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Assignment

Topic: A visit to Taxila

Submitted to: Dr.

Muhammad Ashraf Khan

Submitted by: Rafiuddin

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Taxila Institute of Asian Civilizations Quaid-i-Azam

University

Islamabad.

Contents

TAXILA CITY.............................................................................................................................................3

Introduction:............................................................................................................................................3

Location:....................................................................................................................................................4

History:......................................................................................................................................................4

Excavations:..............................................................................................................................................5

TAXILLA MUSEUM....................................................................................................................................5

Location:....................................................................................................................................................5

History:......................................................................................................................................................6

Collection and Displays:.........................................................................................................................6

Visit to Taxila Museum:..........................................................................................................................7

VISITED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES........................................................................................................7

Visit to Dharmarajika Stupa:.................................................................................................................7

Location:....................................................................................................................................................8

Introduction:............................................................................................................................................8

Excavations:..............................................................................................................................................9

Bibliography:..........................................................................................................................................10

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TAXILA CITY

Introduction:

The Taxila is the famous archaeological site of Pakistan dating back 600 BCE to 500 CE. It

contains the ruins of Gandhara city. In 1980, Taxila was declared as UNESCO world heritage

site with multiple locations. The word Taxila is derived from the word “Takshashila”, which

means the city of cut stones. Takshashila was the ancient city of Pakistan. It is reputed to derive

its name rom Taksa who was the son of Baharata, brother of Rama and Mandori. Taxila was

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discovered i 1911-1922 by Sir. John Marshall, who has been regarded as the discoverer of many

other archaeological sites including civilization of Moen-jo-Daro and Harappa.

It includes various related buildings, fortifications settlements and monasteries that show

archaeological influence of different centuries and periods like Greek and Roman.

It is also called as Buddhist training centre between 5th century BC through the 2nd century AD.

According to Dr. Ahmad Hassan Dani:

“Taxila means the hill capital of serpent king”

According to Sir. John Marshall:

“Taxila is the city of cut stones”

Location:

Taxila is a Tehsil in Rawalpindi and it s located in Punjab province and it is about 35km far from

Islamabad on the grand trunk road to Peshawar. It is about 549 meters (1-801ft) above the sea

level.

History:

Taxila is known as from references in Indian Greco Roman remains and literary source and

xvang zang. The old name of Taxila was Takshashila, The city of cut stones or rock of Taksa.

According to Indian epic Ramayana and Bharata Taksa was the younger brother of Rama, an

incarnation of Hindu god Vishnu. The city was named for Bharata’s son Taksa, who was the first

ruler.

Buddhist literature especially the Jatakas, mention it as the capital of kingdom Gandhara and was

considered as a great centre for learning. Gandhara is also mentioned as satrapi in the

inscriptions of Achaeminids king Darius in the 5 th century BCE. After Achaeminids, Alexander

The great invaded India in 326 BCE. Ambhi (Omphis) the ruler of Taxila surrender the Taxila

and placed his resources at Alexander’s deposal. After the death of Alexander Taxila was then

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ruled by Mauryan dynasty and its founder was Raja Chander Gupta Maurya. After three

generations after Asoka the city was ruled by Indo Greeks or Indo Bactrian’s until the 1 st century

BCE. During the Parthian period “Eposide Thomas” visited Taxila and then it was visited by

others like Neo-Pythagoreans, sage, Apollonius of Tyana, in the 1st century.

Taxila was then taken from the Parthian by Kushan. At this time its ruler was Kujula Kadphises.

In the 9th century CE the Sasanian king Shapur (309-379) conquered Taxila as evidences are

found like Sasanian copper coins.

Excavations:

The site was first excavated by Sir Alexander Cunningham; he was a renowned archaeologist of

the world and called as the father of the Indian archaeology. He excavates it in 1863-64 and

1872-73. He identified also the local site known as Sari kala with ancient Taxila. Then after him,

Sir John Marshall, who in 20 years completely exposed this ancient site in 1916-17 and

discovered it as Taxila in 1911-17. Sir John Marshall has been regarded as a discoverer of many

archaeological sites.

TAXILLA MUSEUM

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Location:

Taxila museum is about 35 km far from Islamabad on the Grand trunk road to Peshawar.

History:

It is famous for the remains of Gandhara art and most of the sites of Taxila is about 600 CE’s

period.

Its northern gallery was established 1998. The objects that are displayed here are mostly found

from near by sites and mostly these objects are related to Gandhara civilization. Sir John

Marshall who was going to be retired from the post of director general of archaeological survey

of India in 1928 but he died before its completion. After his death government of Pakistan

constructed its galleries and did allot of work here.

Collection and Displays:

The museum consist of about six galleries and there are about 4000 objects displayed made up of

Stucco, stones, terracotta, silver, gold, iron and semiprecious stones. Mainly these objects are

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related to the period of 600 BCE to 500 AD and these objects belong to Buddhists, Jains and

Hindus dynasties. That was discovered from three ancient cities and from 300 Stupa of Buddhist

and temples.

The museum has a large collection of stone Buddhist sculptures from 1st to 9th centuries

in Pakistan known as Gandhara art.

It contains a large number of different kinds of coins related to die rent dynasties like

Kushan, Indo Greek etc.

There are a huge collection of cooking utensils, pottery and other daily life things of

about 2nd century AD and in addition there is a huge collection of beautiful jewelleries

of gold, silver and semi precious stones.

Different stone tools that were used for hunting purposes are also displayed.

In museum there are images which depict the Buddha life story about his birth, his life

and death.

Buddha in different poses are also shown like Buddha in meditation pose, dharma

chakra mudra, Ubhaya mudra and other different images of Buddhestwas are also

shown.

Visit to Taxila Museum:

My visit to Taxila Museum is very interesting. I enjoyed the trip very much. At 9’O clocks we

moved out of our university under the supervision of Sir Sadeed Arif and at about 11:30 we

reached there. As we entered the museum we first aw the building of Taxila Museum. The

building was very beautiful and was designed in style Greek architecture by Sir John Marshall.

As our teacher Sir Sadeed Arif old us that its foundation was laid by Lord Chelmsford Viceroy

of India in 1918.

As we entered we first saw the map of Taxila on the left side inn which all the archaeological

sites of Taxila were mentioned. As we go ahead we see different images of Buddha made of

stucco and terra cota. I observed the Buddha life story that were depicted in the images and also

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see the Bodhisattva. Then I saw a Stupa related to the monastery of Mohra Moradu. There are

many showcases that exhibits different objects as Sir Sadeed Arif told us that in the museum

there are 4000 objects displayed. In showcase I had seen the pots, coins, jewelleries, beads and

different kinds of tools. All these things shown that the people were much civilized and well

mannered. The journey was really very nice and I enjoyed the trip and I get a lot of information

about Taxila and its different archaeological sites.

VISITED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES

Visit to Dharmarajika Stupa:

Dharmarajika Stupa was very beautiful and peaceful area and I enjoyed it alot. I like its

construction style. It is not so far from museum, it is very near at the drive of 10-15 minutes. Sir

Sadeed Arif told us that the main Stupa contains some bone relics of Buddha and this Stupa is

more significant for the followers of the Buddhism. The Stupa was once coated with lime and

gilding though these have fallen away along with seven tier umbrella stones that once crowned

the top. Near the Stupa we found monastery where monks and lay followers lived. They did

meditation and gave lectures to the students and other people. They came from Central Asia.

Dharmarajika Stupa:

Location:

It is about about 3 km far from the Taxila Museum on metalled road.

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Introduction:

Its name is originated from Dharma Raja means the law of raja and it was also name of a Buddha

who was the true dharma raja according Sir John Marshall.It is the largest and the earliest

Buddhist Stupa in Taxila and it was constructed in the 3rd century BC during the reign of Asoka

of the Mauryan dynasty. It is also called as Chur tope. The relics of Buddha are buried over here.

The entrance of the main Stupa is located in the east. The side basically divided into two parts:

i. The Stupa area in the south.

ii. The monastic area in the north.

The Stupa height i about 50 meters. It is circular in shape. Around the Stupa there is a path called

Pradakshina patha that was used for circumambulation. The Buddhist used this path. Around the

Stupa there are individual chappels where individual images of Buddha were placed and it i also

called the individual Shrines. The Buddhist used to worship these images.

Excavations:

When this area was excavated a silver scroll inscription in kharoshti and a small gold casket

containing some minute Buddha relics were found there during excavation. Several coins of

Indo-Greeks king Zoilos 2 were found under the foundation of Stupa. Antiquities were also

found from main chappels around the Stupa and these antiquities mainly come from highest

stratum and consist mainly of stucco and terracotta figures and in the south west corner there are

some remains of platform, sealing, were found there. Such seals are found embedded in the

ancient Buddhist Stupa and statues.

Conclusion:

In this visit I know about the most important archaeological sites of Taxila. Taxila is one of the

important and significant archaeological sites of Pakistan. Taxila is mostly consisting of

Gandhara civilization and Art. It was the main centre of Buddhism for learning. In Taxila

museum I see the Gandhara art and other displayed things and know about the importance of

Gandhara art.

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Bibliography:

Dani, Hassan, Ahmed. A Guide to Taxila.

Khan, GR. Kanishka coins from Taxila in Gandhara.

Journal of Asian Civilization. Department of Archaeology Peshawar. Published in 2004.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxila

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharmarajika

Ancient Pakistan. Department f Archaeology Peshawar

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