Taxila Historic Site
Taxila Historic Site
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
15 reviews
Excellent
8
Very good
5
Average
2
Poor
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Terrible
0
davagib
Carlisle, UK98 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
This site was already ancient when Alexander the Great was welcomed in 326 BCE. It was finally destroyed in the 5th century CE. Nevertheless there are some imposing ruins on this and the adjacent sites and the museum has an eclectic collection of artifacts among which those from the Buddhist era are preeminent.
A car is essential if coming from Islamabad or Rawalpindi and some of the local guides are very knowledgeable
A car is essential if coming from Islamabad or Rawalpindi and some of the local guides are very knowledgeable
Written February 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Krzysztof F
Krakow, Poland217 contributions
Nov 2012 • Business
Taxila, as the capital of Gandhara, was evidently under Achaemenian rule for more than a century. When Alexander the Great invaded India in 326 bce, Ambhi (Omphis), the ruler of Taxila, surrendered the city and placed his resources at Alexander’s disposal.
According to early Christian legend, Taxila was visited by the apostle Thomas during the Parthian period.
The structural remains at Taxila include the Bhir mound area, the palace area at Sirkap, the Jandial and Pippala temples, the Giri fortress, the Mohra Moradu and Jaulian monasteries, and the Dharmarajika, Bhallar, and Kunala stupas (burial mounds). Different types of masonry used in the monuments indicate their period of origin. The earliest remains are those of the Bhir mound. The palace area, modeled on the same lines as its Assyrian counterpart, Nineveh, has several entrances and outer fortifications. It reveals traces of successive settlements, with the oldest parts of the buildings consisting of rubble masonry.
A spacious Buddhist temple, several small shrines, and blocks of dwelling houses were uncovered . The shrine of the double-headed eagle is interesting for its pilasters of the Corinthian order on the front and for niches in the interspaces. Other antiquities of the palace area include terra-cottas and potteries; small bronze, copper, and iron objects; and beads, gems, and coins of Indo-Greek, Parthian, and early Kushan rulers.
The Dharmarajika stupa, popularly known as Chir Tope, is a circular structure with a raised terrace around its base. A circle of small chapels surround the great stupa.
A silver scroll inscription in Kharoshti and a small gold casket containing some bone relics of the Buddha were found in one of the chapels.
Taxila was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1980.
According to early Christian legend, Taxila was visited by the apostle Thomas during the Parthian period.
The structural remains at Taxila include the Bhir mound area, the palace area at Sirkap, the Jandial and Pippala temples, the Giri fortress, the Mohra Moradu and Jaulian monasteries, and the Dharmarajika, Bhallar, and Kunala stupas (burial mounds). Different types of masonry used in the monuments indicate their period of origin. The earliest remains are those of the Bhir mound. The palace area, modeled on the same lines as its Assyrian counterpart, Nineveh, has several entrances and outer fortifications. It reveals traces of successive settlements, with the oldest parts of the buildings consisting of rubble masonry.
A spacious Buddhist temple, several small shrines, and blocks of dwelling houses were uncovered . The shrine of the double-headed eagle is interesting for its pilasters of the Corinthian order on the front and for niches in the interspaces. Other antiquities of the palace area include terra-cottas and potteries; small bronze, copper, and iron objects; and beads, gems, and coins of Indo-Greek, Parthian, and early Kushan rulers.
The Dharmarajika stupa, popularly known as Chir Tope, is a circular structure with a raised terrace around its base. A circle of small chapels surround the great stupa.
A silver scroll inscription in Kharoshti and a small gold casket containing some bone relics of the Buddha were found in one of the chapels.
Taxila was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1980.
Written October 8, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mzobniow
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates29 contributions
May 2015 • Solo
The whole place consists of a nice, but small museum and a couple of ruins sites distributed around. The museum contains many nice Gandhara buddist and ancient greeks artefacts found here, but surprisely much less than in eg Lahore museum, where I've been last year. You may found a couple of nice pearls like a little gold container, which used to hold the Buddha tooth (the tooth is already in Sri Lanka). There is also a delegated place for meditation - ask guards.
After see museum you may find a tuk-tuk and go to the nearby ruin places. There is not much remainded to date, so you must use your own imagaination :)
A bus from Rawalpindi to Taxila costs about 30pkr.
After see museum you may find a tuk-tuk and go to the nearby ruin places. There is not much remainded to date, so you must use your own imagaination :)
A bus from Rawalpindi to Taxila costs about 30pkr.
Written July 16, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Martin H
Hong Kong, China1,024 contributions
Sept 2024 • Friends
There are actually more than one site making up the UNESCO world heritage site of Taxila. We covered Sirkap and Jaulian as well as the nearby Taxila Museum.
There were quite a few steps to climb up to Jaulian but it was well worth it with some well preserved stupas there. Sirkap on the other hand was quite extensive but you need to use your imagination to get an idea of what it would have looked like. There is no shade at Sirkap.
There were quite a few steps to climb up to Jaulian but it was well worth it with some well preserved stupas there. Sirkap on the other hand was quite extensive but you need to use your imagination to get an idea of what it would have looked like. There is no shade at Sirkap.
Written October 1, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BBB2
United States189 contributions
Jul 2012 • Friends
Hire a guide so you know exactly what you are looking at. Guides are available at the entrance.
Written July 11, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ghulam Murtaza
Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan107 contributions
Nov 2013 • Friends
The place Taxila is an 2000 B.C Historical site, Amazing History
I strongly recommend to allworld tourists to come and see
I strongly recommend to allworld tourists to come and see
Written March 13, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Arif K
Peshawar, Pakistan89 contributions
Nov 2012 • Solo
Taxila historic sites are excellent places to visit. These contain really ancient Buddhist places and relics. The area is well maintained and guides are available for visits.
Written October 24, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
notacanada
Toronto, Canada871 contributions
Mar 2018 • Friends
Taxila is huge, I could only visit 2 of the sites and the museum in the time I had. The museum would need some dusting and better lighting, sadly as the artwork in the showcases is most interesting. There is not much left on the sites but remnants of walls and a stupa. Wherever there are sculptures left, they have been caged and are hard to see.
Written May 17, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WMBandit
Shanghai, China2,055 contributions
Oct 2016
Very historical places and such wonderful history in this rather remote area....a great place since every stop offers something different- a way to re-visit the olden abandoned cities.
Written June 11, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OzKK
Sydney, Australia458 contributions
Oct 2016 • Business
Visiting these archaeological sites of previous hindu carvings and other relics helps to provide another insight into pakistan
Written October 13, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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