THE REVEALED HISTORY OF TAKH-I-BAHI: PRESERVING THE PAST.

History has transferred one of the most contributing feature to this handsome technological education, architecture and Literature.

Takht-i-Bahi is the Bhudhist monastic complex also known as the ‘Throne of origins’.It was founded earlier in Ist century and located on the crest of high hill, in Mardan District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

It is called Takht-i-Bahi because it is the throne situated near a spring. ‘Takht’ means ‘throne’ and ‘Bahi’ means ‘spring’.

• It ranges from 36.6 meters to 152.4 meters in height and cover an area around 33ha.

Entrance:

This is the entrance towards the monastery of Buddhists. These stairs are not only wide but also numerous. As I have been here with my foster family on a picnic so, i know how hard to move forward on these stairs. I was having breath problem as i used to move on 20 stairs continuouly. It was the most hardest practice i ever done. As, it was a hilly area so, it needed a lot much effort than normal to cover the stairs.

BUDDHIST MONASTERY:

Buddhist monastery is composed of assemblage of buildings and is the complete buddhist monastery in Pakistan. The buildings is constructed of stones in Gandhara pattern( diaper style) using local dressed and semi-dressed stone blocks set in a lime and mud mortar.

The ruins comprises of a main stupa court, votive stupas court, and a group of three stupas. The monastic quadrangle with meditation cell, conference hall, covered stepped passage ways and other secular buildings.

The architectural form, design, construction technique are most characteristic examples of the development of monastic community in Ghandara region between the Ist and 7th century AD.

AUTHENTICITY:

The buddhist remains has high authenticity of setting as it continue to occupy its original hilltop location. The form and design has been preserved and is well integrated because it has escaped successive invasions. The construction and design reflects the the architecture of Ghandara civilization that is the diaper style.

Due this architectural technique, it is able to resist architectural collapse.

The stone sculpture were removed to the Peshawar Museum and the stone the stone inscription of Gondophara, Parthia King of Suren house for Sakastan.

EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM OF BUDDHIST:

Education system of the Buddhist was one of the most successful system and before 2100 years, because of the buddhist had a very famous successful university.

AIMS OF EDUCATION:

The main aim on which they focus was:

1. Preparation of Nirvana or Liberation

2. Awareness on the Noble Truth

3. Enabling the eight- folds paths

4. Spreading the concept of ‘Ahimaa’

5. Character development

6. Promotion of International Brotherhood

7. Imparting practical knowledge

8. Inculcation of civic duties

The curriculum includes:

FEATURE OF EDUCATION:

• It was a multi-teacher and multi- students system. The students resided at ‘Sangha Viharas’ where thousands of teachers would teach thousand of students. It was said to be first institutionalized residential educational system in India. It was also said to have taught the religion as well some secular subjects.
• The method they adopted was lectures, self study, meditation, discussion and debate.

In short, Takht-i-Bahi, infact, is the heart of Gandhara civilization. Without it, Gandhara civilization is incomplete and incomprehensible. It has gifted Gandhara civilization with a standard education system and a very balance architecture.