Taxila

Taxila is a historical city located in Rawalpindi District, Punjab, Pakistan. Located 30 km northwest of Islamabad, Taxila is an archaeological site dating back to the 5th century BC. Spanning nearly 50 sites over 30 kilometers, it was a significant center for Hindu and Buddhist cultures.

Under Emperor Asoka and during the Gandhara period, Taxila thrived as a seat of learning, with a university housing over 10,500 students. Excavations have revealed streets, houses, stupas, and artifacts now displayed in the Taxila Museum. It has its roots in the Gandhara period.  It is said that Alexander the Great captured this city in 326 BC and stayed here for five days.

The Greek ruler Demetrius I of Bactria conquered the Gandhara region in 190 BC and made Taxila their capital. Even during the era of Maharaja Ashoka, this city was at its peak and was the center of Buddhist learning.

In the 7th century AD, the famous Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) came here. He has mentioned the greatness of this city in his travelogue.

There is a museum that houses Gandhara art pieces from the 5th century BC, ten thousand coins, jewelry, utensils, and other artifacts. Most of the city’s sites were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1980.