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Takht-i-Bahi 2025: Hidden Caves, Buried Stupa & Digital 3D Revival of a Kushan Monastery

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Takht-i-Bahi 2025: Hidden Caves, Buried Stupa & Digital 3D Revival of a Kushan Monastery (Originally published: March 2020 | Updated: October 2025 with expanded history, latest excavations, 3D scans, hidden caves, and Chinese inscriptions) Perched on a 150-meter limestone hill in Mardan, Takht-i-Bahi (meaning "Throne of the Water Spring" ) is Pakistan’s finest surviving 1st-century CE Buddhist monastery . Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980 , this Gandharan marvel continues to unveil secrets in 2025 — from buried stupas to digital 3D models . This fully updated 2025 guide combines in-depth historical context , recent archaeological discoveries , secret monk caves , and modern preservation efforts . The Complete History of Takht-i-Bahi: From Kushan Glory to 21st-Century Revival 1st Century CE: Foundation Under the Kushan Empire Takht-i-Bahi was established during the reign of Kushan Emperor Kanishka (127–150 CE) , the golden age of Mahayana Buddhism in ...
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Ellora caves (the hindu, buddhist and jain temples)

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One of the largest ancient rock-cut caves temples in the world, Ellora caves spread over a distance of 1.2miles (2km),the temples were cut from basaltic cliffs and have elaborate facades and interior walls. The ellora complex was designated a   UNESCO world heritage site IN 1938. The Hindu caves are the most dramatic in design, and the Buddhist caves contain the simplest ornamentation. Ellora caves history:   The Ellora caves chiseled into perfection between the 4th and 9th century belongs to the buddhist ,hindu, and jain faiths. Ellora caves built during 600 to 1000 CE. Ellora caves lie in the sahayadri mountains in aurangabad, Maharashtra and is about 103 km from ajanta caves. Ellora caves comprises Hindu,buddhist, and jain temples and about 100 caves. 12 buddhist caves dated from about 200BCE, the 17 Hindu temples dated from about 500 to 900CE, and about 5 the jain temples date from about 800 to 1000. These caves constructed near each other stand for the harmony and soli...
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Bhakhtyar khalji destroyes odantpuri university

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odantpuri   In ancient magadh and bengal ,a  range of monasteries or mahavihara were constructed gradually with the objective to preserve and spread the teaching of buddha. Odantapuri was considered as the second oldest university of india ODANTAPURI is also called odantapuri or UDDANTAPURI was a vihara now in bihar,india.presently it is know as a bihar Sharif in nalanda district.# Acharya sri ganga of vikramshila university had been a student here. According to tibetan records there were about 12,000 student at odantapuri.According to tibetan source, great five mahavihara were stood during the pala period these mahavihara were vikramshila, nalanda, sompura,odantapuri and jaggadala.Nalanda , vikramshila and odantapuri  have constructed in present day india while other in Bangladesh. During the reign of king Rampala , another thousand monks, belonged to Mahayana and hinayana tradition lived in this monastery. Establishment:  A number of monastries grew up during the...
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Location: Bihar, India
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conversation between buddha and ananda.

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                       Ananda the most pre-eminent disciples. buddha and ananda The one disciple of the Buddha most often mentioned in his discourses is Ananda. Amongst all those great monks around the Buddha he occupies a unique position, and this in many respects, as will be mentioned in these blog.                       If one considers as conversation also the silent,inner rapport with a dhamma discourse, then the whole of pali canon actually consist of Ananda's conversation with the Buddha. we cannot tell all dialogues between Buddha and Ananda mentioned in pali canon .only some are mention in this page. Ananda   1- Buddha's last days– On reaching the village of kusinara of the mallas on the further side of the hiranyavati river,the buddha realised that his end was fast approaching. He told Ananda to prepare a bed for him with its head turned towards the north bet...
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Vikramshila university destroyed by an Islamic invader

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                  Vikramshila university The remains of vikramshilla university are located near antichak in bhagalpur district of bihar . vikramshila university was an important Buddhist learning centers in ancient india. It was founded during pala dynasty. Vikramshila university was established by the king of pala dynasty ,king dharmapala(783to820) in late 8th or early 9th century. a Tibetan and a Hindu temple are also excavated. It prospered about four century from its establishment. After this it collapsed in the beginning of 13th century A.D. Tibetan sources specially the writings of taranath, the Tibetan monk historian of 16th-18th century A.D, was briefly described about its collapsed years. Vikramshila was one of the largest buddhist university having more than hundred teachers and about thousands of students and many great scholars. Many great scholars are often invited by foreign countries to spread Buddhist learni...
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cultural sites damaged by ISIS

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T he Islamic state group ISIS(Islamic state of Iraq and syria)destroyed and damaged many historical site during their war. Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria continue their war on region's cultural heritage attacking historical site with bulldozers  and explosives. ISIS controls the large part of Iraq and Syria. There's little to stop its militants from plundering and destroying sites under their control In a region know as the cradle of civilization. The group claims the destruction of ancient site relegiously motivated motivated;its militants targeted well- know ancient sites alongwith the  graves and shrines belonging to other Muslim sects, citing idol worship to justify their action deliberate destruction and theft of cultural heritage has been condected by ISIL since 2014 in Iraq and Syria and to a lesser extent to libya. A guide to  cultural site that ISIS has destroyed and damaged so far: P almira :  Palmyra or palmira is an UNESCO Wo...
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Kusinagar: Where Buddha Slipped his Earthly Bonds.

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                                         Kusinagar  The buddha's last days are described in the pali text called the great parinirvana sutra (means completed nirvana).It is an  important Buddhist pilgrimage site,where Buddhist believe gautam buddha attained Parinirvan  after his death .It is famous for numerous monastery and stupa dating back years ago are almost in relics now. Distribution site of Buddha's relics                         On reaching the village of kusinara of mallas on the further side of the hiranyavati river, the buddha realised that his end was fast approaching. He told Ananda to prepare a bed for him with its head turned towards the north between two sal trees. Ananda who served him for 20 years was deeply upset. Buddha consoles him "Don't grieve ,Ananda!'. The nature of things dictates ...
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Kesaria stupa: world's largest buddhist stupa.

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 The Kesaria stupa : Built to honor Buddha's final days– Kesaria stupa According to some scholars, this is the place where prince Gautama cut his hair to renounce the world, after leaving his palace. Other scholars believe that actual place was nearer from kapilavastu.                          It is believed that the current structure was built somewhere between 200 AD and 750 AD to honor the location where buddha spent his begging bowl. The structure is a fine example of Buddhist architecture. In the time of Buddha, it was known as kessaputta. Lord buddha said to have made several announcements from here, which later formed part of the Jatka tales . Huen tsang mentions having seen the grand stupa in kia-shi-po-lo (kesariya) but it was deserted and vegetation had overgrown. It is believed that lord buddha spent a night at this place before his nirvana and have his begging-bowl to the lichhivis . Lichhivis are all...
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