#takht i bahi monastery

[lisnix]

[soliloquyinthedark]

Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi in Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Takht-i-Bahi is an ancient Buddhist monastery. It was in use from the 1st century AD to the 7th century.

[moobykhan-blog]

Takht-i-Bahi "Throne of the water spring" mispronounced as Takht-i-Bhai, is a well preserved Indo-Parthian archaeological site of an ancient Buddhist monastery in Mardan, KPK and is considered among the most imposing relics of Buddhism in all of Gandhara

[zhumeimv]

Takht i Bahi Monastery | Pakistan Travel Vlog Takht i Bahi Monastery in Pakistan is a 2nd century Buddhist Monastery and UNESCO world heritage site. Set on a 500m elevation it commands amazing views ... source

[autodidact-adventures]

Architecture (Part 17): Indian Viharas

The vihara (monastery) was another important type of Buddhist architecture. Most viharas were simple rock-cut caves, in which the monks met, prayed, and slept.  The essential features were the object of worship (a stupa or Buddhist figure), the monks' cells (with stone platforms for beds), and shrines for images.

Groups of viharas were often built as monastic complexes.  The most famous are at Ajanta (in the Deccan Plateau), where the dates of construction range from the 100's BC to the late 400's AD.  Many of the later ones were richly ornamented, and are considered to be unrivalled in the history of Indian art.

The Jains (a sect that developed at the same time as the Buddhists) also built viharas.

Interior of Vihara No.16 at Ajanta.

Like the chaitya halls, the earliest-surviving viharas are rock-cut, but the first ones seem to have been free-standing structures.  According to descriptions of the time, their form was pyramidal, and they consisted of halls raised above each other on wooden posts.

The earliest rock-cut viharas were built next to chaitya halls, but detached from them.  There was no need for a chapel, as worship was done in the adjacent chaitya – these viharas consisted of simply a rectangular court, with small cells opening off it.

Plan of chaitya hall & vihara in the Bhaja Caves.

Vihara cells with horseshoe arches, in the Aurangabad District of Maharashtra.

In most viharas, the monks' cells had a horseshoe arch over them (echoing the great chaitya windows).  Later on, when the buildings became more elaborate, cells were built with domed roofs and carved façades.

Domed roofs over cells.

By the early 400's, viharas included a chapel & sanctuary, so that worship could be done in the vihara itself.  The sanctuary was directly opposite the entrance, in the back of the vihara, and usually had a stupa or Buddha image.

Stupa in a vihara at Ajanta.

Most viharas were fronted by a verandah (large porch), which served as a transition between the outside world, and the semi-darkness of the vihara's interior.  It was often the principal focus for ornament, with carved columns, and sometimes painted frescoes on the walls & ceiling.

Verandah of Ajanta Cave No.2, from the left end of the verandah.

A verandah's carved columns.

As the viharas became larger and more elaborate, pillars were placed inside the hall to support the growing roof spans – first four pillars, then twelve, and later twenty or even more.

Pillars in an Ajanta vihara.

Some later viharas had a room called a sala, which was principally a schoolroom, but may have been used as a refectory (a room for communal eating) or for worship.

The diagram below is of a vihara at Bagh (central India).  The sala (on the right) was accessed from the main hall via a long, 20-pillared verandah.  The verandah's internal walls would have been richly decorated.

In Gandhara (now north Pakistan), the viharas were free-standing and made of stone.  The vihara at Takht-i-Bahi (now in ruins) has A) a square court with a stupa in the middle; B) a court with image niches; C) a sangharama (residential court); and D) an upasthanasala (meeting hall).

View of the ruins from the hilltop.

[swatvalleypk]

Takht-I-Bahi Mardan 2100 Years Outdated Buddhist Monastery in Pakistan

[peshmuseum]

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Takht i Bahi Monsantic complex in District Mardan. The site is listed on World Heritage and one of the most important center of Buddhism in Gandhara #budhism #buddhistart #bodhi #bodhitree #3jewels #urna #lakshana #buddhas #art #gandharaart #ancientgandhara #gandharabuddha #mathura #mathurabuddha #schoolofbuddhism #buddhisticonography #buddhaimage #oldestcity #world #worldheritage #monasticism #tantricyoga #tantricbuddhism #insciption (at Takht Bhai Budhist Monastery) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6vOggHAUdT/?igshid=4vlzubxle6u6

[beautyofpakistans-blog]

Takht-e-Bahi This story is about one of the most important and well preserved Buddhist Monasteries of the Gandhara period. The Monastery is located in the Mardan city of the province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. This place was once the heart of the Gandhara civilization. As per local people the name Takht-e-bahi is because of the two wells on the hill or because of the nearby springs The history of this place dates back to 1st Century AD. This was proved through various inscriptions which had the name of Gondophares who was a Parthian King of the Suren family. After Gondophares the monastery remained in the control of Kujula Kadphises who was the first Kushan King. According to researchers the place remained in use until 7th century AD. The location of this Monastery helped alot in retaining its ancient structure as compared to other Buddhist Monasteries of that period because it is located almost 500 feet atop of a small hill. Therefore, it remains safe from many destructive invaders who came to this region. Precisely the Takht-e-bahi complex consisted of a Stupa court, Monastic chambers, a Temple complex and Tantric monastic complex. which were used for various religious purposes. It is also one of those places which even many Pakistanis are not aware of. I strongly recommend to visit this place as it is one of the ancient places in Pakistan. #takhtebahi #mardan #khyberpakhtunkhwa #pakistan #ancient #ancientplaces #buddhistmonastery #buddisttemple #1century #heritage #heritageinpakistan #oldbuildings #blog #travellers #bloggerdiaries #travelblogger #beautifuldestinations #beautifulplaces #oldmonastery

[thishasinfluencedme-blog]

Culture that influence me - Pakistan!

I have been born and raised in Pakistan for most of my life. Pakistan is where my cultural heritage comes from, my values and belief come from. I was 17 when i came to Canada, now I am 20 years old. I have absorbed most of my cultural characteristics from Pakistan. When I came here, things were way different, I liked a lot of things about Canada but a lot was not what I was made of. The western Canadian culture influenced me as well, but to the the extent of Pakistani culture. You learn from where you have lived for most of your life.

There are various areas of my culture including food, fashion, architecture, leisure activities and entertainment. I think these 5 are the major ones. I will tell you about all these areas in my culture - Pakistan!

FOOD is something i can’t live without, obviously none of us can live without food but I have a very close relationship with food. I think food and fashion are two things a person would love to talk about. In our Pakistani culture, food cuisines are scrumptious and mouth-watering, we love to eat spicy dishes.  Culinary art in Pakistan mainly a mix of Indian cuisines with some Middle Eastern and Afghan influence. There are variations of cooking practices across the country.

Pakistani cuisine have lots of currys and rices. Chicken Karahi, Chicken Nihari, Butter Chicken, Chicken Kunna Gosht, Chicken Qorma are all currys that we eat with Naan (a type of bread). Then we have  of rice dish which every Pakistani loves to eat BIRYANI! All these dishes are hot and spicy. 

If we talk about fashion in our culture, our women are crazy about fashion and clothing. Pakistan’s temperature is usually hot and humid so women like to wear “Lawn”, it is a fabric which is very cool and good for hot weather. Shalwaar Kameez is our traditional clothing for men and women both with the exception for women which is a “Dupatta” a piece of cloth worn over the Shalwaar Kameez to cover your body. No matter you live in Pakistan or anywhere around the world, Pakistanis always wear Shalwaar Kammez on events and occassions such family dinners, Eids, Ramadan and specially weddings. 

Pakistan’s architecture is influenced by Buddhism, Persian, Islamic and Mughal architecture.  An example of Buddhist architecture is the ruins of the Buddhist monastery Takht-i-Bahi in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.  One of the most important of the few examples of the Persian style of architecture is the tomb of the Shah Rukn-i-Alam in Multan.  The arrival of Islam in today's Pakistan introduced the classical Islamic construction techniques into Pakistan's architectural landscape.  The town of Uch Sharif contains the tombs of Bibi Jawindi, Baha'al-Halim, and Jalaluddin Bukhari, which are considered some of the earliest examples of Islamic architecture in Pakistan. 

A picture of the Buddhist Monastery, Takht-i-Bahi in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Mughal empire influenced our architectural culture a lot.  During the Mughal era, design elements of Islamic-Persian architecture were fused with, and often produced playful forms of, local art, resulting in the establishment of Mughal Architecture. Lahore, occasional residence of Mughal rulers, exhibits a multiplicity of important buildings from the empire, among them the Badshahi mosque, the fortress of Lahore with the famous Alamgiri Gate, the colourful, still strongly Mughal-influenced Wazir Khan Mosque as well as numerous other mosques and mausoleums. The Shahjahan Mosque of Thatta in Sindh also originates from the epoch of the Mughals, as does the Mohabbat Khan Mosque in Peshawar.

Leisure activities and entertainment in Pakistan go hand in hand with one another. Pakistanis usually spend their spare time watching TV, relaxing, Doing the house chores, hanging out with their friends and going out to lunch with family and friends. Watching cricket is the most joyful and exciting thing for Pakistanis. When cricket season is near every Pakistani, from teens to elderly watch cricket with great enthusiasm. People put up screenings in streets and grounds in order to watch the match on big screen. Pakistanis are crazy about cricket specially when it comes to Pakistan vs India. 

My culture is greatly influenced by Pakistan, my home land! I am proud of my culture and love to represent it in Canada :)