Gandhara Buddhist Trail
The Buddhist heritage of Gandhara — Taxila, Peshawar, Takht-i-Bahi and Swat — and the Silk Road rock carvings of the upper Indus.
Where Buddhist art took shape
For a thousand years Gandhara, in today’s north-western Pakistan, was a centre of Buddhist learning and pilgrimage. Its sculptors were among the first to show the Buddha in human form, blending Indian and Greek traditions. Taxila and the monastery of Takht-i-Bahi are World Heritage Sites, and the museums of Taxila, Peshawar and Swat hold some of the finest Gandharan sculpture anywhere.
From Swat we follow the Indus north to Chilas, where travellers, merchants and pilgrims on the old Silk Road carved thousands of stupas, animals and inscriptions into the riverside boulders.
Day-by-day itinerary
- Day 1
Islamabad
Arrival and the Lok Virsa heritage museum.
- Day 2
Taxila
The Dharmarajika stupa, the city of Sirkap, Jaulian monastery and the Taxila Museum.
- Day 3
Peshawar
The Peshawar Museum’s Gandhara gallery and the old city bazaars.
- Day 4
Takht-i-Bahi to Swat
The hilltop monastery of Takht-i-Bahi, then over the Malakand Pass to Swat.
- Day 5
Swat
The Swat Museum, Butkara, the Shingardar stupa and the rock-carved Buddha at Jahanabad.
- Day 6
Up the Indus
Over the Shangla Pass and up the Karakoram Highway to Chilas.
- Day 7
The rock carvings
The carved boulders of Chilas and Thalpan beside the Indus.
- Days 8 – 9
Back to Islamabad
South via the Babusar Pass or the Karakoram Highway.
- Day 10
Departure
Transfer to the airport.
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