Photo: SpeakingArch · CC BY-SA 4.0Field guides / Khyber Pakhtunkhwa / Haripur / Bhamala Stupa, Haripur
Field guide · Heritage
Haripur
Haripur District · Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Bhamala Stupa, Haripur
The Bhamala Stupa is a historic Buddhist site located near Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Dating back to the 2nd century CE, it is part of the larger Bhamala Buddhist Complex, situated near the Haro River and the Khanpur Dam. The stupa is renowned for its distinctive cruciform design and is considered one of the best-preserved sites in the Taxila valley. It houses a 1,700-year-old statue of the Buddha attaining enlightenment, regarded as the oldest of its kind in the world. The site was excavated in the late 1920s by Sufian Malik and John Marshall, with further work resuming in 2017. It was nominated for UNESCO World Heritage status and has undergone partial restoration. The stupa is surrounded by smaller votive stupas and monastery cells, reflecting the rich Buddhist heritage of the region. As of 2015, it is under the protection of the Department of Archaeology and Museums of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Why go
- ✦A rare cruciform stupa of the 2nd century CE
- ✦Home to a 1,700-year-old statue of the Buddha's parinirvana
- ✦By the Haro River near Khanpur Dam
Visiting today
The Bhamala Stupa is currently a protected archaeological site under the management of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Directorate of Archaeology & Museums, with ongoing conservation and partial tourist development. While some areas are accessible to visitors, full-scale tourism infrastructure remains under development to ensure the site's preservation.
Planning tip
Best Time to Visit, October to March. The Bhamala complex by the Haro river, near Khanpur Dam, has one of the best-preserved cruciform stupas in the Taxila valley, ringed by votive stupas and monastery cells; visitor facilities are still being developed, so bring water.
Getting there, Near the Haro river and Khanpur Dam, Haripur district; partly developed for visitors.
What to Do
Nearby
Straight-line distance from Bhamala Stupa, Haripur, within 5 km.
