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A visit to Taxila

Posted on May 08, 2009 under Tourism | 1 Comment

Taxila is an important archaeological site in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It dates back to the Ancient Indian period and contains the ruins of the Gandharan city of Takshashila (also Takkasila or Taxila) an important Vedic/Hindu and Buddhist center of learning from the 6th century BCE to the 5th century CE. In 1980, Taxila was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site with multiple locations.

Historically, Taxila lay at the crossroads of three major trade routes: the royal highway from Pataliputra; the north-western route through Bactria, Kāpiśa, and Puskalāvatī (Peshawar); and the route from Kashmir and Central Asia, via Śrinigar, Mansehra, and the Haripur valley across the Khunjerab pass to the Silk Road.

Taxila is situated about 32 km to the north-west of Islamabad Capital Territory—and Rawalpindi in Punjab—just off the Grand Trunk Road. Its elevation above the sea-level is 549 meter.

Taxila

We started our journey from Islamabad and we were planning to camp at Khanpur. On our way we visited three ancient budah sites which are Sirkap, Jaulian and Dharmarajika. I would share some picture along with information of these historic sites.

Sirkap:

The city of Sirkap was built by the Greco-Bactrian king Demetrius after he invaded India around 180 BC. Demetrius founded in the northern and northwestern Indian subcontinent an Indo-Greek kingdom that was to last until around 10 BC. Sirkap is also said to have been rebuilt by king Menander I.

Sirkap Entry

Sirkap Stupa

The excavation of the old city was carried out under the supervision of Sir John Marshall by Hergrew from 1912-1930. In 1944 and 1945 further parts were excavated by Mortimer Wheeler and his colleagues.

Dharmarajika:

The Dharmarajika is a large Buddhist stupa in the area of Taxila, Pakistan. It is thought that it was established by the Maurya emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE around relics of the Buddha.

Dharmarajika Mound

These structures were reinforced in the following centuries, by building rings of smaller stupas and constructions around the original ones. Several coins of the Indo-Greek king Zoilos II were found under the foundation of such a 1st century BCE stupa.

To reach this site you must take the road on the right side while traveling from Islamabad before the Taxila Museum gate. Along with the stupa other interesting things are the giant feet of Budha, i think they have taken the upper body of the sculpture. You can find some other Budha sculptures here too. I am adding some pictures of this site which are as following:

Dharmarajika Ruins

Dharmarajika Ruins a close view

Dharmarajika Ruins (Water Pool)

Dharmarajika Ruins a very old tree

One of the Giant Feet

Half of the Budha sculpture

Jaulian:

Jaulian are the ruins of an ancient buddhistic monastery near Taxila, Punjab (Pakistan), Pakistan.

The ruins at Julian date from the fifth century CE and consist of two main parts. These are 1) the main stupa and 2) the monastery and university of Jaulian. The ruins are situated on a mountain top. The form and building of the university at Jaulian is similar to that of Mohra Muradu that is about 1 Km away.

This site was distroyed by the white Huns in 455 CE. The View of this site the best. Its on the top of a hill and a water canal which i think is coming from Khanpur dam is on the bottom. The overall view is great.