Subscribe to hear the latest episode of Global Treasures, which covers the Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi and Neighboring City Remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol. Abigail covers the history and travel tips for visiting this UNESCO world heritage site, added to the list in 1980.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Abigail (00:00):
Imagine a place that tells a story spanning centuries where
culture and nature intertwine tocreate something truly extraordinary.
That's the beauty of UNESCOWorld Heritage Sites.
I'm Abigail, and this is Global Treasures,the podcast that covers the history,
(00:25):
travel, tips, and legends surroundingone of the 1,248 world heritage sites
each episode.
These places have been identifiedas having universal cultural or
natural significance that is soexceptional that it transcends national
(00:48):
boundaries and is of importanceto present and future generations.
Welcome to season three, wherewe'll explore the 27 sites that
UNESCO added in 1980 together.
Thank you as always forlistening to the podcast.
(01:08):
I appreciate all of your support and youcan continue to support the podcast by
subscribing at Apple Podcasts, Spotify,Podbean, or your favorite platform.
You can also follow uson TikTok and Facebook.
You can check out my blog onglobaltreasurestravel.com for
(01:31):
even more travel tips and tohear about my latest adventures.
All of these links will beincluded in the show notes.
The Buddhist ruins at Takht-i-Bahi and Theneighboring city remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol
are located in Mardan Pakistan.
(01:52):
The name Takht-i-Bahi means throneof the water spring, though its
exact origin remains uncertain.
According to local belief, the nameTakht-i-Bahi comes either from two
wells located on the hill or fromSprings that once flowed nearby.
(02:16):
This archeological site was once animportant ancient Buddhist monastery
and is considered one of the mostsignificant relics of Buddhism in
what was once Gandara, a civilizationthat spanned across Northwestern
Pakistan and Eastern Afghanistan.
(02:38):
Takht-i-Bahi dates back to theIndo-Parthian Kingdom, which
existed from 19 CE to 2 26 ce.
The monastery itself was founded inthe first century CE and remained
in use until the seventh century CE.
(02:59):
Despite the passage of time, the site isexceptionally well preserved, offering
visitors a bird's eye view into theBuddhist monastic life of the past.
Today, around 85,000 people live inthe surrounding area, though none
(03:19):
reside within the ruins themselves.
The site is divided intofour distinct areas.
At its heart lies the StupaCourt, a central courtyard
surrounded by a cluster of Stupas.
Stupas are domed structures that holdsacred relics such as statues, and serve
(03:43):
as a place of pilgrimage and meditation.
The other three areas include monasticchambers, a temple complex featuring
additional stupas that were constructedat a later date and a tantric monastic
complex, which may also have beenused for meditation practices.
(04:06):
Carved from local stone, the Buddhistruins of Takht-i-Bahi stand as a
testament to the region's rich history.
Although it endured for centuries,the site appears to have suffered
damage in the mid fifth century whenthe area was subjugated by the Huns,
(04:29):
led by none other than Attila the Hun.
Fast forward when the ruinsfirst reemerged in modern history
through a French officer's writtenreference in the 1830s and official
excavations began in the 1860s.
(04:49):
Today, many recovered artifacts includingincredibly well-preserved Buddhist statues
can be viewed in various collectionsat museums such as the British Museum.
Then just over three miles away liesthe neighboring site of Sahr-i-Bahlol.
(05:12):
Its elevated position on a high hill,allowed it to escape the same fate as
Takht-i-Bahi, remaining in pristinephysical condition and earning its
own status as a picture worthy site.
This fortified city is surroundedby an area known for cultivating
(05:34):
sugar cane, wheat, and corn.
While both sites have faced somenegative impact in terms of preservation
from both a lack of security andlocal pollution, their endurance
remains a compelling reason to visit.
(05:55):
Now that we've covered a bit of thehistory and what you can expect to see,
I'll dive into some travel tips for thosewho want to visit, and I'll be sure to
include some links in the show notesto help make planning your trip easier.
Let's start by talking about what to pack.
(06:16):
If you plan on visiting during thesummer, know that July can get up
to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, sopack some breezy, modest clothing.
Also bring a scarf in case you plan onentering mosques or other religious sites.
August can get quite a bit of rain,so definitely bring an umbrella.
(06:40):
If you're coming in from another countryyou'll want to fly into Bacha Khan
International Airport or Islamabad.
Islamabad is a largerairport, but a longer drive.
From either airport, you canget a taxi or hire a car.
(07:00):
The ride sharing apps many of ususe in North America and Europe
aren't available in Pakistan.
Once you're there, you'll find that theofficial languages are Urdu and English.
But it's very common tohear Punjabi spoken as well.
A translation app is always a helpfultool to have on your phone, just in case.
(07:25):
While it's not a requirement to bepart of a sanctioned tour to enter the
country, I highly recommend booking one,and there are many options for UNESCO
World Heritage Site specific tours.
Also, keep in mind that a tour group ledby a guide or even a local you hire as
(07:48):
a guide just for the day is essentialfor getting into the site itself.
You can't just buytickets online in advance.
Plus, a tour company often can helphandle all of the coordination of
logistics for you, from helping yousecure your Visa to sharing important
(08:09):
tips on which vaccines you may needbased on your country of origin.
All of that being said, you can buytickets the same day on site if you do
decide to navigate it independently.
This site gets around 10 to13,000 visitors annually.
(08:31):
So while that is a significantnumber given how remote this site
is, you still won't be fighting largecrowds and huge lines to get in.
Many use Peshawar as their home basesince it is a larger city and has
many hotel and restaurant options.
(08:51):
Islamabad being the capital isalso a popular choice, but it is
over two hours from Takht-i-Bahi.
Some of the stone sculpturesand other artifacts from this
site are at Lahore and Peshawarmuseums if you want to learn more.
Now, of course, we have toend by talking about the food.
(09:17):
The national dish of Pakistan isNuhari, a slow cooked, spiced meat stew.
It is typically made with lambor beef shank and served with an
oven baked flatbread like naan.
It's so important to take the timeto appreciate traditional foods
(09:39):
and different ways of cooking,especially when we travel.
This is one of many ways that a cultureshows a sense of pride in their history
and feel connected to their roots.
So whether you explore the entirecountry or come to Pakistan specifically
(10:01):
to visit this remarkable site, theBuddhist ruins of Tahkt-i-Bahi and
neighboring city remains at Sahr-i-Bahlollive on continuing to showcase
the unique architecture, spiritualbeliefs, and practices of the time.
(10:25):
Join me for our next episode wherewe will dive into yet another one of
a kind UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Until then, keep exploring, keepwondering, and keep treasuring
the remarkable diversityof our world's heritage.
Imagine a place that tells a story spanning centuries where
culture and nature intertwine tocreate something truly extraordinary.
That's the beauty of UNESCOWorld Heritage Sites.
I'm Abigail, and this is Global Treasures,the podcast that covers the history,
(00:25):
travel, tips, and legends surroundingone of the 1,248 world heritage sites
each episode.
These places have been identifiedas having universal cultural or
natural significance that is soexceptional that it transcends national
(00:48):
boundaries and is of importanceto present and future generations.
Welcome to season three, wherewe'll explore the 27 sites that
UNESCO added in 1980 together.
Thank you as always forlistening to the podcast.
(01:08):
I appreciate all of your support and youcan continue to support the podcast by
subscribing at Apple Podcasts, Spotify,Podbean, or your favorite platform.
You can also follow uson TikTok and Facebook.
You can check out my blog onglobaltreasurestravel.com for
(01:31):
even more travel tips and tohear about my latest adventures.
All of these links will beincluded in the show notes.
The Buddhist ruins at Takht-i-Bahi and Theneighboring city remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol
are located in Mardan Pakistan.
(01:52):
The name Takht-i-Bahi means throneof the water spring, though its
exact origin remains uncertain.
According to local belief, the nameTakht-i-Bahi comes either from two
wells located on the hill or fromSprings that once flowed nearby.
(02:16):
This archeological site was once animportant ancient Buddhist monastery
and is considered one of the mostsignificant relics of Buddhism in
what was once Gandara, a civilizationthat spanned across Northwestern
Pakistan and Eastern Afghanistan.
(02:38):
Takht-i-Bahi dates back to theIndo-Parthian Kingdom, which
existed from 19 CE to 2 26 ce.
The monastery itself was founded inthe first century CE and remained
in use until the seventh century CE.
(02:59):
Despite the passage of time, the site isexceptionally well preserved, offering
visitors a bird's eye view into theBuddhist monastic life of the past.
Today, around 85,000 people live inthe surrounding area, though none
(03:19):
reside within the ruins themselves.
The site is divided intofour distinct areas.
At its heart lies the StupaCourt, a central courtyard
surrounded by a cluster of Stupas.
Stupas are domed structures that holdsacred relics such as statues, and serve
(03:43):
as a place of pilgrimage and meditation.
The other three areas include monasticchambers, a temple complex featuring
additional stupas that were constructedat a later date and a tantric monastic
complex, which may also have beenused for meditation practices.
(04:06):
Carved from local stone, the Buddhistruins of Takht-i-Bahi stand as a
testament to the region's rich history.
Although it endured for centuries,the site appears to have suffered
damage in the mid fifth century whenthe area was subjugated by the Huns,
(04:29):
led by none other than Attila the Hun.
Fast forward when the ruinsfirst reemerged in modern history
through a French officer's writtenreference in the 1830s and official
excavations began in the 1860s.
(04:49):
Today, many recovered artifacts includingincredibly well-preserved Buddhist statues
can be viewed in various collectionsat museums such as the British Museum.
Then just over three miles away liesthe neighboring site of Sahr-i-Bahlol.
(05:12):
Its elevated position on a high hill,allowed it to escape the same fate as
Takht-i-Bahi, remaining in pristinephysical condition and earning its
own status as a picture worthy site.
This fortified city is surroundedby an area known for cultivating
(05:34):
sugar cane, wheat, and corn.
While both sites have faced somenegative impact in terms of preservation
from both a lack of security andlocal pollution, their endurance
remains a compelling reason to visit.
(05:55):
Now that we've covered a bit of thehistory and what you can expect to see,
I'll dive into some travel tips for thosewho want to visit, and I'll be sure to
include some links in the show notesto help make planning your trip easier.
Let's start by talking about what to pack.
(06:16):
If you plan on visiting during thesummer, know that July can get up
to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, sopack some breezy, modest clothing.
Also bring a scarf in case you plan onentering mosques or other religious sites.
August can get quite a bit of rain,so definitely bring an umbrella.
(06:40):
If you're coming in from another countryyou'll want to fly into Bacha Khan
International Airport or Islamabad.
Islamabad is a largerairport, but a longer drive.
From either airport, you canget a taxi or hire a car.
(07:00):
The ride sharing apps many of ususe in North America and Europe
aren't available in Pakistan.
Once you're there, you'll find that theofficial languages are Urdu and English.
But it's very common tohear Punjabi spoken as well.
A translation app is always a helpfultool to have on your phone, just in case.
(07:25):
While it's not a requirement to bepart of a sanctioned tour to enter the
country, I highly recommend booking one,and there are many options for UNESCO
World Heritage Site specific tours.
Also, keep in mind that a tour group ledby a guide or even a local you hire as
(07:48):
a guide just for the day is essentialfor getting into the site itself.
You can't just buytickets online in advance.
Plus, a tour company often can helphandle all of the coordination of
logistics for you, from helping yousecure your Visa to sharing important
(08:09):
tips on which vaccines you may needbased on your country of origin.
All of that being said, you can buytickets the same day on site if you do
decide to navigate it independently.
This site gets around 10 to13,000 visitors annually.
(08:31):
So while that is a significantnumber given how remote this site
is, you still won't be fighting largecrowds and huge lines to get in.
Many use Peshawar as their home basesince it is a larger city and has
many hotel and restaurant options.
(08:51):
Islamabad being the capital isalso a popular choice, but it is
over two hours from Takht-i-Bahi.
Some of the stone sculpturesand other artifacts from this
site are at Lahore and Peshawarmuseums if you want to learn more.
Now, of course, we have toend by talking about the food.
(09:17):
The national dish of Pakistan isNuhari, a slow cooked, spiced meat stew.
It is typically made with lambor beef shank and served with an
oven baked flatbread like naan.
It's so important to take the timeto appreciate traditional foods
(09:39):
and different ways of cooking,especially when we travel.
This is one of many ways that a cultureshows a sense of pride in their history
and feel connected to their roots.
So whether you explore the entirecountry or come to Pakistan specifically
(10:01):
to visit this remarkable site, theBuddhist ruins of Tahkt-i-Bahi and
neighboring city remains at Sahr-i-Bahlollive on continuing to showcase
the unique architecture, spiritualbeliefs, and practices of the time.
(10:25):
Join me for our next episode wherewe will dive into yet another one of
a kind UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Until then, keep exploring, keepwondering, and keep treasuring
the remarkable diversityof our world's heritage.
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