Field guides / Punjab / Rawalpindi / Taxila Museum
Field guide · Heritage
Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi District · Punjab, Pakistan
Taxila Museum
The Taxila Museum is a prominent museum located in Taxila, Punjab, Pakistan, and is renowned for its extensive collection of Gandharan art dating from the 1st to 7th centuries CE.
The museum, which opened in 1928, was established after the excavation of significant archaeological sites in the region by Sir John Marshall. It houses over 4,000 objects, including sculptures, coins, and artifacts made of materials such as stone, terracotta, gold, and iron, mostly uncovered from Taxila's ancient cities and Buddhist stupas. The museum’s Gandharan art collection is particularly notable for its stone Buddhist sculptures that reflect the fusion of Greek and Buddhist influences. Additionally, the museum holds a comprehensive numismatic collection with coins from the Indo-Greek to Kushan periods. The museum, which also includes a northern gallery added in 1998, serves as an essential resource for understanding the rich cultural and religious history of the Gandhara region.
Why go
- ✦More than 4,000 objects from Taxila's cities and stupas
- ✦Gandharan art of the 1st to 7th centuries CE
- ✦Opened in 1928 after John Marshall's excavations
Visiting today
The Taxila Museum is open to the public and displays over 7,000 artifacts from the Gandharan Buddhist era. It preserves relics from sites like Dharmarajika and Sirkap with ongoing conservation support. The museum operates under the Federal Department of Archaeology & Museums (DOAM).
Planning tip
Best Time to Visit, All year, and especially in May–August, when the Taxila sites are hot: the museum, opened in 1928, holds more than 4,000 objects, including finds from Dharmarajika and Sirkap, and makes the ideal midday stop.
Getting there, In Taxila, beside Bhir Mound.
What to Do
Nearby
Straight-line distance from Taxila Museum, within 5 km.
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