Pakistan: In Search of Gandhara
š Bir Mound Exploring these ancient ruins where only fragments remain - cows and sheep grazing šš, kids playing hide-and-seek among the walls šāāļø. Hard to believe this is actually a UNESCO World Heritage site! Once influenced by Persian and Greek cultures, now only Mauryan Empire remnants survive. š½ļø Ramadan Dining Had surprisingly delicious "tourist special" meals during Ramadan - maybe because I had zero expectations š. A Japanese senior tour group was so quiet, making our chatter seem extra loud! š Jaulian Monastery Ruins Built by the Kushans, destroyed by White Huns. More Buddha statues survived here šļø - most now in museums. Seeing Gandharan art in-situ (not just as museum pieces) felt magical - these grouped statues actually tell stories together! š¼ Pipplan Monastery Tiny site with only some stupa bases remaining. Yet spring flowers still bloom through cracks in the stones šø, and local kids play cricket using the ruins as their pitch š. Felt strangely comforting seeing life thriving amidst ancient history. #GandharaTrail #PakistanArchaeology #BuddhistHeritage #OffTheBeatenPath#taxila#Pakistan#trip diary#travel guide
