Activities

Man's quest for peace and eternal bliss has been linked invariably with penance and self-inflicted suffering. Buddha claimed to have attained "nirvana" this way. His disciples, clad in saffron robes, sought to find their peace, likewise, under the ancient trees at Taxila; young devouts assimilated his teachings eagerly; master-craftsmen immortalized their homage to this man of peace in exquisitely-carved statues and figures, which they preserved in bell shaped mounds, called "stupas".

These relics remain preserved in their original form to this day. And they are fascinating, both to scholars of Buddhism and casual students of history. On this tour, you will visit:

The great centre of Buddhist learning at Taxila with its unique combination of Hellenistic and Oriental religious art... innumerable specimens of Buddhist art and sculpture including the famed Dharmarajika stupa which contained a relic of Buddha; and Gandhara, the ancient site in Peshawar Valley where Buddhism flourished for 900 years.

The Peshawar museum also contains the famous gold vessel with the holy relics of Buddha. Not faraway, at Charsadda, you will visit the ancient city of Pushkalawati.

The peace and serenity associated with Buddhist monks still pervades Takht-e-Bahi, an amazingly well-preserved Buddhist monastery, dating back to the 2nd-5th century AD, which is situated atop a 500-foot-high hill.

The tour also includes visits to the picturesque mountain region of Swat and Gilgit. Apart from their breath-taking natural beauty, they will hold you spellbound with their rich archaeological treasures.