Once the seat of oriental culture, Taxila is one of the six UNESCO World heritage sites in Pakistan, situated about 40km from the capital city, Islamabad. The town is an important archaeological site founded in the late 1800s, years before creation of Pakistan. The ancient metropolis spreads over 30km sq and houses more than 50 archaeological sites besides home to a sophisticated museum.

The term Taxila was derived from the Sanskrit expression Takshasila that literally means “the city of cut stones”. Located on the crossroads of three great trade routes – the Royal Highway from Eastern India, from Western Asia, and from Central Asia respectively – ancient Taxila or the main center of Gandhara, has once flourished as a hub of Buddhism and a center of peace and knowledge.

Important excavations revealed that the history of Taxila dates back to 3500 BC. Historically, Taxila was invaded by several empires of the time including the Achaemenid Persian Empire in the 6th century BCE, followed successively by the Maurya Empire, the Indo-Greek Kingdom, the Indo-Scythians, and the Kushan Empire. Ashoka the Great molded Taxila into a great center of learning where philosophy, art and astronomy were taught. It came to a disastrous end when sacked by the White Huns.

Today, Taxila today is a unique archaeologists’ paradise. There are eight prominent sites scattered around in a very short radius. Amongst the best preserved are Sirkap, Jaulian (the University), Dharmarajika, Mohra Moradu, Bhir Mound, Sirsukh, and Jandial Temple besides a well-maintained museum.

The ivy-covered Gothic-style museum houses rich archaeological finds. Its caskets showcase a rich collection of properly labeled relics including coins, jewelery, surgical instruments, plaster and terra-cotta figures, rare inscriptions, vessels, grinders, and stone and stucco sculptures arranged in chronological order. The Museum remains open from 08:30 am to 05:30 pm during summers (1st April — 30th September) while visit timings are from 09:00 am to 04:00 pm during winters (1st October — 31st March). Taxila museum remains closed on the first Monday of every month and also during Muslim religious holidays.