Taxila

The ancient settlement of Taxila in the western outskirts of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; it is considered one of the most important archaeological sites of South Asia, and for good reason. There is a modern town with the archaeological sites scattered nearby.

Understand

Taxila began as Takshashila meaning the hill capital of the Takshakas, a Bronze Age (3rd and 2nd millennium BCE) tribe. In its glory days it was one of the main cities of the Kingdom of Gandhara, which existed from roughly 1000 BCE to 1000 CE and included much of what are now northern Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan. Gandhara was part of the Persian Empire from the 6th BCE century until Alexander the Great took it in the 320s BCE. The Taxilan leader joined Alexander peacefully and assisted him against Gandharan leaders who did not.

What makes Taxila unique and fascinating is the mainly Buddhist art and architecture of the Gandharan period, though there are also a few attractions that date from earlier or later periods. This art, especially the sculpture, shows a strong Greek influence.

Taxila is easily the most important Buddhist site in Pakistan; it was a centre of learning from the 5th century BCE to the 5th century CE with many large monasteries and one of the earliest universities in the world. The city attracted monks, nuns, pilgrims and students from across Asia; even today it attracts Buddhist pilgrims from as far as Southeast Asia and Japan. However, it was never exclusively a Buddhist city; there is a Jain temple among the ruins and the Hindu scholar Pāṇini — who wrote the definitive grammar of Vedic Sanskrit — was certainly a Gandharan and quite likely worked in Taxila.

There is also much to interest modern non-Buddhists; almost anyone with an interest in archaeology, history, art or architecture will find the place fascinating. It was occupied by various empires and was a regional or national capital for many dynasties over the centuries. Persians, Greeks, Central Asians and Hindus have all left their marks on the area.

Trade routes

Taxila was an important city in Alexander's time, 4th century BCE

Taxila is on several trade routes which have been important since ancient times. It was one of the main centres from which Buddhism spread along the Silk Road, most notably to China and Mongolia. The main trade routes were:

going southeast, a route that even in ancient times connected Gandhara to the Ganges Valley. The Maurya Empire, 322 – 185 BCE, improved this into a good highway from Taxila to their capital in what is now Patna.
going west, the road to Peshawar (the other main city of Gandhara), and up the Khyber Pass to Kabul. Beyond Kabul, roads lead on west to Persia (now Iran) or north to Bactria and Central Asia.

Later those roads became parts of the Grand Trunk Road running all the way from Chittagong, now in Bangladesh to Kabul, Afghanistan. This was built by various Indian kings before the British arrived, was important through the British Raj, and is still a major road in four countries. Today Taxila is just off the Grand Trunk Road.

going north, multiple routes over different passes:

via Kabul to Bactria as mentioned above

via what is now the Karakoram Highway toward Kashgar, in the region shown as Sakae on the upper right of the map

via Srinagar and Ladakh to Khotan, east of Kashgar

going south, various routes to Sindh and Rajasthan

All these routes remained in use into modern times though the separation of India and Pakistan reduced trade on some routes, the pass north of Ladakh is not much used today, and recent troubles in Afghanistan have greatly reduced trade there. Today the region around Taxila remains well-connected to anywhere in Pakistan by road and rail, and the Karakoram Highway is an important trade route.

Excavations

British army engineer Alexander Cunningham excavated the area and discovered the ruins of an ancient city in the mid-19th century, and the renowned archaeologist John Marshall — who was at time the Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India and was also behind the discovery of once-thriving ancient city of Mohenjo-daro — carried out excavations at Taxila over a period of twenty years between 1913 and 1934.

There is archeological evidence of early settlement in the area first by prehistoric neolithic people and later by the Indus Valley Civilization around 2000 BCE, but not of a city in those time periods. Taxila is mentioned as a city in the Hindu epic poem the Mahabarata, which describes events around 1000 BCE.

The main excavated ruins are all from Taxila's glory days, after 600 BCE. They are divided into three major cities, each of which belongs to a distinct time period:

The oldest area is Bhir Mound. Bhir and the nearby Hathial mound date from the 6th century BCE when the Persian king Darius took Taxila, and belong to the Achaemenid Empire or First Persian Empire.
The second city is Sirkap, which was built by the Greco-Bactrian king Demetrius in the 2nd century BCE.
The third and last city is Sirsukh, which was founded by the Kushan king Kanishka after 80 CE.

Later Taxila gradually waned in importance, and the town was eventually destroyed by nomadic Hun tribesmen in the 5th century CE.

For a more detailed history, see the Guide to Historic Taxila^{[dead link]} online at the Pakistani government's national heritage site. The story given there is considerably more complex than just the three main excavated areas mentioned above.

Get in

Pakistan's longest highway N-5, which runs between the southern city of Karachi and the northwestern city of Peshawar, also passes by Taxila, making the town easily accessible from anywhere in Pakistan. The nearest major cities are Rawalpindi and Islamabad, both of which are less than 50 km away, and it is quite feasible to base yourself in either and visit Taxila on one or more day trips. See those city articles for more information.

If you hire a taxi from Rawalpindi or Islamabad, make sure the taxi driver is familiar with the locations of sites in Taxila; otherwise, be prepared to hire a local taxi driver from Taxila who knows the sites well.

Air-conditioned buses mostly bound for major cities such as Peshawar and Abbottabad can drop you at Taxila but charge full fare, whereas non-aircondioned buses and vans leave at intervals of no more than an hour from Rawalpindi. May not be very comfortable but cheap. Buses from Rawalpindi usually leave from Pir Wadhai and Saddar otherwise you can always take transport moving towards Taxila on the Grand Trunk Road.

Taxila railway junction near the museum building serves the town. Two daily trains, both non-air-conditioned, make brief stops at the railway station. Awam Express runs between Karachi and Peshawar while the Hazara Express runs between Karachi and the scenic town of Havelian. Both are economy-only trains without air conditioning which make a lot of stops at stations along the route, so the journey can be uncomfortably long. Both trains leave from Karachi early in the morning around 6 and reach Taxila around noon the next day. An economy class seat on either train can cost less than Rs 1,500.

If you are travelling from southern Pakistan, particularly Karachi, a better option is to first travel to Rawalpindi on an air-conditioned train and then travel to Taxila either by road or train.

33.74182572.8145451 Taxila Cantonment Junction railway station (ٹیکسلا کینٹ جنکشن ریلوے اسٹیشن). (updated Jun 2020)

Get around

33°45′32″N 72°50′31″E

Map of Taxila

Ruins and structures of archaeological sites are spread over a vast area of 20 to 25 km² scattered around the modern town of Taxila, but most of the main ones are close to town within 2km of the museum building which is your first stop when starting a tour of Taxila and is likely the last one when you finish the tour.

Taxila has a good network of paved roads, and most of the sites are easily accessible by road. The distances between sites are long enough to make walking difficult and time-consuming, and with the frequent hot weather it can also be seriously uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous.

Taxis, auto rickshaws and tangas (horse-drawn carriages) can be easily hailed near the museum. Tangas and auto rickshaws are convenient for getting from one site to another. Most of the sites are off the main road and are properly marked, so even if you're in your own car, you won't have a problem in locating the sites. A GPS device can make things even easier. From a vehicle, most of the sites can be seen within a couple of hours; if you're walking, it could perhaps be done in one very hectic day. A taxi can be hired for as high as Rs 2,000 to see most of sites whereas a rickshaw can cost around Rs 1,000.

See

The Kingdom of Gandhara had its own unique style of art, and many of the best examples are at Taxila.

In its heyday the region was predominantly Buddhist; for a time in the 3rd century BCE it was part of the Maurya Empire under Ashoka, India's greatest Buddhist king. However, it was also very strongly influenced by the Greek culture of Alexander and his Graeco-Bactrian successors who ruled the area starting in the 3rd century BCE. The Kushan Empire, which ruled Gandhara and a large chunk of Central Asia from the 1st century CE to about 375, was also heavily influenced by Greek culture.

The best-known art objects are Buddhist statues and rock carvings, with Greek influences often clearly visible in the style.

World Heritage Sites

There are some three dozen large and small sites which include stupas, monasteries, and other ancient buildings spread out over a wide area. The UNESCO World Heritage listing for Taxila includes 18 of these and assigns a unique identification number to each. The 18 are:

33.799572.90851 Khanpur Cave (near Mohra Murado Cave). is a Mesolithic period archaeological site which reveals that Taxila was inhabited in prehistoric times. The 10ft deep and 25ft wide Mesolithic period cave high up on the hill and has produced microlithic made tools as well Buddhist stupas and monastries.
33.740372.80212 Sarai Kala (near railway station). The mound of Sarai Kala has evidence of the earliest prehistoric settlement, in the Mesolithic period, and also later Bronze age and Iron age settlements. It preserves Neolithic remains going back to 3360 BC and Early Harappan (Indus Valley Civilisation) remains of 2900-2600 BC.
33.74494872.8196813 Bhir Mound (near the museum). is an archaeological site which was once a major city founded around the 6th century BC, the oldest ruins of a city at Taxila. The oldest part of ruins, from the 5th and 6th centuries BCE, are believed to be the remains of Persian/Achaemenid Taxila. Later ruins are from the 4th century BCE, after the invasion of Alexander the Great, and the 3rd, during the time of the Maurya kings of India. There are also some ruins from after the Mauryan period.
33.75543272.8290884 Sirkap. This was once a major thriving walled city. It was founded by the Greek king Demetrius I in the 2nd century BCE and was later rebuilt by king Menander I of the Indo-Greek kingdom. Sirkap houses a round stupa which is one of the oldest stupas in the Indian subcontinent, a large sanctuary building known as Apsidal Temple, a magnificent Double-Headed Eagle Stupa as well many houses. (updated Feb 2015)
33.77262872.8478535 Sirsukh. The fortified ruined city of Sirsukh was once a major city, and was among the last ancient cities of Taxila. The city was founded by the Kushan king Kanishka the Great after 80 CE.
33.74475472.8421346 Dharma rajika stupa and monastery (2.5 kilometers from the museum on PMO Colony Rd). The Buddhist stupa at Dharma rajika is also known as "Chir Tope", and is the largest stupa at Taxila. It is believed that this 15-meter-high circular structure was built during the 3rd century BCE by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka The Great. The area also has Gandhara-style monasteries and some smaller stupas. It is one of the well-preserved and important sites.
33.740672.84677 Khader Mohra (Akhuri) (to the south-east of Dharmarajika). Limited excavation shows marks of a monastery foundation.
33.72719572.8536898 Kalawan group of buildings. Consists of some stupas and monastic cells as well as a few caves.
33.72759472.8835239 Giri complex of monuments. Consists of Buddhist monasteries, a mosque, a tomb and a Middle Ages period fort.
33.7504172.83095510 Kunala stupa and monastery (above Sirkap). contains the remains of an extensive monastery and a stupa nearby.
33.76435172.8287911 Jandial complex. Contain the ruins of a Greek temple and is believed to have been location of a Zoroastrian (Parsi) tower. (updated Feb 2015)
33.78214272.86881412 Lalchak and Badalpur Buddhist stupa (north-eastern corner of Sirsukh). contains the ruins of some mounds that reveals some monasteries, stupas and chapels.
33.76074872.86096313 Mohra Moradu stupa and monastery (Jinnan Wali Dheri?). a well-preserved complex where there are the remains of two Buddhist stupas (one main and other one votive) and an ancient Buddhist monastery. The city is believed to be from the Kushan age as it was built in the 2nd century CE and later renovated in the 5th century. The double story monastery building is an impressive structure which consists of 27 rooms for students, a pool, kitchen and assembly hall.
33.76575272.86595414 Pippala stupa and monastery. consists of the ruins of a stupa and a monastery.
33.76484272.87480415 Jaulian stupa and monastery (7 kilometers from the museum on Taxila Rd). Fifth century CE ruins on a hill with a Buddhist stupa, a Buddhist monastery and what is believed to have been a university. The courtyard and foundation of ancient buildings are still well-preserved which make it an important site. (updated Feb 2015)
33.7874372.86349316 Lalchak mounds. Consists the remains of a stupa, and monastery.
33.81351472.82537617 Buddhist remains around Bhallar stupa. location of where there was an impressive Buddhist stupa.
33.72788372.88048918 Giri Mosque and tombs. contains the remains of few tombs, a three-dome mosque and a madrasa (Islamic school) from the 10th-14th century CE. It was known to Persians as the Madrasa of Margalla.

Others

While Taxila is the main source for Gandharan artifacts and the Taxila Museum has a fine collection, it is not the only such collection. In Pakistan, both the National Museum in Karachi and the Lahore Museum have much Gandharan art. In Kipling's novel Kim the Tibetan Lama comes to Lahore mainly to see the Gandharan sculpture in the museum there. Outside Pakistan, India's National Museum in Delhi and the British Museum in London both have some Gandharan art.

The huge Buddhist statues at Bamiyan were another famous example of Gandharan art. However, Taliban considered them idolatrous and un-Islamic, so they destroyed them almost completely.

33.74629372.81900719 Taxila Museum (ٹیکسلا میوزیم). This century old museum is dedicated solely to the remains of the Gandhara civilisation. It has an extensive and impressive collection of Gandhara art such as stone Buddhist sculpture, and has thousands of objects on display. Most of the artifacts were excavated around Taxila and date from the period 600 BCE to 500 CE. The museum gives a good overview of Taxila and is certainly worth a visit. Entrance is Rs 200 rupees for foreigners, Rs 20 for locals. (updated Jun 2020)

33.7019472.8236120 Nicholson's Obelisk (نکلسن کی ابلیسک) (In the Margalla Pass, above the Grand Trunk Road between Rawalpindi and Taxila). Captain John Nicholson, from Ireland, was one of the most colourful characters of the East India Company's army in Victoria's time, a decorated officer and an effective administrator, but also a bit of a madman. He hunted tigers armed with only a sword and personally went after one bandit chief, cut off his head, and kept it on his desk for months as a warning to others. At one point he learned of a plot to poison the British officers, hanged all the cooks, then calmly proceeded to dinner.
During the Mutiny of 1857 Nicholson planned a bold attack on Delhi, and bullied the aged and conservative General in charge into approving it. He was shot while leading the attack and died a few days later, aged 35, but the British took Delhi and ended the mutiny.
The British considered him a major hero, and some of the natives (much to his dismay) treated him as a rather odd sort of saint, creating a cult of "Nikal Seyn" which lasted well into the 20th century. His tomb is in Delhi and there are statues in both Delhi and Ireland, but this monument is on the frontier where he spent most of his career. (updated Jun 2020)

Buy

The unique souvenirs of Taxila are mirrored objects; the "disco cat" is the most popular. This is a plaster statue of a cat or panther, covered in small square pieces of mirror, much like a disco ball. They make a great conversation piece or gift. Sizes range from 1 foot to 3 feet and prices from Rs 500 for a small one to Rs 2,500. Among other popular souvenirs are statues of Buddha, artifacts, coins, trinkets, pots and many replicas.

You'll find locals and many shacks selling these souvenirs outside the museum, along the highway and outside of various sites. There are plenty of shops lined up on Taxila Rd where you can buy many kinds of souvenirs as well. Post cards, photographs and books on Taxila can also be purchased both from the gift store and local sellers. Taxila is also known for good quality but low-priced mortars and pestles.

Eat and drink

As Taxila is quite a large town, modern eateries are plentiful and basic Pakistani food can be found anywhere in town, mostly concentrated on Khanpur Rd, near the railway station and outside the museum building. There are also plenty of roadside dhabas on Khanpur Road, on the Grand Trunk Road, and near archeological sites, serving street food from fish to kebabs. A few recommendations are:

33.75464972.8063061 Food City Taxila, HMC Rd, Near Overhead Bridge. Serve delicious Pakistani dishes, Bar BQ as well as seafood.
33.73442172.8023412 Royalson, Grand Trunk Road. Restaurant with pleasant ambience inside the Hotel Royalson, has some mouthwatering Pakistani and Chinese dishes on the menu.
33.74416272.8175443 Gandhara hotel and restaurant, Khanpur Rd. Serves some of the most delicious Pakistani food and fried fish in town. (updated Feb 2015)

A few other establishments that serve basic but hygienic Pakistani food are Sherazi Restaurant, Dream Land, Krispo fast food, all on Khanpur Rd, or Hang In, Kabli Hotel and Valley Food scattered along the National Highway within the town limits.

As in other Pakistani cities, any decent restaurant will be happy to serve you good chai, juice or coffee.

Sleep

Given that Taxila is close to the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, where there are a plenty of options to stay, there are few lodging facilities in Taxila as majority of visitors visit Taxila as a day trip. But for those who decide to stay, here are some recommendations:

33.74614572.8180741 PTDC Motel. Government-owned motel with six spacious room and a good restaurant, adjacent to the museum.
33.73443172.8024252 Royalson Hotel, GT Rd, ☏ +92 51 454 8400-15. It has a good in-house restaurant serving delicious Pakistani Bar BQ. It has quite spacious rooms equipped with basic amenities. Rs 7,500.
33.78016672.736873 POF Hotel, Quaid Avenue, Wah Cantt, ☏ +92 51 4539982-4. Owned and run by a Government-owned corporation in the adjacent military town of Wah Cantt (Cantonment). Has spacious rooms equipped with basic amenities.
Youth Hostel (near Taxila museum), ☏ +92-51-9314278, +92 343-9291552. A budget and basic accommodation with some 30+ beds, run by Pakistan Youth Hostel Association. Non-members can stay as well. (updated Mar 2015)

Go next

Murree — a popular hill station and summer resort just 100km northeast.
Abbottabad - also in the hills, but not as high as Murree and a larger town

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