The Buddha was born Siddhartha Gautama, a prince of the Sakya tribe of Nepal, in approximately 566 B.C. When he was twenty nine years old, he left the comforts of his home to seek the meaning of the suffering he saw around him. After six years of arduous yogic training, he abandoned the way of self-mortification and instead sat in mindful meditation beneath a bodhi tree. On the full moon of May, with the rising of the morning star, Siddhartha Gautama became the Buddha, the enlightened one.

The Buddha wandered the plains of northeastern India (presently Northen Area of Pakistan) for 45 years more, teaching the path of Dharma he had realized in that moment. Around him developed a community or Sangha of monks and later, nuns, drawn from every tribe and caste, devoted to practicing this path. In approximately 486 B.C, at the age of 80, the Buddha died. His last words are said to be...“Impermanent are all created things; strive on with awareness.”

Gandhara

Gandhara (the land of fragrance and beauty) is the name of the area to the west of Indus and north of Kabul River and includes the valleys of Peshawar, Swat, Dir, Bajaur, extending westwards to southern Afghanistan and Taxila Valley in Punjab. Hiuen Tsang, the celebrated Chinese pilgrim, who visited Gandhara in the early 7th century A.D wrote that the Kingdom of Gandhara formed the tract of the country on the west bank of Indus and north of Kabul rivers which included the Peshawar Valley and the modern Swat, Buner and Bajaur.

Gandhara, the cradle of Buddhist Civilization, which gave birth to the famous Gandhara Art, is first mentioned in the Rig-Veda, the religious book of Aryans. It remained one of the provinces of the Achaemenian Empire as per Darius inscription of 6th century B.C. Pushkalavati (Balahisar-Charsadda) was its first capital from 6th century B.C to 1st century A.D which was invaded in 327 B.C by Alexander the Great. Later, Gandhara was ruled by Mauryan, Indo-Greek, Scythian and Parthian rulers. The Kushanas established their capital at Pushapura or Pehsawar in the 1st century A.D and King Kanishka built a Stupa and monastery at Shah-ji-ki-Dheri, near Ganj Gate Peshawar. In 7th century A.D, the Shahi Dynasties of Kabul and Gandhara established capital of Gandhara at Hund, which remained their capital till the invasions of Ghaznavids in 998 A.D thus ending the rule of Gandhara after about 1600 years.

It was during the time of the Kushan rulers that the Buddhist Art developed in the form of Mahayana Buddhism at Gandhara and travelled towards China, Korea and Japan. The Chinese pilgrims of the 5th-7th century A.D talked about the great glory and thousands of stupas and monasteries, which they visited in Gandhara. Taxila, though not geographically included in Gandhara, was an extension of Gandhara Art and a great teaching center of Buddhism.

Gandhara Art

The cosmopolitan art of Gandhara was brought to light by antiquarians and art dealers of the 19th and 20th century, but currently, almost all the major museums of the civilized world have exhibited pieces of Gandharan Art in their galleries. Research of the 20th century by foreigners and Pakistani scholars have proved that the art of Gandhara in stone, stucco, terracotta and bronze, for the propagation of Buddhism, is the legacy of the great civilization of Gandhara, which has hardly any parallels in the contemporary world.

Gandhara Art, a contribution of the inhabitants of Gandhara, shows influences from the main land of Indians, Greeks, Romans and Persian artists. The art appeared in this region in the 1st century B.C strenghtened in the 1st century A.D flourished till 5th century and lingered on till 8th century. The art died due to the invasions of Huns (5th century A.D), Turk and Hindu Shahis (`6th ~- 10th century A.D) and Muslims (10th ~- 11th century A.D).

The purpose of this art was the propagation of Buddhism through the images carved and made in stone, stucco, terracotta and bronze, mostly enshrined in the stupas and monasteries throughout Gandhara. Thousands of such stupas were mentioned by the Chinese pilgrim, Hiuen Tsang, who visited Gandhara in the early 7th century A.D only few of which have been excavated so far. The main focus of the art was Buddha’s life stories and individual images; his previous birth stories (Jatakas) and future Buddhas. The most important amongst them are the figures of historic Buddha, his miracles and all episodes from his birth to death, beautiful and liberally executed. The local devoted artists, stimulated by the personality of Buddha, took advantage of the contacts, motifs and technology from Greeks, Romans and Persians and developed such a unique art, which gave Buddha an eternal life.

The life stories of Buddha, depicted in Gandharan Art are an authentic document of the Mahayana text composed during the time of Kushana rulers. In fact, the sculptors of Gandhara translated the Buddhist Mahayana religious text into details in stones, stucco, terracotta and bronze, thus making it more romantic and providing a base for the expansion of Buddhism towards the Far East via Silk Route through pilgrims and traders. The current Buddhist religion in China, Korea and Japan is a wonderful example of the extention of the Gandharan Buddhism. The Gandharan sculptures were fixed to the bases, drums and stairs of the stupas, around which the worshippers circumambulated and individual figures filled the niches around the stupas and monasteries. Also, the harmika i.e., the solid box in square above the doom of the stupa was carved on all sides with Buddha life stories. These stories were chiselled on stone tablets and fixed to the stupas, inside which, relics of Buddha were kept in a casket for the purpose of worship.

Major sites of the Gandharan Art in Pakistan

The main sites of Gandhara are located in the valley of Peshawar, Dir, Swat, Bajaur, Mohmand, Taxila and Kabul. The most famous sites are Shah-ji-ki-Dheri in Peshawar, Bala Hisar and Sheikhan Dheri in Charsadda, Takht-i-Bahi, Jamal Garhi and Sahri Bahlol in Mardan, Aziz Dheri in Swabi, Butkara-I & II in Swat, Andan Dheri and Chatpat in Dir, Sirkup and Sirsukh in Taxila, Hadda and Bamiyan in Afghanistan.

Taxila

Pakistan is the cradle of Gandhara civilization and Taxila is considered a nucleus of this great period although remains are spread all over the Potohar range, northern areas and Swat Valley. Taxila is situated about 32 kms. north-west of the capital city of Islamabad. It is bounded by the Murree Hills running from north to south. It was an outstanding city of ancient Pakistan located on the south-eastern fringe of the celebrated Gandhara region and mentioned in almost all the important religious, literary and historical sources. Sarai Khola and Hathial remains have indicated that the history of Taxila is about 5000 years old.

Bhir Mound

The oldest settlement of Gandhara civilization is Bhir Mound. The Mahabharata relates that the city was conquered by King Janemejaya of Hastinapura, who performed there the great snake sacrifice. According to literary sources of the Ramayana, the city was founded by Taksha the son of Bharata and the nephew of Rama at the same time as Pushkalavati was founded by Pushkala in Gandhara. The discovery of Sarai Khola, about two miles south- west of Bhir Mound, has pushed back the history of this region and has placed Taxila on the pre-historic map of Pakistan. The late Stone Age implements superimposed by the Kot-Dijian culture not only help in providing links with established agricultural communities of the Indus Valley but has opened the pre-historic civilization in the Gandhara region.

However, the history of the site begins with the conquest of the area, then known as Gandhara, by the Achaemanians during the 6th century B.C. Taxila came into prominence when in 326 B.C Alexander the Great, after subduing the Persian Empire, pushed his way into the Gandhara region. Before his departure, Alexander established a Macedonian garrison here under Philip but soon after the death of Alexander, the garrison was ousted by Chandragupta Maurya. During the rule of the Emperor Asoka, when Buddism became the predominant religion of the empire, Taxila was regarded as an important centre of Buddhism. With the coming of the Bactrian Greeks, the city was shifted from Bhir Mound to Sirkup.

The remains of Bhir Mound close to the Archaeological Museum and the Taxila Railway Station, is situated about 22 miles north of Islamabad. Located on a small plateau, the site extends from north to south, covering an area of 1200 X 730 yards, and rises to an average height of 60 to 70 feet above the Tamara Nala which separates it from Sirkup, the second largest city in Taxila.

The deep digging carried out at a number of places at the site showed four successive strata of which the lowest dates back to the 6th -5th century B.C, while the second (from bottom) has been ascribed to the time of Alexander the Great, (4th-3rd century B.C) The third stratum to which the major part of excavated remains belong, has been assigned to the Mauryan period and the fourth to the period when the city under the Bactrian Greeks, was shifted to a new site at Sirkup.

Sirkup

Sirkup, the second largest city of Taxila, was founded by the Bactrian Greeks on the usual rectangular grid pattern in the 2nd century B.C situated at the extreme western end of the Hathial spur; it was fortified by a massive 21 feet wide fortification wall of stone with bastions at regular intervals. The plan of the city evidently shows that services of some Hellenistic town-planner were requisitioned for the layout of the city. Excavations have revealed the remains of some of the most spectacular buildings , both religious as well as secular including the market place, houses of the commoners, the temple, etc. All along the main street, a regular row of shops run on its either side while at its back were arranged blocks of residential houses.

On the western side overlooking the main street, was the spacious royal palace containing the King’s private chambers, audience chambers, guest rooms, the ladies’ palace and quarters of attendants. The plan bears striking resemblance to those of the Assyrian palaces of Mesopotamia. Copper coins and gems were recovered from the site.

The city remained under occupation for three hundred years during the successive rule of Greeks, Seythians, Parthians and Kushanas down to the time of Vima Kadaphises when it again shifted to the site of Sirsukh.

Sirsukh

Sirsukh, the third fortified city of Taxila, was located on the Haro plain about a mile north-east of the northern fortification ofSirkup. The largest of all the previous two cities, it was founded by great Kanishka in the opening years of 2nd century A.D.

Julian

Some 7 kms. north –east of the Taxila Museum, are the remains of a monastery and two stupa courts at different levels with caplets set around. The monastery has cells for the monks on four sides. A veranda in front, an open quadrangle, assembly hall, store rooms, refectory, kitchen and bathrooms are also parts of the monastery buildings. The lower court of the stupa area have five small stupas with very beautiful, well preserved stucco-reliefs of Buddha and Bodhisattva images seated in niches with stone carved rows of elephants and lions to give support to each tier. The second court contains the main stupa which is surrounded by votive stupas.

Muhra Muradu

Muhra Muradu, about 3 kms. away from Julian, is another Buddhist establishment including a large monastery and a stupa. The monastery has rows of cells on all four sides with a rectangular court in the middle and spacious rooms to serve as assembly hall, kitchen and stove.

A small stupa, almost complete in its detail was found inside a cell of this monastery. A group of excellent stucco figures on the southern wall of the main stupa is now preserved in the museum.

Dharmarajika Stupa

This great structure lies on a lofty plateau, about two miles to the east of the museum, amidst a large number of smaller stupas, chapels and monasteries and it belongs to the period 1st-5th century A.D. The main structure is built on a circular platform with Kanjure stone decorations and niches in bold design, well preserved on the eastern face.

To the north of the main building is the monastery area, the original construction dating from the 1st century B.C. The monasteries at Dharmarajika are the earliest Buddhist establishments in Taxila.

Takht-i-Bahi

Takht-i-Bahi is one of the holy places of Buddhism and an important tourist spot. The Buddhist monastery of Takht-i-Bahi stands 500 feet above the plain on a hill 15 kms. north of Mardan. The hill was once covered with trees and the spring water was plentiful. Therefore the Buddhists selected this spot to construct their religious complex, where the monks and students could pursue their rituals and study peacefully. One can imagine that it must have given a beautiful look when the saffron and orange robed monks ascended and descended the hills. The main stupa is surrounded on three sides by chapels in which the Buddha and the Buddhisattva images were installed.

Charsadda

Potentially one of the most important ancient sites of Asia is represented by a group of imposing mounds at Charsadda 30 kms. north-east of Peshawar. The site has long been identified with Pushkalavati, the pre-Kushan capital of Gandhara. This city was captured in 324 B.C after a siege of 30 days by the troops of Alexander the Great and its formal surrender was received by Alexander himself.

Shahbaz Garhi

76 kms. (47 miles) from Peshawar, on the ancient route which runs north to the Kabul River, lie the ruins of another Buddhist monastery at Chanaka Dheri near Shahbaz Garhi. These consist of rectangular tank, the foundations of a circular stupa, and the main complex consisting of two rows of three stupas each, plus a row of monastic cells on the side of the tank and royal stonecarved edicts of the great Mauryan King Asoka (2nd century B.C). It was one of the most important cities of Gandhara.

Swat Valley

Swat Valley is full of Gandhara remains and one can visit Jahanabad, Malam Jaba, Batkara, Nomogram, Madian and Bahrian to see archaeological remains.

Swat was the home of the famous Gandhara School of Sculputre which was an expression of Graeco-Roman form in the local Buddhist tradition. It was also the historical land where the Muslim conquerors, Mahmud of Ghazni, Babur and Akbar fought their battles preparatory to the conquest of the South Asia.

The runis of great Buddhist stupas and Monasteries are found all over Swat.

Major Museums of Gandharan Art in Pakistan

The Museums of Peshawar, Swat, Chakdara, Taxila and Mardan have great collection of Gandhara Art, while some pieces of Gandhara Art are also exhibited in Islamabad, Lahore, Bahawalpur and National Museum, Karachi. However, the Peshawar Museum has the credit to have the best and most extensive collection of Gandhara Art in the world. The Gandharan collection of Peshawar Museum comes from the excavations of the Archaeological Survey of India, Frontier Circle during the first half of the 20th century.

The Taxila Museum collection mainly comes from the sites of Muhra Muradu, Julian and Sirkup, while the Swat Museum collection is mainly from Butkara and Saidu Sharif sites. Chakdara Museum exhibits the collection from the sites of Andan Dheri and Chatpat.

 

STUDY TOUR

PACKAGE 1	Islamabad-Swat-Peshawar	04 days / 03 nights
PACKAGE 2	Islamabad-Swat-Peshawar-Lahore	07 days / 06 nights