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Punjab
Taxila, one of the most important
architectural sites in Asia, is within easy distance of Islamabad
and Rawalpindi. The excavations, spreading out over 25 sq
km, include the remains of cities dating back to the 6th century
BC. The architecture and artifacts show the influence of a
steady stream of rulers: Persians, Greeks, Scythians, Parthians
and Kushans. Taxila was famous in ancient times as a center
of learning, with a university that dated back to the 6th
century BC. The city was destroyed in 455 AD by the White
Huns; burned and charred wooden window panes can still be
seen at the site.
The complex includes remanants of several different ancient
cities and historical sites. Jaulian, the best preserved,
is famous for its Buddhist monuments and monasteries, which
date back to the 2nd century AD. The stone statue of the Healing
Buddha has a hole at the navel; worshipers believed they would
be cured of illness by putting their finger in the hole. Sirkap,
another well-preserved site, was a walled city built by Bactrian
Greeks in 185 BC. There is also a museum at the site, which
contains the best-preserved artifacts and has displays on
daily life in the towns of Taxila.
The Cholistan Desert
In the southeast of Punjab begins a dry, barren region known
as the Cholistan desert, where the wind blasts across sands
dotted by magnificent ancient fortresses and remote villages.
So inhospitable was this landscape that some of these kingdoms
were never conquered by the British Raj.
Today, the wonders of the Cholistan desert can be unlocked
by a unique form of travel: camel safari. Accompanied by a
knowledgeable guide, visitors can explore the desert and see
its ruins, many of which are well-preserved because of the
arid climate.
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