Islamabad Tour Package With Taxila( Ghandhara Civilization)
Taxila was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 2006 it was ranked as the top tourist destination in Pakistan.Explore Taxila, Ancient Buddhist civilization, a vibrant community dated back 2000 years ago.
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Tour Highlighted :.Islamabad – Taxila Museum, Ruins, Jaulian Buddhist Monastery, Dharmarajika Stupa-Sirkap-Mohra Muradu
Day Tour Islamabad and Taxila Buddhist Sites
The ruins of Taxila are located about 30 km north of Islamabad just off the famous Grand Trunk Road. Taxila was an important Buddhist Centre from 5th century BC to 6th Century AD. Ancient Taxila was situated at the pivotal junction of South Asia and Central Asia.Taxila Museum is famous for its magnificent collection of Gandharn Art (a blend of Greek and Buddhist art)The tour involves various archeological sites of the Gandhara Civilization. The sites include Mohra Moradu, Dharmarajika, Sirkap and Jaulian. Jaulian was the oldest Buddhist university.
One Day Tour :Pick Up From Islamabad and drive to Taxila on reached Visit Taxila Museum and explore Taxila Hertiage site The Ghandhara Civiization lasted from the 1st millennium B.C. to the 11th century A.D. Gandhara was first mentioned in the Rig-Veda, as Taxila remained the hold of Aryans and Mahabharata (epic book) was for the first time recited here. Persian ruler “Cyrus the Great” extended his rule to Ghandhara (558-530 B.C.) and introduced coin currency and iron technology. Taxila university was founded. Alexander conquered Gandhara in 723 B.C., and his rule lasted for 25 years.
Chandragupta of the Mauryan Dynasty ascended the throne of Gandhara in 321 B.C., introduced Buddhism in Gandhara, and built the first Buddhist Monastery, Dharmarajika, at Taxila. Greeks had a brief entry in Ghandhara (185- 97 B.C.). Kushan Rule (128-151- Central Asians) is called the golden era because the Ghandhara art and artifacts flourished.
The city of Peshawar and Taxila were also built during that era. White Huns invaded in AD 450, and Hinduism was revived. In 568, Sassanid, helped by Central Asians, captured Gandhara, and the Muslim Arabs finally defeated Sassanids in AD 644. Turkshahi and Hindushahi ruled from AD 650 – 1021). Jayapala of the Hindushahi Dynasty was the last king of Gandhara, who was defeated by Subuktigin and later by Mehmud Ghaznavi. That was the end of the Gandhara civilization.
Islamabad Tour Places
Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, located against the backdrop of Margalla Hills is lush, green, spacious and serene. The city was conceived in 1960 and became operational in 1966.The capital city offers many cultural spots depicting the beauty and variety of Pakistani culture.
Islamabad Archaeological Museum presents a long history of Pakistan revealing it to be a seat of the world’s leading civilizations from time immemorial. It contains proofs of prehistoric existence such as 20-million-year-old fossil remains, 2-million-year-old man-made stone tools, 7000-year-old early human settlements, which led to the world-famous Indus Civilization, Gandhara Grave Culture and Gandhara Art, early Islamic settlements, Sultanate and Mughal period and their art and craft.
Shah Faisal Mosque, named after King Feisal of Saudi Arabia is the crown jewel adorning the city spread over 1,89,705 square meters with 88 meters high minarets and 40 meters high main prayer hall. The main prayer hall can accommodate 10,000 persons while the covered porticos and verandahs can take over 24,000 worshipers.
Lok Virsa Heritage Museum is a cultural hub depicting multiple phases of the life, traditions, and history of the people of Pakistan through a chronological sequence;
Islamabad is surrounded by rich archaeological, cultural and historical remnants.
One of the fine historical sites is Rawat Fort located 17 km east of the city. It was built by the Gakkhars, a fiercely independent tribe of the Potohar Plateau in the early 16th century.
Rohtas Fort, located 109 km southeast of Islamabad, is one of the most impressive historical monuments built by Afghan ruler Sher Shah Suri, in 1540 serving as a huge fortified base for military operations.
Hasan Abdal, 48 km from Islamabad, was frequented by Mughal Emperors on their way to Kashmir. It houses the Sikh sacred place Gurdwara Panja Sahib having a sacred rock with the handprint of Guru Nanak and is visited by Sikh pilgrims twice a year.
Another site of historical significance is Taxila located 35 km from Islamabad. Taxila is a centre of Gandhara art of sculpture, architecture, education, and Buddhism. See List Islamabad Hotels