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Taxila (, , "History of Education", '' Encyclopædia Britannica '', 2007. to the 5th century CE ."Nalanda" (2007). '' Encarta ''. , ISBN 0415361664: In 1980, Taxila was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site with multiple locations.UNESCO World Heritage Site. 1980. Taxila: Multiple Locations . Retrieved 13 January 2007. Historically, Taxila lay at the crossroads of three major ; the north-western route through Bactria , Kāpiśa, and Pukalāvatī ( Peshawar ); and the route from Kashmir and Central Asia , via Śrinigar , Mānsehrā , and the Haripur valley2 across the Khunjerab Pass to the Silk Road . Today, Taxila is situated at the western region of the Islamabad Capital Territory —to the northwest of Rawalpindi and on the border of the Punjab and North West Frontier Province s—about 30 kilometres west-northwest of Islamabad , just off the Grand Trunk Road . HISTORY See Also: Taxila (satrapy) king Antialcidas ruled in Taxila around 100 BCE , according to the Heliodorus Pillar inscription.]] at Taxila.]] .]] Legend has it that Taksha, an ancient Indian king who ruled in a kingdom called Taksha Khanda ( Tashkent ) founded the city of Takshashila. The word Takshashila, in Sanskrit means "belonging to the King Taksha". Taksha was the son of Bharata and Mandavi, historical characters who appear in the Indian epic Ramayana . In the Indian epic '' Mahābhārata '', the Kuru heir Parikit was enthroned at Taxila.3 Ahmad Hasan Dani and Saifur Rahman Dar trace the etymology of Taxila to a tribe called the Takka.Scharfe 2002 According to Damodar Dharmanand Kosambi, "Taxila" is related to "Takaka," which means "carpenter" and is an alternative name for the Nāga .Kosambi 1975:129
Before the fall of these invader-kings, Taxila had been variously a capital for many dynasties, and a centre of Vedic and Buddhist learning, with a population of Buddhists, Classical Hindus, and possibly Greeks that may have endured for centuries.The '' Life Of Apollonius Tyana '' demonstrates that the rulers of Taxila spoke Greek several centuries after Greek political dominance had faded. The British archaeologist Sir John Marshall conducted excavations over a period of twenty years in Taxila.6 ANCIENT CENTRE OF LEARNING stupa, Taxila.]] Takshashila was an early center of learning dating back to at least the 5th century BCE.Hartmut Scharfe (2002). ''Education in Ancient India''. Brill Academic Publishers. ISBN 90-04-12556-6. There is some disagreement about whether Takshashila can be considered a University . While some consider Taxila to be an early university Radha Kumud Mookerji (2nd ed. 1951; reprint 1989), ''Ancient Indian Education: Brahmanical and Buddhist'' (p. 478), Motilal Banarsidass Publ., ISBN 8120804236: Hermann Kulke and Dietmar Rothermund (2004), ''A History of India'', Routledge , ISBN 0415329191:
or centre of Higher Education , Radha Kumud Mookerji (2nd ed. 1951; reprint 1989), ''Ancient Indian Education: Brahmanical and Buddhist'' (p. 479), Motilal Banarsidass Publ., ISBN 8120804236: others do not consider it a university in the modern sense, Anant Sadashiv Altekar (1934; reprint 1965), ''Education in Ancient India'', Sixth Edition, Revised & Enlarged, Nand Kishore & Bros, Varanasi: F. W. Thomas (1944), in John Marshall (1951; 1975 reprint), ''Taxila'', Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi: Taxila (2007), Encyclopædia Britannica : in contrast to the later Nalanda University."Nalanda" (2001). '' Columbia Encyclopedia ''. Takshashila is described in some detail in later Jātaka tales, written in Sri Lanka around the 5th century CE.Marshall 1975:81 Takshashila is considered a place of religious and historical sanctity by Hindus and Buddhists. The former do so not only because, in its time, Takshashila was the seat of Vedic learning, but also because the strategist, Chanakya , who later helped consolidate the empire of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya , was a senior teacher there. The institution is very significant in Buddhist tradition since it is believed that the Mahāyāna sect of Buddhism took shape there. Some scholars date Takshashila's existence back to the 6th century BCE or 7th century BCE."Taxila", ''. the Maurya Emperor Chandragupta Radhakumud Mookerji (1941; 1960; reprint 1989). ''Chandragupta Maurya and His Times'' (p. 17). Motilal Banarsidass Publ. ISBN 8120804058. and the Ayurvedic healer Charaka studied at Taxila.Radha Kumud Mookerji (2nd ed. 1951; reprint 1989). ''Ancient Indian Education: Brahmanical and Buddhist'' (p. 478-489). Motilal Banarsidass Publ. ISBN 8120804236. Generally, a student entered Takshashila at the age of sixteen. The Vedas and the Eighteen Arts, which included skills such as Archery , Hunting , and Elephant lore, were taught, in addition to its Law School , Medical School , and school of Military Science . TAXILA TODAY strata at Taxila ( John Marshall "Taxila, Archeological excavations"). From top, left:
Present day Taxila is one of the seven Tehsil s (sub-district) of Rawalpindi District . It is spread over an undulating land in the periphery of the Pothohar Plateau of the Punjab . Situated just outside the capital Islamabad 's territory and communicating with it through Tarnol pass of Margalla Hills , Taxila is a mix of posh urban and rustic rural environs. Urban residential areas are in the form of small neat and clean colonies populated by the workers of heavy industries, educational institutes and hospitals that are located in the area. The industries include heavy machine factories and industrial complex, ordnance factories of Wah Cantt and cement factory. Heavy Industries Taxila is also based here. Small, cottage and house hold industries include stone ware, pottery and foot wear. People try to relate the present day stone ware craft to the tradition of sculpture making that existed here before the advent of Islam. In addition to the ruins of Gandhara civilization and ancient Buddhist/Hindu culture, relics of Mughal Garden s and vestiges of historical Grand Trunk Road , which was built by Emperor Sher Shah Suri in 15th-16th centuries, are also found in Taxila region. Taxila Museum , dedicated mainly to the remains of Gandhara civilization, is also worth visiting. A hotel of the tourism department offers reasonably good services and hospitality to the tourists. Taxila has many educational institutes including University Of Engineering And Technology (UET). Thomas is still honored in Taxila in an annual festival in early July, attended by thousands, celebrating the passage of his bones through Taxila on their way to Edessa. Some notable and famous people of Taxila are Khan Mohammad Younas Khan, Ghulam Sarwar Khan (minister for labour & Overseas Pakistanis) and Siddique Khan (town nazim). REFERENCES .]] SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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