Taxila city is 35 km, 20 minutes drive from Islamabad moving towards north-west where the civilization of Gandhara exists. While travelling on GT Road, after crossing Margalla Hills, just turning left from the Taxila bypass at Khanpur Lake road about 4 km there is Taxila Museum. It’s a site museum where the collections of Gandhara art are placed, which is about 600BC to 700BC. Two beautiful & well-maintained gardens are also attached to the museum’s building, for visitors to relax and enjoy the natural environment and weather.

History

In 1918 the construction of this museum is started which completes in 1928, and opened for public. The northern gallery is constructed by the government of Pakistan. Visitors from Pakistan and from all over the globe come to see the remains of the old civilization, collections, and displays.

4000 objects are displayed at the museum, which is of the age 500BC to 600BC. About two dozen Buddhist stupas are displayed. These stupas are in the same condition as they are discovered during the digging process; some of them are repaired to give the touch as they are in real. Three main religions are supposed to be passed, that are Buddhist, Hindu and Jain religions.




Gandhara Art

Museum has a collection of stone Buddhist sculpture. These are all discovered from Taxila during the archaeological work. Local people adopted Gandhara art as home industry and they made some of Buddhist stupas, and statues from stones, as Taxila is famous for its stonework.

Many sites of the Gandhara and other old civilizations are there which are opened for the public to visit. You can get information about these historical sites from the museum’s information desk or you can hire a guide if you can afford it.
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