Khanpur

Taxila began as Takshashila meaning the hill capital of the Takshakas, a Bronze Age (3rd and 2nd millennium BCE) tribe. In its glory days it was one of the main cities of the Kingdom of Gandhara, which existed from roughly 1000 BCE to 1000 CE and included much of what are now northern Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan. Gandhara was part of the Persian Empire from the 6th BCE century until Alexander the Great took it in the 320s BCE. The Taxilan leader joined Alexander peacefully and assisted him against Gandharan leaders who did not. What makes Taxila unique and fascinating is the mainly Buddhist art and architecture of the Gandharan period, though there are also a few attractions that date from earlier or later periods. This art, especially the sculpture, shows a strong Greek influence.