Buddhist Stuppas, Peshawar

On the south eastern outskirts of the Peshawar city are the crumbled remains of huge stupa......the age + - 2 AD. This is a Buddhist Stupa, founded in the early 20 th centuary ( + -1900). Only the foundation of the monastery, once magnificent with with it's double storied pavilions and high corner towers, remain to tell it's fascinating story.

Peshawar or Pushpapur was the land of Buddhist Pilgrimage for Chinese, Tibitians, Koreans and Indians when the Buddhism was at its peak in the days of the Kushan Emperor Kanishka who ruled in AD 78. Not far from Ali masjid fort is Sphola Stupa of second century AD,stands on the right of the road above the railway at the village of Zarai.Beautiful Gandhara Sculptures of Bhudda were found here when the site was excavated at the beginning of this century. A guided tour to these historical settlements is must.Many of the findings from these sites can be found im Peshawar Museum.The fasting Buddha here is more haunting than the one in Lahore Museum. Kanishika build the empire's most magnificent Buddhist stupa at Shah j k Dheri but now it is site of brick factory.