Field guides / Punjab / Rokhri Site
Field guide · Heritage
Rokhri Site
The ancient Buddhist site of Rokhri, located near the Indus River in Mianwali District, Punjab, revealed important Gandhāran-era remains including stucco heads, coins, pottery, and architectural fragments.
Discovered in the 19th century due to river erosion, the site showed strong Greek, Parthian, and Kushan influences. Notable finds, including Buddha and Bodhisattva heads, were sent to the Lahore Museum in 1869, with others later reaching museums in Karachi and Chandigarh. Archaeologists like Cunningham and Vats documented two stupas at Rokhri, now mostly vanished. Scholars link Rokhri’s art to the Indo-Afghan School, similar to that of Taxila and Hadda, underscoring its importance in the Buddhist heritage of Pakistan.
Why go
- ✦Buddhist heritage
- ✦Gandhara archaeology
- ✦history
Current Condition
The Rokhri site in Mianwali, Punjab, is unprotected and rapidly deteriorating due to human vandalism and encroachment. It remains an important but neglected Buddhist archaeological mound requiring urgent conservation.
Planning tip
Best Time to Visit, Year-round; confirm local conditions and any festival dates before travel.
Getting there, In or near Mianwali, Punjab; confirm current local access before visiting.
What to Do
Nearby
Nothing else genuinely close by (within 30 km) is published yet.