Field guides / Punjab / Haripur / Jaulian Buddhist Monastery, Taxila
Field guide · Heritage
Haripur
Haripur District · Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Jaulian Buddhist Monastery, Taxila
Jaulian is a ruined Buddhist monastery dating from the 2nd century CE, located in Taxila, Pakistan, and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Ruins of Taxila.
The site includes a main central stupa, 27 smaller stupas, 59 chapels depicting scenes from Buddha's life, and two quadrangles with monastic living quarters. The main stupa is smaller than others in the region and was once coated in stucco plaster, with some decoration still visible. The monastery had two levels with 56 student rooms and featured preserved statues, niches for lamps, and windows designed to guard against wild animals. It also contained a section for the production of Buddhist manuscripts on birch bark. The site includes a pool for washing, a kitchen, and preserved grinding stones. Jaulian was abandoned after the invasion of the White Huns in the 450s CE.
Why go
- ✦A 2nd-century monastery, part of UNESCO's Taxila
- ✦A main stupa, 27 smaller stupas and 59 chapels
- ✦Two levels with rooms for 56 students
Current Condition
Jaulian Buddhist Monastery is open to visitors and part of the active Taxila archaeological complex. No closures or restrictions have been reported. It is managed by the Punjab Department of Archaeology.
Planning tip
Best Time to Visit, October to March, early in the day. Jaulian is reached by a climb of roughly 250 steps with handrails, and the views improve as you go up; in May and June the climb is punishing.
Getting there, On a hilltop east of Taxila, reached by about 250 steps with handrails.
What to Do
Nearby
Straight-line distance from Jaulian Buddhist Monastery, Taxila, within 5 km.
