Taxila

Taxila, also known as Takshashila, is an ancient city in the Rawalpindi District of Punjab, Pakistan. It is one of the oldest cities in South Asia, founded around 1000 BC. Located on the Pothohar Plateau, it is about 25 kilometres northwest of the Islamabad–Rawalpindi metropolitan area.

The city was important during the Vedic period and later became the capital of the kingdom of Gandhāra. Over time, Taxila was ruled by many different groups, including the Achaemenids, Macedonians under Alexander the Great, Mauryans, Indo-Greeks, Indo-Scythians, Kushans, and Guptas. Its location made it a key point in trade routes connecting the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia.

Taxila is famous for its ancient learning place, which some consider one of the earliest education centers in South Asia. In 1980, UNESCO named Taxila a World Heritage Site. Today, it is a popular tourist destination, thanks to preservation efforts by the Pakistani government.

Etymology

In ancient times, Taxila was called Takṣaśilā in Sanskrit and Takkhasilā in Prakrit and Pali. The Sanskrit name means "City of Cut Stone." This name comes from stories in the Ramayana, which say the city was founded by Bharata, the brother of the Hindu god Rama.

Today, the name Taxila comes from an ancient Greek version recorded in Ptolemy's Geography. Later, after invasions, the city's name was influenced by Arabic and Persian languages.

A Chinese Buddhist traveler named Faxian visited Taxila. He believed the name meant "cut-off head." This idea is still remembered today in places like Sirkap.

In traditional sources

In old stories from the Vedas, a wise teacher named Uddalaka Aruni visited the area around Gandhara. Later Buddhist tales, called the Jatakas, say that Taxila was the place where Aruni and his son Shvetaketu learned their lessons.

One of the first mentions of Taxila appears in a book about Sanskrit grammar called the Aṣṭādhyāyī by Pāṇini, written around the 4th century BCE.

The big Hindu story, the Mahabharata, is said to have been first told by a teacher named Vaishampayana to a king named Janamejaya at Takshashila. The story was later shared with others.

The Ramayana tells us that Takshashila was a rich and wonderful city founded by Bharata, the brother of Rama. Bharata also started another nearby city called Pushkalavati and made his sons the rulers of both places.

In Buddhist stories, Taxila is shown as an important place for learning, with famous teachers. These stories also talk about other kinds of learning, like medicine and rules for running a country.

Takshashila was also important to followers of Jainism. According to their traditions, a very important leader named Rishabhanatha sent his son Bahubali to take care of the region. There are stories about Bahubali making special marks in the city to remember Rishabhanatha.

History

The area around Taxila was settled very early, with ruins going back to around 1000 BCE. People lived there during ancient times, and many important discoveries have been made there.

Taxila became an important city in a kingdom called Gandhara. It was a busy place where people traded goods with others far away.

Later, big empires like the Achaemenid Empire, ruled by leaders such as Darius I, took control of Taxila. Even famous leaders like Alexander the Great visited the city.

During the time of the Mauryan Empire, Taxila became a center for learning, especially for Buddhism. Many students and teachers came from all over to study there.

Over the centuries, many different groups, including the Indo-Greeks, Kushans, and Guptas, ruled Taxila. Each left their mark on the city.

Sadly, invasions caused damage to Taxila's buildings and schools. By the time later travelers visited, the city was mostly in ruins.

Centre of learning

Main article: Ancient higher-learning institutions

Taxila was one of the earliest learning centers in the world. It had places where teachers gave lessons to students. It was not like a university today, but it was a special place for learning. Students could study many subjects, including old religions, medicine, and skills like archery.

Many important people learned at Taxila, such as a wise advisor who helped build a big empire and a doctor who studied old healing methods. Students came from faraway places to learn from the expert teachers there. Everyone could attend, no matter their background. Teachers did not charge money, and students sometimes helped with chores. Learning was seen as a gift, and there were no tests or diplomas — knowing the subjects well was all that mattered.

Ruins

The lost city of Taxila was found in 1863-64. Old records had mistakes, but a scholar named Alexander Cunningham found the city near Shah-dheri.

Taxila's ruins are close to modern Taxila, about 35 km northwest of Rawalpindi. These ruins have very old objects and Buddhist buildings like the Dharmarajika stupa and the Jaulian monastery.

Taxila became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. The site includes many important places such as the Bhir Mound, Sirkap, Sirsukh, and the Dharmarajika stupa.

In 2010, Taxila was listed as one of the sites most at risk of damage. In 2017, Thailand agreed to help protect Taxila and Buddhist sites in the Swat Valley.

Demographics

Population

In 2023, Taxila had a population of 136,900 people, according to the census.

Geography

Taxila is a city in Pakistan. It is about 32 kilometers northwest of Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. It sits about 549 meters above sea level.

Climate

Taxila has a humid subtropical climate.

Economy

Tourism

Taxila is a popular place for visitors in northern Pakistan. It has the Taxila Museum with many important objects. Fewer people from other countries visited after some problems in Pakistan in 2007, but visits started to grow again by 2017.

In 2017, the Pakistani government wanted to make Taxila a special place to learn about Buddhism. They planned a show about Buddhist history in Thailand, with help from the Thai government. Relics from Taxila were sent to Sri Lanka for a holiday called Vesak. The Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation also planned a bus service between the Taxila Museum and Islamabad.

Besides the old ruins of Taxila, you can also see parts of old Mughal gardens and pieces of the historic Grand Trunk Road. There is also Nicholson's Obelisk, a monument from the time of British rule, which greets visitors coming from Rawalpindi or Islamabad.

Industry

Taxila is home to Heavy Industries Taxila, a large company in Pakistan that works on defense and engineering. The city's economy is also linked to the Pakistan Ordnance Factories near Wah Cantt, which employs many people. Small local businesses make items like stoneware, pottery, and shoes. The Heavy Mechanical Complex is also located in Taxila.

Transportation

Rail

Taxila has a railway station called Taxila Cantonment Junction. Trains run from here along the Karachi–Peshawar Railway Line, and Taxila is the end point for the Khunjerab Railway, which goes to Havelian railway station. There are plans to extend the railway to connect Taxila with Kashgar in China, as part of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Road

The old Grand Trunk Road is now called N-5 National Highway, linking Taxila to the border with Afghanistan and northern Punjab. The Karakoram Highway starts near Hasan Abdal and connects Taxila to the border with China close to the Hunza Valley.

Taxila is connected to Peshawar and Islamabad by the M-1 Motorway. This motorway also links to Lahore through the M-2 Motorway, and to Faisalabad through the M-4 Motorway.

Air

The closest airport to Taxila is Islamabad International Airport, about 36.5 kilometers away. The airport in Peshawar, Bacha Khan International Airport, is 155 kilometers away.

Education

Taxila has many schools for younger students, such as the CIIT Wah Campus and HITEC University. The University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila opened in 1975. It started as part of the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore and now offers degrees in engineering for students, including bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels.

Ancient ruins

The Ruins of Taxila have four old cities from different times, found in three places. The oldest part is in Hathial, where pieces of old pots were found from the late second millennium BCE to the sixth century BCE. The Bhir Mound ruins nearby are from the sixth century BCE. The ruins of Sirkap are from the second century BCE and were built by kings from the Greco-Bactrian empire after Alexander the Great's invasion in 326 BCE. The newest settlement is Sirsukh, built by rulers of the Kushan empire from near Purushapura, which is now called Peshawar.

Ruins of Taxila Bhir Mound Sirkap Greco-Bactrian Sirsukh

Culture

Taxila today has both richer urban areas and poorer rural areas. The city has planned neighborhoods where many workers, schools, and hospitals live.

Taxila Museum holds many important stone sculptures from Buddhist times. These sculptures, called Gandharan art, were found in Taxila and other places. The collection includes items from old excavations, gifts, and items taken by law enforcement.