The Sirkap streets
House foundations in grass.
Furqanlw — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Dawoodmajoka — Public domain · Dawoodmajoka — Public domain
Ancient Taxila is a World Heritage Site in Rawalpindi District and one of the oldest cities in Asia, probably founded about 1000 BC. It was one of the capitals of the Gandhara civilisation, at the junction of South and Central Asia. Its remains are spread across several sites in a green valley, so it takes some time and walking to understand. It may have been the capital of an Achaemenid province from about 500 to 330 BC. The Indian grammarian Panini mentions it, and its king, called Taxiles by the Greeks, recognised the rule of Alexander the Great. Many cultures followed, leaving layers of buildings and successive city plans, which is why it matters so much to researchers. At the Sirkap site you see straight streets and stone house foundations among the grass, with signs naming each building, including the Double-Headed Eagle structure with its decorated base and a Jain temple. Near the entrance to the area is the Taxila Museum, worth seeing before you walk, as it gives a clearer picture of the old city. It is about 22 km in a straight line from central Islamabad, an easy half-day trip. Bring a hat, water and comfortable shoes, as the sites lie apart and shade is scarce. Visitors report separate tickets for different sites.
House foundations in grass.
A decorated stone base.
A clearer picture of the city.
Taxila, near Islamabad, Punjab, Pakistan
At the museum, then go on to Sirkap, as the sites lie apart.
Yes for the main sites, with a car from Islamabad.