Photo: Department of Archaeology & Museums, Government of PakistanField guides / Punjab / Rawalpindi / Mohra Moradu, Taxila
Field guide · Heritage
Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi District · Punjab, Pakistan
Mohra Moradu, Taxila
Mohra Muradu is an important archaeological site near Taxila in Punjab, Pakistan, renowned for its Buddhist stupa and monastery.
Dating back to the 2nd century CE, the site was renovated in the 5th century and is part of the Taxila UNESCO World Heritage listing. The ruins consist of a main stupa, a smaller votive stupa, and a monastery. The monastery includes 27 rooms for monks and students, an assembly hall, a kitchen, and a pool for ritual washings. Excavated by Sir John Marshall in 1914-1915, the site also features statues of Buddha and a double-story structure with strong walls, suggesting the possibility of a third floor. The votive stupa, located in one of the rooms, is believed to have been dedicated to a teacher, and it is about 4 meters high, once adorned with colored umbrellas. The site offers a rich insight into the Buddhist monastic life and architecture of ancient Gandhara.
Why go
- ✦A 2nd-century stupa and monastery in a quiet valley, part of UNESCO's Taxila
- ✦27 monks' cells, an assembly hall, a kitchen and a pool
- ✦A votive stupa still stands inside one of the cells
Visiting today
Mohra Muradu near Taxila is an important Buddhist archaeological site currently under active preservation. Managed by the Department of Archaeology and Museums, it remains open to visitors.
Planning tip
Best Time to Visit, October to March. Mohra Moradu lies in a valley between hills near Taxila, with a monastery of 27 cells, an assembly hall and a votive stupa; the path in is easiest in dry weather.
Getting there, In a small valley near Taxila, about 1.4 km from Jaulian.
What to Do
Nearby
Straight-line distance from Mohra Moradu, Taxila, within 5 km.
