Sunday, 28 March 2021

Bhallar Stupa Taxila (2021)

The coordinates of Bhallar stupa are 33°48'48.44"N, 72°49'30.85"E. Located on the Sarada Hill, just beyond the Haro River, along the route from Mechanical Complex to Haripur, this stupa holds a commanding position. It proudly stands as the tallest stupa in Taxila.

Bhallar stupa has a rich history, with notable visits from Chinese pilgrims pa Hien and Hiuen Tsang. They believed it to be the spot where Buddha himself offered his head. Constructed during the "medieval period" following the Hun era, this magnificent structure comprises a grand stupa, surrounded by votive stupas, shrines, and a monastery. It served as the place where the Buddhist monk Kumaralabha composed his treatise.

The main stupa, though now broken on its northern face, once stood on a majestic oblong base. A flight of steps on the eastern side leads up to this base. The stupa consists of a plinth base, a drum, a dome, and originally, umbrellas. The drum is adorned with Corinthian pilasters, freezes, and dental cornices, beautifully divided into six or seven tiers.