Gandhara civilizations Tour

The Gandhara region has long been an intellectual center of Buddhism and learning, as well as the cradle of the world-famous Gandhara sculpture, culture, and art. Archaeological remains found in Taxila, Peshawar, Charsadda, Takht Bahi, Swat, and rock carvings along the ancient Silk Road (Karakoram Highway) provide a well-recorded history of Gandhara.

Situated in the Haro river valley near Islamabad, Taxila, the main center of Gandhara, is over 3,000 years old. This ancient city attracted the attention of the great conqueror Alexander the Great in 327 B.C. when it was a province of the powerful Achaemenian Empire. Taxila later came under the Mauryan dynasty, achieving remarkable development under the reign of Ashoka the Great. Following this period, the Indo-Greek descendants of Alexander's warriors arrived, leading to Gandhara's most creative era. The Kushan dynasty, established around 50 A.D., marked a significant period of cultural and artistic flourishing in the region.

Over the next 2000 years, Taxila, Peshawar, and Swat became renowned centers of learning, philosophy, art, and trade. Pilgrims and travelers from as far as China and Greece were attracted to Gandhara. However, in the 5th century A.D., the White Huns extinguished the last of the successive civilizations that had held unbroken sway in this region for several centuries.

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