Takht-i-Bahi Monastery Eastern Terrace
Kushan (80 BCE–500 CE) Parthian–Kushan Gandhara·Gandhara Buddhist (Takht-i-Bahi)·🇵🇰 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
About
About Takht-i-Bahi Monastery Eastern Terrace
Takht-i-Bahi Monastery Eastern Terrace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan is a Kushan (80 BCE–500 CE) Parthian–Kushan Gandhara temple-complex attributed to Gandhara Buddhist (Takht-i-Bahi). Eastern terraced monastery annex downhill from main Takht-i-Bahi with 3 courtyards of cells. Cunningham Takht-i-Bahi eastern terrace with court of votive stupas and monastic cells.
Why it mattersKey Gandharan–Kushan monastery illustrating Buddhist expansion
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Gandhara art evolution
- 02Kushan imperial network
Theories
- 01Monastic economy
- 02Greco-Buddhist fusion
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 80 BCE
- Period
- Kushan (80 BCE–500 CE) Parthian–Kushan Gandhara
- Culture
- Gandhara Buddhist (Takht-i-Bahi)
- Purpose
- Eastern terraced monastery annex downhill from main Takht-i-Bahi with 3 courtyards of cells
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 80 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1900 CE
Modern excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
34.3200° N · 71.9500° E · 500 m · 3 mapped features
Takht-i-Bahi Monastery Eastern Terrace — Sanctuary Court
courtCourt with votive stupas
34.3201° N · 71.9501° ETakht-i-Bahi Monastery Eastern Terrace — Monk Cells
cellsMonastic cells
34.3198° N · 71.9502° ETakht-i-Bahi Monastery Eastern Terrace — Stupa Terrace
stupaStupa platform
34.3204° N · 71.9498° E