Takht-e Rostam Stupa: Afghanistan's Unique Rock-Cut Buddhist Masterpiece – Complete 2026 Guide

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Takht-e Rostam Stupa: Afghanistan's Unique Rock-Cut Buddhist Masterpiece – Complete 2026 Guide [Originally published on April 2020 and updated on January 20, 2026 with new information, 2026 travel guide, and latest preservation updates."] Afghanistan's ancient history is filled with layers of civilizations, and one of the most remarkable surviving examples of its Buddhist heritage is the Takht-e Rostam stupa and monastery complex in Samangan Province. This extraordinary rock-cut site, often called the "sunken stupa," stands as a testament to the spread of Buddhism along the Silk Road and remains one of the best-preserved pre-Islamic monuments in the country. Unlike many sites damaged or destroyed over centuries of conflict, Takht-e Rostam has endured remarkably well, thanks to its ingenious design carved directly into the bedrock. Location and How to Visit in 2026 The complex is located about 2-3 km southwest of Aybak (also known as Haibak), the capital of S...
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Nalanda: an oldest Buddhist university

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The establishment of ancient  nalanda as an undisputed seat of learning was a historical consequences of its context. Ancient magadha was characterized by an intellectual ferment unlike any know to humanity.
Historical sources indicat that the university had a long and illustrations life which lasted almost continually for 800 years from the fifth to twelfth century CE. It was a completely residential university believed to have 2000 teachers and 10000 students.Nalanda was initially a prosperous village by a major trade route that ran through the nearby city of rajagriha which was then the capital of magadha.
Nalanda was an ancient Mahavira, a large number of Buddhist monetary in this Mahavira. Nalanda is located in bihar, bihar Sharif it was an important learning center in ancient time.
Nalanda flourished under the patronage of Gupta empire in 5th and 6th century. 
At its peak the school attracts scholars and students from near and far, with some travelling from tibet, China, Korea and central Asia. From Indonesian shailendra dynasty also built a monetary in nalanda complex .
Many pilgrim monk such as xuanzang and yijin  come from China in 7th century. Many students at nalanda studied mahayan, as well as the text of the eighteen sects of Buddhism. Jain thirthankara, Mahavira spent 14 rainy seasons at nalanda .
A statue of Gautama buddha at nalanda -----
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After its decline, nalanda was largely forgotten until Francis Buchanan Hamilton surveyed the site in 1811- 1812. The remained of nalanda today extended some 1600 feet north to south and around 800 feet east to west. Excavations have revealed eleven monasteries and six major brick temple arranged ordered layout.
 Nalanda was destroyed thrice. 
Nalanda was destroyed by an army of mamluk dynasty of the Delhi sultanate under bakhtiyar khilji.
 On 25 November 2010 the Indian government,through an act of Indian Parliament resurrected the ancient university through the nalanda university bill and subsequently a new nalanda university was establishment. 

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