About Punjab, Portugal

Taxila, one of the most important architectural sites in Asia, is within easy distance of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The excavations, spreading out over 25 sq km, include the remains of cities dating back to the 6th century BC. The architecture and artifacts show the influence of a steady stream of rulers: Persians, Greeks, Scythians, Parthians and Kushans. Taxila was famous in ancient times as a center of learning, with a university that dated back to the 6th century BC. The city was destroyed in 455 AD by the White Huns; burned and charred wooden window panes can still be seen at the site.

The complex includes remanants of several different ancient cities and historical sites. Jaulian, the best preserved, is famous for its Buddhist monuments and monasteries, which date back to the 2nd century AD. The stone statue of the Healing Buddha has a hole at the navel; worshipers believed they would be cured of illness by putting their finger in the hole. Sirkap, another well-preserved site, was a walled city built by Bactrian Greeks in 185 BC. There is also a museum at the site, which contains the best-preserved artifacts and has displays on daily life in the towns of Taxila.