Takht Bhai Kandarat

Takht Bhai (or Takht Bahi) is a [url=/wiki/Parthian]Parthian[/url] archaeological site in [url=/wiki/Mardan]Mardan[/url], [url=/wiki/Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa]Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa[/url], [url=/wiki/Pakistan]Pakistan[/url]. It was first a [url=/wiki/Zoroastrian]Zoroastrian[/url] complex which, after the later arrival of [url=/wiki/Buddhism]Buddhism[/url], was then converted into a [url=/wiki/Buddhist]Buddhist[/url] monastic complex. It is dated to the 1st century BCE.^{[url=#cite_note-takht-1][1][/url]} The complex is regarded by archaeologists as being particularly representative of the architecture of Buddhist monastic centers from its era.^{[url=#cite_note-eval-2][2][/url]} It was listed as a [url=/wiki/UNESCO_World_Heritage_Site]UNESCO World Heritage Site[/url] in 1980.^{[url=#cite_note-takht-1][1][/url]}
The word Takht Bhai ([url=/wiki/Urdu_language]Urdu[/url]: تخت بھائی) may have different explanations. In [url=/wiki/Avestan]Avestan[/url], takht means "capital" and bahi means "good", so the whole word means "the good capital".^{[[url=/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed]citation needed[/url]]} The ruins are located about 15 kilometers from [url=/wiki/Mardan]Mardan[/url] in [url=/wiki/Pakistan]Pakistan[/url]'s [url=/wiki/Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa]Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa[/url] Province.^{[url=#cite_note-takht-1][1][/url]} A small fortified city, dating from the same era, sits nearby.^{[url=#cite_note-UNESCO-3][3][/url]} The ruins also sit near a modern village known by the same name.^{[url=#cite_note-report-4][4][/url]} The surrounding area is famous for sugar cane cultivation.
Contents
 [hide] 

• [url=#Structure]1 Structure[/url]
  
• [url=#History]2 History[/url]
  
• [url=#Nearby_localities]3 Nearby localities[/url]
  
• [url=#See_also]4 See also[/url]
  
• [url=#References]5 References[/url]
  
• [url=#External_links]6 External links[/url]
  

Structure[[url=/w/index.php?title=Takht-i-Bahi&action=edit§ion=1]edit[/url]]
There are four main areas of the Takht Bahi complex:

• The Stupa Court, a cluster of [url=/wiki/Stupa]stupas[/url] located in a central courtyard.^{[url=#cite_note-eval-2][2][/url]}
  
• The monastic chambers, consisting of individual cells arranged around a courtyard, assembly halls, and a dining area.^{[url=#cite_note-eval-2][2][/url]}
  
• A temple complex, consisting of stupas and similar to the Stupa Court, but of later construction.^{[url=#cite_note-eval-2][2][/url]}
  
• The [url=/wiki/Tantra]Tantric[/url] monastic complex, which consists of small, dark cells with low openings, which may have been used for certain forms of Tantric meditation.^{[url=#cite_note-eval-2][2][/url]}
  

Additional structures on the site may have served as residences or meeting halls, or filled secular purposes.^{[url=#cite_note-report-4][4][/url]} All of the buildings on the site are constructed from local stone, and are mortared with lime and mud.^{[url=#cite_note-report-4][4][/url]}
History[[url=/w/index.php?title=Takht-i-Bahi&action=edit§ion=2]edit[/url]]
The monastic complex likely was founded in the early 1st Century BCE.^{[url=#cite_note-UNESCO-3][3][/url]} Despite numerous invasions into the area, Takht Bhai's hilltop location seems to have protected it from destruction, unlike many comparable early Buddhist monastic complexes.^{[url=#cite_note-UNESCO-3][3][/url]} The complex was occupied continuously until the modern era, when charitable funding for the site ended.^{[url=#cite_note-eval-2][2][/url]}
Archaeologists have divided the history of the complex at Takht Bhai into four periods, beginning in the 1st Century BCE.^{[url=#cite_note-report-4][4][/url]} This first era continued until the 2nd Century CE, and is associated with the [url=/wiki/Kushan]Kushan[/url] king [url=/wiki/Kanishka]Kanishka[/url], as well as early [url=/wiki/Parthia]Parthian[/url] and later Kushana king.^{[url=#cite_note-report-4][4][/url]} The second construction period, which included the creation of the Stupa Court and assembly hall, took place during the 3rd and 4th Centuries CE. A third construction period, associated with the later Kushan dynasty and the Kidara Kushana rulers, occurred during the 4th and 5th centuries. The final construction period, which saw the creation of the so-called Tantric complex, took place in the 6th and 7th Centuries CE, and was overseen by invading Hun rulers.
The first modern historical reference to these ruins was made in 1836 by the French Officer, the Buddhist remains are in a village named Mazdoorabad.^{[url=#cite_note-report-4][4][/url]} Explorations and excavations on this site began in 1864.^{[url=#cite_note-report-4][4][/url]} The site underwent a major restoration in the 1920s.^{[url=#cite_note-eval-2][2][/url]}
Nearby localities[[url=/w/index.php?title=Takht-i-Bahi&action=edit§ion=3]edit[/url]]
The villages of [url=/wiki/Lund_Khwar]Lund Khwar[/url], [url=/wiki/Sher_Garh]Sher Garh[/url], [url=/wiki/Charsadda]Charsadda[/url], [url=/wiki/Sehri-Bahlol]Sehri-Bahlol[/url] and [url=/wiki/Takkar]Takkar[/url] are other historical places in the vicinity of Takht-Bhai. The most historical location in the era is [url=/wiki/Sehri_Bahlol]Sehri Bahlol[/url]. This Buddhist monastery is situated on Malakand Road. The word "Sehri-Bahlol" has been explained by various people in different ways. Local people claim that this is a [url=/wiki/Hindko_language]Hindko[/url] word meaning "Sir Bahlol", a prominent political and religious leader of the area. However, the name is not as old as the village of Sehri-Bahlol. Meager economic conditions, poor educational facilities, and the nefarious effect of dealers of antiquities often result in severe hazard for the proper preservation of archaeological heritage in minor, less controlled sites. [url=/wiki/Sardar_Ali_Takkar]Sardar Ali Takkar[/url], a well known [url=/wiki/Pashto_language]Pashto[/url] singer, was born in the village of Takkar.

"Is it not a guidance for them, how many generations We have destroyed before them in whose dwellings they do walk about? Verily, therein indeed are signs. Would they not then listen?"
Al-Quran [Sajdah 32:26]


Takht Bhai or Takht Bahi (Urdu: تخت بھائی) is a Buddhist monastic complex dating to the 1st century BCE. The site is located about 15 kilometers from Mardan city, KPK. The complex is regarded by archaeologists as being particularly representative of the architecture of Buddhist monastic centers from its era. Due to its religious significance and remarkable architectural feature, the site has been placed on the " World Heritage Site" by UNESCO in 1980.

Simba wrote:"Is it not a guidance for them, how many generations We have destroyed before them in whose dwellings they do walk about? Verily, therein indeed are signs. Would they not then listen?"
Al-Quran [Sajdah 32]


Takht Bhai or Takht Bahi (Urdu: تخت بھائی) is a Buddhist monastic complex dating to the 1st century BCE. The site is located about 15 kilometers from Mardan city, KPK. The complex is regarded by archaeologists as being particularly representative of the architecture of Buddhist monastic centers from its era. Due to its religious significance and remarkable architectural feature, the site has been placed on the " World Heritage Site" by UNESCO in 1980.

Takht Bhai

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Takht Bhai, literally meaning "spring or well on a high surface". The spring of that period still exist on western hill and is used by the local people. Therefore the Buddhist sanctuary and the nearby village were named after these wells. The remains are most astounding, exciting and imposing relics of Buddhist in Pakistan. Datted back from 2nd BC to 5th century AD and scattered over 32.9 hectares. The site was excavated by Dr D.B Spooner and Mr.Hargreaves in 1907-09 and 1910-11 respectively. The remains consist of main stupa, votive stupas, court, lofty chapels, monastic quadrangle, meditation cells, covered passages and many other secular buildings. All are stone built laid in lime and mud mortar in diaper style masonry. A large number of stone and stucco sculptures have been unearthed during excavation, which now on display in Peshawar museum. The sculpture depicts the life of Buddha before his birth and different events of his life and reveal evolutionary and developmental stages of Gandhara art.

Takht Bhai

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Awesome captures of Takht Bhai kandarat! Takht Bhai is one of my favorite archealogical site. Thanks for sharing.