Takht-i-Bahi

Takht-i-Bahi is an archaeological site located in Mardan District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It is a well-preserved Buddhist monastic complex situated 16 km from Mardan city and 80 km from Peshawar. Takht-i-Bahi, meaning “Throne of Origins,”  dates from the 1st to 7th century AD. It comprises four distinct parts and is perched on a 152-meter-high hill.

Originally a Zoroastrian complex, it was later converted into a Buddhist monastery. Its elevated location protected it from invasions, preserving its structures and sculptures. Near it is a small fort-like city called Seri Bahlul, which dates back to the same era.

The reason why this place is known as Takht (throne) is that it is situated on a hill. A river used to flow along it, because of which Baha’i (flowing) was added to Takht.

The Buddhist complex here was divided into four main Buddhist groups. The first consisted of a stupa, the second a monastery of monks, the third a temple, and the fourth a monastery of tantric monks. This place was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980 due to its historical importance.