Jaulian, Buddhist monastery ruins at Taxila, Pakistan
Jaulian is a Buddhist monastery complex at Taxila featuring a central shrine tower surrounded by numerous smaller sanctuaries spread across different levels. The structures are arranged over multiple terraces on a hillside with wide views across the surrounding landscape.
The complex was built in the 2nd century and served for centuries as an important center for Buddhist teaching and learning. The site was eventually abandoned after invasions from the north altered the region.
The site displays Buddhist shrines decorated with artistic elements from multiple cultures blended together. Visitors can observe how craftspeople combined techniques from Greece, Persia, and Rome with local traditions here.
The site sits on elevated ground with some steep pathways and requires good footwear for walking between different levels. Visitors should bring water and prepare for sunny, open terrain.
One statue features a figure with an opening in its body where visitors would place their fingers while speaking prayers for healing. This practice points to rituals that people performed at this location long ago.
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