UN asks Pakistan to reverse reconstructions at Taxila sites

The Taxila, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was recently in the news after UNESCO asked Pakistan to reverse recent reconstruction works that allegedly undermined the site’s historical integrity. UNESCO warned that continued inappropriate interventions could lead to the site being placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

About Taxila

• Taxila is located in the Rawalpindi district of Pakistan.
• It is a serial archaeological site comprising:
  • Ancient urban settlements.
  • Buddhist monasteries and stupas.
  • A Mesolithic cave.
• It was strategically located on a branch of the Silk Road, connecting China with the West.
• Taxila flourished between the 1st and 5th centuries CE as a major centre of trade, learning, and Buddhism.

Major Archaeological Sites

• Saraikala – Earliest settlement with evidence from the Neolithic, Bronze Age, and Iron Age.
• Bhir Mound – The earliest historic city of Taxila, probably founded by the Achaemenians in the 6th century BC; associated with Alexander the Great‘s entry into Taxila in 326 BC.
• Sirkap – A fortified city established during the mid-2nd century BC, reflecting Indo-Greek urban planning.
• Sirsukh – The final ancient city of Taxila, built during the Kushan period.

Buddhist Heritage 

• Dharmarajika Stupa and Monastery.
• Mohra Moradu Monastery.
• Jaulian Monastery.
• Kalawan Monastery.
• Kunala Stupa.
• Bahalar Stupa.
• Jandial Temple Complex.

UNESCO Recognition

• Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980.
• Recognized for its Outstanding Universal Value as an exceptional testimony to the cultural and historical development of ancient South Asia.

Sources: TH & UNESCO

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