29-03-18
The
approximate location of this site is 33°45'56.66"N, 72°51'57.95"E.
Piplan,
the ancient Buddhist monastic establishment in Taxila that was named for the
thick peepal trees of the area, is a Buddhist archaeological jewel located in a
calm valley that has stayed hidden from local and foreign tourists and the
public, despite its unique landscape.
PIPLAN IS ANCIENT BUDDHIST MONASTERY IS ON UNESCO WORLD
HERITAGE LIST AS A PROTECTED ANTIQUITY
The
ancient site lies at the foot of the hills between Mohra Maradu and Julian, the
ancient Taxila university. According to Dr Mohammad Ashraf, the former director
of the Taxila Institute of Asian Civilisation, the site was excavated in
1923-24, under Sir John Marshall, the director general of the Archaeological
Survey of India.
A WELL PRESERVED VOTIVE STUPA BUILT OF ASHLAR DIAPOR MASONARY IN PIPLAN
Department
of Archaeology and Museums Deputy Director Abdul Ghafour Lone said that later,
study papers had revealed that archaeologists during the excavation had found
the site belonged to two different periods.
Studies
conducted by the archaeologists found that to the east is a courtyard of a
monastery dating back to the late Partian or early Kushan times. It consists of
an open quadrangle in the centre, with a range of cells on all four sides. Mr
Lone added that in the middle of the courtyard is the basement of a square
stupa.
Former
archaeology department deputy director Bahadur Khan explained that the early
monastery, which was constructed of diaper masonry, fell to ruin before the 5th
century, and a second monastery was later constructed on the western side.
Mr Khan
said that according to the research, the second monastery was constructed from
heavy, semi-ashlar masonry, and was exceptionally well-preserved. The ruins of
the second monastery revealed that it comprised a court of cells on the north
side, with a hall of assembly, kitchen and refectory to the south and a
converted stupa to the east.
A WELL PRESERVED VOTIVE STUPA BUILT OF ASHLAR DIAPOR MASONARY IN PIPLAN
The cells
were built on two storeys, and as per the traditional Gandharan style of architecture,
consisted of an open quadrangle with cells for monks on all four sides and a
pillared veranda.
According to Mr Lone, a now
dilapidated stupa in a cell was discovered in the southeast corner of the
monastery. The floor of the stupa and the cell in which it stands is around 2ft
below the rest of the monastery, leaving little doubt among the archaeologists
and researchers that the stupa was originally built in one of the cells of the
earlier, Kushan-era monastery and then incorporated into the later one.
SMALL STUPA
A still intact 8ft high
stupa stands in a chamber of the monastery. It was tradition to build a memorial
stupa inside a cell after the prinirvana (death of a venerable monk). This
stupa rises to three diminishing tires, the topmost surmounted by a dome and
originally crowned by an umbrella, decorated with lotus rosettes and images of
Buddha, while at the base of the dome is a series of seated Buddhas. However,
due to a lack of preservation and conservation, the stupa is in shambles.
REMAINS OF 8 FT HIGH STUPA STAND IN CHAMBER OF MONASTERY
According
to Mr Lone, only one excavation was carried out by British archaeologists
before partition, which recovered 26 coins featuring Azes, Kadphises, Kanishka,
Vasudeva and Indo-Sasanian rulers. He said the study had revealed that by the
end of the 5th century, the Buddhist site met the same fate as its contemporary
monastic settlements in the region, resulting in gradual decay due to human and
natural agents.
COURT
Piplan
has been added to the Unesco World Heritage List of the convention concerning
the protection of the world’s cultural and natural heritage, while the
Pakistani government has declared the site a ‘protected antiquity’ under the
1975 antiquities act.
SMALL STUPA
GOOGLE EARTH VIEW
