routes: one, from Hindustan and Eastern
India, which was to become the ‘ royal highway' described by Megasthenes as
running from Pataliputra to the north-west of the Mauria empire; the second
from Western Asia through Bactria, KapisI and Pushkalavati and so across the
Indus at Ohind to Taxila; and the third from Kashmir and Central Asia by way of
the Srlnagar valley and Baramula to Mansehra and so down the Haripur valley.
These three trade-routes, which carried the bulk of the traffic
passing by land between India and Central and Western Asia, played an
all-important part in the history of Taxila, for it was mainly to them that the
city owed its initial existence as well as its subsequent prosperity and
greatness; and it was due to their diversion or decline, when trade contacts
with foreign countries were interrupted, that Taxila sank eventually into
insignificance.
SIGNIFICANCE OF TRADE-ROUTES FOR EARLY HISTORY OF TAXILA
This matter of trade-routes has an intimate bearing on the
question of the date of Taxila's foundation. In the prehistoric days of the
Indus civilisation, before roads and vehicular traffic had been developed, the
urban population of the Panjab was almost wholly dependent for its transport and
communication on the navigable rivers, which flow generally in a direction from
north-east to south-west, and it was only on the banks of those rivers that
human settlements of any considerable size could be
Double Headed Eagle's temple Taxila
Taxila Museum
Taxila Museum is one of the oldest museums in Pakistan it has
some of the most valuable Buddhist relics and statues from 2nd century BC to 6th
century AD. The articles that are displayed are very high value and present the
master craftsmanship of the Gandhara art.
Taxila Tour |
Gandhara Art Exhibition in New York |
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Pakistan Gandhara Sites Tour
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