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Taxila

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The Dharmarajika stupa is an ancient Buddhist monument located in Taxila, Pakistan.

Ancient City of Taxila

Taxila 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. People have lived there for a very long time!

The city is located on the Pothohar Plateau, about 25 kilometres northwest of the Islamabad–Rawalpindi metropolitan area. This special place was important for trade and learning. Many different groups ruled Taxila over the years, including the Achaemenids, Macedonians, Mauryans, Indo-Greeks, Kushans, and Guptas.

Taxila is most famous for its ancient school, which was one of the earliest places for learning in South Asia. Students came from far away to study many subjects. In 1980, UNESCO named Taxila a World Heritage Site. Today, people can visit the old ruins and learn about the past.

The name Taxila has many meanings. In old times, it was called Takṣaśilā in Sanskrit. This name means "City of Cut Stone." Stories say the city was founded by Bharata, the brother of the Hindu god Rama. Later, the name changed a little bit over time.

Visitors to Taxila today can see many old buildings and learn about history. The city has a special museum with important objects. People enjoy exploring the old ruins and imagining life from long ago.

Images

Map showing the location of Pakistan in South Asia.
Map showing the eastern border of the ancient Achaemenid Persian Empire.
Map showing the routes of Alexander the Great's military campaigns in ancient India.
Ruins of the ancient Indo-Greek city of Sirkap near Taxila, Pakistan.
Ruins of the ancient Jaulian Buddhist Monastery in Taxila, Pakistan.
An ancient Double-Headed Eagle Stupa at the historical site of Sirkap near Taxila, Pakistan.
A scenic view of the M-1 motorway near the historic city of Taxila in Pakistan.
The main gate of the University of Engineering and Technology in Taxila, built in 2008.
An ancient coin from Taxila featuring traditional Indian art, showcasing historical design and symbolism.
A historical site in Taxila, Pakistan, captured during a visit in July 2004.
An ancient silver reliquary from Jaulian, Taxila, with its contents displayed for educational purposes.
An ancient inscription from the Heliodorus Pillar in India, showing the word 'Takhkhasila'.
An ancient coin from Taxila featuring an elephant design.
An ancient double-headed eagle design on a stupa at the historical site of Sirkap in Taxila, Pakistan.

Related articles

Punjab, Pakistan
Pakistan
South Asia
World Heritage Site
Hinduism

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Taxila, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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