Field guides / Islamabad / Buddhist Site
Field guide · Heritage
Buddhist Site
A recently discovered Buddhist site in Sector G-12, Islamabad, believed to be a stupa or ancient settlement, lies neglected amid urban expansion.
The site consists of a 10-foot-high mound scattered with Buddhist-era potsherds, located along an ancient pilgrimage route connecting Tope Manikyala to Taxila. This route, once traveled by Buddhist pilgrims, included several stupas, water tanks, and sacred rest points. Despite its historical significance, the G-12 site has been heavily vandalized by treasure hunters and damaged by agricultural activity. The masonry is exposed, and no protective measures have been taken by authorities. Like other Buddhist remnants in Islamabad—such as Shah Allah Ditta caves, Chauntra caves, and Manikyala—the G-12 stupa urgently needs archaeological excavation and preservation before it's lost to development.
Why go
- ✦Buddhist heritage
- ✦Gandhara archaeology
- ✦history
Current Condition
The G-12 Buddhist site in Islamabad, containing unexcavated ruins, faces active destruction from vandalism and farming due to neglect by the Federal Department of Archaeology and Capital Development Authority (CDA). Immediate excavation, legal protection, and fencing are needed to salvage this imperiled Gandhara-era heritage before irreversible loss.
Planning tip
Best Time to Visit, Year-round; confirm local conditions and any festival dates before travel.
Getting there, In or near Sector G-12,, Islamabad; confirm current local access before visiting.
