Pushkalavati

Pushkalavati is an archaeological site in Charsadda, Pakistan, positioned near where the Kabul and Swat rivers meet. The ruins spread across two main sections divided by the Shambor river, with the Bala Hisar mound in the south and Shaikhan Dheri in the north.

The settlement served as the capital of Gandhara between 1400 and 800 before the common era and remained a major center of the region. Around 520 before the common era, it was incorporated into the Achaemenid Empire and continued as an important trade hub.

Archaeological excavations revealed residential quarters, public buildings, and irrigation systems that demonstrate advanced engineering methods of ancient urban development.

Both main areas are located near the modern city of Charsadda and can be explored in a single day visit. Access is possible year-round, though the cooler months from October to March offer more comfortable conditions for walking around the site.

Ancient Sanskrit texts refer to the settlement as the City of Lotus, named after the lotus flowers that once covered the waterways around it. These flowers still grow in the fertile plains surrounding the ruins today, connecting the site to its ancient name.