Dharmarajika Stupa
[1][2][3][4][5] The stupa, along with the large monastic complex that later developed around it, forms part of the Ruins of Taxila - which were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980.[1] Buddhist texts mention that frankincense was used during religious services at Dharmarajika, while the complex was paved with colourful glass tiles.[8] It is known that the earlier core stupa contained a pathway for circumambulation that was made of plaster, and decorated with shell bangles in geometric patterns.[8] Large-scale developments took place during the late Kushan and Kidarite era which added numerous monasteries and stupas to the site.[10] Marshall noted that a large trench, requiring tremendous effort, was built at some point in the past in order to loot the stupa's precious relics.[2] Human skeletons were discovered in the open area immediately south of the stupa, and may be the remains of monks who were killed during the invasion of the White Huns.The location of the stupa and its monastic community about one kilometre outside of Sirkap is in conformity with the Buddha's recommendation that monasteries should be neither "too far" nor "too close" to adjacent towns.[2] Other reliquaries yielded gold jewelry and precious jewels,[2] while others contained items from distant locations such as lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, pearls, and shells − reflecting the large trade networks operating from Taxila.
TaxilaTaxila CantonmentPunjabSir John MarshallUNESCO World Heritage SitePunjabiBuddhistPakistanAshokaMagadhaRuins of TaxilaMauryanKushanrelics of the BuddhafrankincenseIndo-GreekcircumambulationSassanidKidariteWhite HunsMihirakulaPeshawarSirkappradakshinaplinthashlarIndo-ScythianSanchiverandahquadranglesGuimet MuseumKharosthiSri LankaPolonnaruwaColomboAnuradhapuralapis lazuliAfghanistanZoilos IITaxila MuseumIndo-CorinthianStuccoBhir MoundJaulianSirsukhMohra MuraduMankiala stupaJataka talesBuddhaScarre, GeoffreyConingham, RobinHigham, CharlesInsoll, TimothyGandharaGandhara kingdomAchaemenid invasion of the Indus ValleyGreek conquests in IndiaMauryan EmpireGreco-Bactrian kingdomIndo-Greek kingdomIndo-ScythiansIndo-ParthiansKushan EmpireAlchon HunsTurk ShahisHindu ShahisGhaznavid EmpireGreco-Buddhist artGreco-BuddhismHellenistic influence on Indian artSilk Road transmission of BuddhismTakht-i-BahiSahr-i-BahlolBaho DheriAziz DheriShaji-ki-DheriKanishka stupaLoriyan TangaiJamal GarhiButkara StupaBhamalaAhin PoshSaidu SharifBarikotCharsaddaPushkalavatiRanigatHashtnagarSikri stupaDharmarajikaKalawanJandialKunala StupaMankialaTapa ShotorChakhil-i-GhoundiShotorakPaitavaBimaranMes AynakFondukistanKhair KhanehSphola StupaTapa SardarTepe NarenjTepe MaranjanAramaic Inscription of TaxilaBimaran CasketKanishka reliquaryStone palettesBuddhas of BamiyanBuner reliefsSaptarishi Tila statuePost-Mauryan coinage of GandharaKabul hoardShinkot casketRukhuna reliquaryTreasure of BegramWardak VaseStanding BuddhaBrussels BuddhaBajaur casketSilver Reliquary of IndravarmanHephthalite silver bowlGardez GaneshaHathial