Takht e bhai Buddhist remains or ghost town

Buddhist ruins of "Takht e Bhai" are located about 15km north west of Mardan, the second largest city after Peshawar in North West of Pakistan. These remains lies on the top of the hill from the main road leading to swat. This archeological site is one of the famous one among all other Buddhist ruins that have been discovered in Pakistan, and are about 1800ft above the sea level. 

 UNESCO (United Nation Education Scientific and Cultural Organization) has declared it as world heritage site in 1980.

A joint project by UNESCO and the archeological department of the govt. of Pakistan is carrying out on this site. Under this project, the maintenance and repairing work is going on now days. A freshly new park has been made at the bottom of the hill for the visitors, giving a beautiful look to the site. Labor making flowerbeds and sowing different plants.

The actual location of this monastery is located on the back of the hill. From the main road, one can see only the hill. A full view of the monastery can be obtained from the top of the hill.

When a person died as a saint or a great teacher in Buddhist times, relics are collected after the cremation. Then these may be placed in stupas or Pagoda (a burial mound). There are about 40 known stupas in the whole monastery both single and double. I have made some short videos. One can watch them for better comprehension of the surroundings.

 Monks used to do meetings in conference hall. Wall of the conference hall are in very fragile condition, support of iron rods have been given to them

 from further bending.

This monastery was buried in earth. It was exposed in 1907 to 1908. There was also a residential area for monks in double stories.

Few of sculptures and some other things have been discovered, are now on the display in Peshawar museum.

There are four sided small rooms, where monks used to worship. During 1990's the Buddhist followers were supposed to be meditate here for some hours.
The small holes in each quadrangle are for the ventilation purpose. Small shelves have been made in each quadrangle for keeping candles and other things.

When I visited 5 years back, there was kept a big statue of Buddha in the stupa court, which have been now displaced to Peshawar museum on security basis.

There was possibility of Militants to destroy that statue. During Malakand operation, when lots of Idp’s (Internally Displaced People) were camped in the ground of near by poly technical college, there was possibility of having migrated some of militants to the area. So for security reason that Buddha statue and some of other small sculptures have been shifted to Peshawar museum.

Five stairs leads to the first floor from stupa court to monastery. This monastery was actually double storey building. I have given some of small videos of this monastery and tried to cover each site for better comprehension.

These Meditation cells on the east are very dark. These cells were actually the places of extreme meditation. They are isolated from the rest of monastery, where monks could meditate with full concentration. There is also a courtyard, made for the monks, where they could sit, talk and get some of sunshine.

In spring season this area looks very beautiful and pleasant because of the greenery all around on the hills. But in summers and in autumn it gives a bit dull look because of much hot and less greenery. Whatever the season, it has its own uniqueness and a mysterious charm .It looks beautiful and stands with a grandeur in every season.

In winters especially it gives a very soothing feelings. One can enjoy the softness of the warm sun rays on the hilltop. Usually there is silence except the chirping of birds and the voices of the children, coming far away from the residential areas of the takht bhai village.

Now days a group of labors is working on the site for the maintenance so they are keeping their transistors. They do listen music while doing their work. It makes this ghost town very lively.
Labors belong from the near village so their children constantly visit their fathers and uncles and bring lunch for them.

There was a time when Buddha followers used to visit here from all over the world. Annually lot of tourists used to visit these ruins. But now because of security concerns in Pakistan is declared as unsafe place for the tourists and the increasing control of militants in swat and the adjacent areas have given a big shock to such archeological sites. They were no more safe places for visit. But now things have been changed to some extent and it is hoped to have some more betterment.
Now day’s only local people do visit here for the sake of entertainment and outing. While local students and other researchers do regular visits to these ruins for their research studies and make reports.Those who visit Takht e Bhai  never forget to eat the spicy tasty "Chapli Kabab" that have become a traditional food of here. To see the tasty kabab recipe and pictures click the link below of same blog:

http://kiranpalwasha.blogspot.com/2009/11/famous-chapli-kabab-of-north-west-in.html