Photo: Department of Archaeology & Museums, Government of PakistanField guides / Punjab / Rawalpindi / Giri Buddhist Remains, Taxila
Field guide · Heritage
Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi District · Punjab, Pakistan
Giri Buddhist Remains, Taxila
The Giri Remains is an archaeological site located in Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan.
Dating from the 1st to 5th Century CE, it is a significant Buddhist site consisting of stupa and monastic buildings. The site is divided into two main areas: A-B and C-E. The A-B area is relatively large, measuring 110 meters by 55 meters, and contains a dilapidated large stupa and a monastery with 20 rooms. The B area is better preserved, featuring 18 cells arranged around a courtyard, along with a hall of assembly in ruined condition. The C-D-E area is positioned on a raised terrace, with steep slopes on the west and a torrent bed to the south and east, which has led to poor preservation of the structures. The first court in this area (D) consists of a vestibule and eight cells. This site is protected by the Antiquity Act of 1975, as amended in 1992, and is owned by the Federal Government of Pakistan. It is listed in the "Archaeological Sites and Historical Monuments Protected Under the Antiquities Act, 1975" published by the Federal Department of Archaeology & Museums, Islamabad, in 1987.
Why go
- ✦A stupa and monasteries of the 1st–5th century CE in the hills east of Taxila
- ✦A monastery of 18 cells around a courtyard
- ✦On a terrace above a torrent bed
Visiting today
They are legally owned by the federal government and fall under protection through the Antiquities Act of 1975 (amended 1992). According to official listings, ownership and oversight are vested in the Department of Archaeology & Museums (DOAM), Government of Pakistan
Planning tip
Best Time to Visit, October to March. The Giri remains are on a raised terrace with a torrent bed on two sides in the hills south-east of Taxila; the approach is rough, so go in dry weather outside the monsoon.
Getting there, In the hills east of Taxila, on a terrace with steep slopes and a torrent bed; a rough approach.
What to Do
Nearby
Straight-line distance from Giri Buddhist Remains, Taxila, within 5 km.
