Ali Usman Baig : STUPA COURT

Visit Date:-11-10-2012

Location of Site:- N 34 19 15,E 71 56 45

Takht-i-Bhai, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

All Pictures are owned

Brief Synthesis

The Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi and Neighbouring City Remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol are one of the most imposing relics of Buddhism in the Gandhara region of Pakistan. The inscribed property is composed of two distinct components both dating from the same era.

The Buddhist Ruins of Takhi-i-Bahi (Throne of Origins) are a monastic complex, founded in the early 1st century A.D., and are spectacularly positioned on various hilltops ranging from 36.6 meters to 152.4 meters in height, typical for Buddhist sites. The complexes cover an area of around 33ha.

The Buddhist monastery was in continual use until the 7th century AD. It is composed of an assemblage of buildings and is the most complete Buddhist monastery in Pakistan. The buildings were constructed of stone in Gandhara patterns (diaper style) using locally dressed and semi-dressed stone blocks set in lime and mud mortar.

Today the ruins comprise a main stupa court, votive stupa court, a group of three stupas, the monastic quadrangle with meditation cells, a conference hall, covered stepped passageways, and other secular buildings.

The Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi in their setting, architectural form, design, and construction techniques are the most characteristic examples of the development of monastic and urban communities in the Gandharan region between the 1st to 7th century AD.

Integrity

Due to the location of on the Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi on high hills, they escaped successive invasions and are exceptionally well preserved.

The boundaries of the ancient fortified city of Sahr-i-Bahlol are well defined with part of the fortification walls still intact although in deteriorated condition. The site is increasingly threatened by encroachments, although the growth of settlements occurred already before 1911 when they were declared protected monuments under the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act. Houses have been built directly on top of the ancient ruins and only remnants of the perimeter wall survive. The present boundaries of the property are considered inadequate due to the increasing urbanization.

The inscribed property is also threatened by several other factors including uncontrolled vegetation resulting in one of the main causes of decay, inadequate drainage, and lack of security to prevent unauthorized animal and human encroachment and illegal digging. Pollution from local factories and vehicular traffic is also a serious threat adding to the deterioration of the site.

Authenticity

The Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi have a high authentic setting as it continues to occupy their original hilltop location. The authenticity of form and design has been preserved and the layout of the monastic complex and buildings are visible. The authenticity of materials as well as traditions and techniques of construction is retained in the stone construction in Gandhara patterns (diaper style). The stone sculptures were removed to the Peshawar Museum and the stone inscription of the Gondophares is preserved in the Lahore Museum.

The neighboring ancient city remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol are endangered by urban expansion. The original sculptures from the site have been removed and are housed in the Peshawar Museum. The Management Plan notes the lack of documentation and the lack of a skilled workforce of artisans trained in the traditional techniques of diaper patterns.

Protection and management requirements

Both component parts of the Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi and Neighbouring City Remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol were identified as protected monuments under the Ancient Preservation Act (1904) and subsequently under the Antiquity Act (1975) of the Federal Government of Pakistan. Proposals are under consideration to amend and strengthen the Antiquities Act. The Takht-i-Bahi ruins are owned by the federal Department of Archaeology, and the Sahr-i-Bahlol ruins are private property, owned by the local Khans. The government has established a Sub Regional Office with appropriate professional, technical, and watch ward staff and has allocated financial resources through an annual budget. As well a public sector development program is provided to maintain and preserve the site through regular and rigorous repair and conservation programs. Management responsibilities lie with the Provincial Department of Archaeology (Province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) situated in Peshawar. A Master Plan for the Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi and Neighbouring City Remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol was prepared in 2011. Intended as a working document for site custodians, it is also designed to provide a detailed holistic framework for the conservation of the inscribed property and sets out principles for management using a prioritized plan of action covering several areas of concern from site conservation to visitor management. The threat of urbanization identified above indicates that the boundaries of the property are inadequate. As a result, a revision of the property boundaries is being seriously considered along to acquire the land around the site and create a larger buffer zone. To control urbanization, the entire mountain area of 445 hectares was recently declared the “Archaeological Reserve” by the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. There remains a need for more adequate documentation of the remains and for enhanced capacity building for craftsmen in traditional building techniques.