Buddhist archaeological sites in Pakistan

by Chandana Wijekoon

Only a few people have a true understanding of Buddhist sites in Pakistan which is acclaimed as a truly Islamic People's Republic. This is because only a small group of people in Pakistan get to read and understand reports on the Buddhist sites in their country.

Therefore, I believe that it is timely to make an analysis of the archaeological sites in Pakistan and the measures which are being taken to safeguard them.

Votive stupa in Janlion

Bodhisattva wearing a turban

Taxila is the old capital of the State of Gandhar. It is a location with ample sunlight and is situated in an ideal and precious block of land. It is considered that the site was in existence in the 6th century BC and this has been determined by archaeologists who have unveiled a plethora of artefacts ranging from coins, play pots, jewellery and other creations. It is due to these reasons that the UNESCO has declared it as a World heritage site. It is also an open museum.

There are, still the vestiges of ancient Buddhist civilisation along with 12 stupas and a large number of Chinese and Burmese dagobas efforts of the Pakistan archaeological authorities and their attempts to conserve them should not be underestimated even in the light of the impossibility to trace their roots.

The efforts of intellectuals, archaeologists, and tourists who roam the site have enabled the dissemination of various studies, unfolding the Buddhist heritage of Taxila, which is an ancient site sandwiched between the banks of the Indus river. Rawalpindi and Peshawar both belong to this site.

This is indeed an idyllic site which is around 100 kilometres in length from east to west and 70 kilometres from the Northern slope to the south it is enveloped with mountains. On the Northern

range is the Buher, Swat, Dir and Bajaur mountains and the first capital of the area was Pushkalawathi which is known as the Charshada town. It extends to the cities of Taxila, Manik Yala city and the Jhelum city. It was at that time that the art of Ghandhar originated between the first and seventh centuries BC.

It is also considered that the origin of Taxila was during King Darius I between 422 and 586 BC. It was also approximately in 327 BC that King Alexander the Great travelled in the Indus River through the city of Attock to extend his military operations to Central Asia and he arrived in Taxila, Chronicles have unfolded that King Chandragupta who was also considered as the first King of the area and that he extended his reign from Northern to Southern India and also to Hindu Kush in North Afghanistan.

Emperor Asoka has also ruled the State of Gandhar. It was his unbridled devotion to Buddhism that it also spread to North India as well. But his kingdom could not be extended beyond to what it was till then, following his demise. From the end of the 3rd century BC to first century BC, Gandhar has also been a part of the Kingdom of Bactria as well. The area that was known as Bactria is now the Bolkh region in Northern Afghanistan.

The Thushanese who were known to have been immigrants from China have endorsed their power in Ghandhar from first century BC to third century AD. King Kanishka who was a pious Buddhist was also instrumental in enforcing a series of Buddhist traditions within the Gandhar region. There were a series of monuments which evolved in that time.

According to archaeological evidence, there had been the evolution of the Greeko-Roman culture also which have been embedded into the culture during that time and they have also given priority for Buddhist civilisation as well.

Gandhara is the name of an ancient kingdom (Mahajanapada), located in Northern Pakistan and Eastern Afghanistan. Gandhara was located mainly in the valley of Peshawar, the Potohar plateau and on the Kabul River. Its main cities were Purushapura (modern Peshawar), literally meaning 'City of Man' and Takshashila (Modern Taxila)

The Kingdom of Gandhara lasted from early 1st millennium BC to the 11th century AD. It attained its heigh from the 1st century

to the 5th century under the Buddhist Kushan Kings. The Hindu Shahi, a term used by history writer Al-Biruni to refer to the ruling Hindu dynasty that took over from the Turki Shahi and ruled the region during the period prior to Muslim conquests of the 10th and 11th centuries. After it was conquered by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1021 CE, the name Gandhara disappeared. During the Muslim period the area was administered from Lahore or from Kabul. During Mughal times the area was part of Kabul province.