TAXILA: AN ILLUSTRATION OF FASCINATING INFLUENCES OF MULTIPLE
CIVILIZATIONS
When it comes to the ancient history, Pakistan has its fair share
of treasures of which the most prominent and undeniably important
archaeological sites in South Asia is Taxila, a place where rich human
civilizations rose and declined over the last five millennia.
Taxila was ruled by various empires over the centuries for its
special location and also an important trade route in the times of yore. The
ancient city used to be a regional or national capital.
Once strategically important place that linked Southern, Western
and Central Asia regions to the West, Taxila was a meeting point of various
cultures which include Achaemenids, Hellenistic, Mauryans, Indo-Greek, Kushan,
Gupta, Huns and eventually the Muslims, that different religions such as
Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism had been practiced in Taxila.
Located at a drive of some
30 km in northwest of capital city of Islamabad, Taxila attracts around 800,000
to one million people, including local and foreign tourists, each year due to
its fascinating archaeology relics, history, art or architecture, which was set
up to provide an efficient guide to the three millennia of human civilization
under one roof and to make the ancient city’s vast wonders accessible to all.
The archaeological sites of Taxila are well preserved and
maintained due to serious efforts made by the Pakistani government. The site is
a protected antiquity in terms of the Antiquities Act, 1975, passed by
parliament of Pakistan. The governments of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK)
provinces have the administrative and financial authority over all the heritage
sites of Taxila. The provincial government is constantly working for the
preservation and conservation of all the historical sites of Taxila.
During the last five
years, the government has spent more than Rs 200 million on different projects
for the preservation, restoration and provision of tourist facilities at different
ancient sites of Taxila.
Furthermore, Taxila is
being supervised by a number of technical staff and archaeological experts. A
comprehensive management plan had been set up and being implemented for its
preservation and conservation since its declaration as a world heritage site in
1980 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO).
However, a number of deficiencies and
shortcomings still prevail, which are already being addressed, according to
government officials. The stone crushers and antiques smugglers are the biggest
threats to the cultural heritage site in the region. Archeologically important
sites are also being protected from human encroachments as this is another
major problem that needs to be tackled, he added.
The number of tourists visiting the site has drastically increased
in the recent years mainly due to improved security situation in the country
and the removal of unnecessary travelling restrictions imposed by the
government in the past. The number could be increased if governments would
simplify the procedure for foreigners who intend to visit the place.
