Mohra Moradu Buddhist Stupa & Monastery — Attraction in Khanpur Tehsil

From the ancient Neolithic tumulus of Saraikala to the ramparts of Sirkap (2nd century B.C.) and the city of Sirsukh (1st century A.D.), Taxila illustrates the different stages in the development of a city on the Indus that was alternately influenced by Persia, Greece and Central Asia and which, from the 5th century B.C. to the 2nd century A.D., was an important Buddhist centre of learning.

Taxila, located in the Rawalpindi district of Pakistan’s Punjab province, is a vast serial site that includes a Mesolithic cave and the archaeological remains of four early settlement sites, Buddhist monasteries, and a Muslim mosque and madrassa. Situated strategically on a branch of the Silk Road that linked China to the West, Taxila reached its apogee between the 1st and 5th centuries. It is now one of the most important archaeological sites in Asia. The ruins of the four settlement sites at Taxila reveal the pattern of urban evolution on the Indian subcontinent through more than five centuries. One of these sites, the Bihr mound, is associated with the historic event of the triumphant entry of Alexander the Great into Taxila.The archaeological sites of Saraikala, Bhir, Sirkap, and Sirsukh are collectively of unique importance in illustrating the evolution of urban settlement on the Indian subcontinent. The prehistoric mound of Saraikala represents the earliest settlement of Taxila, with evidence of Neolithic, Bronze Age, and Iron Age occupation. The Bhir mound is the earliest historic city of Taxila, and was probably founded in the 6th century BC by the Achaemenians. Its stone walls, house foundations, and winding streets represent the earliest forms of urbanization on the subcontinent. Bihr is also associated with Alexander the Great’s triumphant entry into Taxila in 326 BC. Sirkap was a fortified city founded during the mid-2nd century BC. The many private houses, stupas, and temples were laid out on the Hellenistic grid system and show the strong Western classical influence on local architecture. The city was destroyed in the 1st century by the Kushans, a Central Asian tribe. To the north, excavations of the ruins of the Kushan city of Sirsukh have brought to light an irregular rectangle of walls in ashlar masonry, with rounded bastions. These walls attest to the early influence of Central Asian architectural forms on those of the...

Mohra Muradu (Urdu: موہرا مرادو‎) is the place of an ancient Buddhist stupa and monastery near the ruins of Taxila built by the Kushans. The ancient monastery is located in a valley and offers a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains. The monks could meditate in all stillness at this place but were near enough to the city of Sirsukh to go for begging as it is only around 1.5 km away.

Mohra Muradu موہرا مرادو

The main Stupa at Mohra Muradu monastery at Taxila, Pakistan.





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LocationTaxila, PakistanCoordinates33.760821°N 72.860635°ETypeStupa and monasteryHistoryCulturesKushan, KidariteSite notesArchaeologistsSir John Marshall

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Official nameTaxilaCriteriaiii, ivDesignated1980Reference no.139

The city was built in the 2nd century CE and renovated in the 5th century. Thus it belongs to the Kushan age.

The ruins consist of three distinct parts, which include the main stupa, a votive stupa and the monastery and have been included in the world heritage list of the UNESCO since 1980 under Taxila.

ExcavationEdit

The ruins of Mohra Muradu were excavated under the supervision of Sir John Marshall by Abdul Qadir in 1914-1915. They consist of a buddhistic monastery and two stupas. The main stupa is built on a foundation more than 4.75 meters high. The smaller, votive, stupa lies behind...

It is a very ancient and historical place located within the Hathial Mountain near the main road from Taxilla to Khanpur dam. UNESCO added this place in the 1980 to its list of historical places. It's name was derived from the nearby Mohra Muradu village. The digging of this site was carried out in 1915-16 by Ghulam Qadir under the supervision of Sir John Marshall. This historical monastery belonged to 2nd century B.C. However, its large scale renovation was carried out in 4th & 5th century. This Buddhist monastery consists of 67 rooms. Assembly arena, kitchen, dining room and bathroom located at the eastern side. A water well located inside the monastery despite another one at outside. The important discovery of this site is a 60 feet tall Stupa in room 9 which probably belongs to a teacher reside in this room before his death. The monastery was decorated beautifully with the sculptures of Buddha and other gods made from lime stone. Site was abandoned after the attacks of White Huns at the end of 5th...