Taxila, Archaeological site in Rawalpindi District, Punjab, Pakistan

Taxila is an extensive archaeological site in Rawalpindi District, Pakistan, with multiple excavation areas showing remains of streets, residential buildings, temples, and fortifications. The remains date from different periods and are spread over a wide area, with main sites connected by unpaved paths.

Taxila's first major settlement, at Hathial mound, was established around 1000 BCE, and by 900 BCE its pottery shows trade with Puṣkalāvatī. It was the capital of Gandhāra and later of the Achaemenid province of Hinduš; its king Taxiles submitted to Alexander the Great in 326 BCE. The Mauryans, Indo-Greeks, Indo-Scythians, Indo-Parthians and Kushans ruled it in turn, until the Hunas devastated it in the 5th century CE.

Today groups of archaeology students and historians visit the sites to study ancient building techniques and decipher Buddhist inscriptions. Local guides share oral traditions about the meaning of the ruins and show how people lived and worked here centuries ago.

The site includes a museum displaying artifacts, coins, and sculptures from the excavations. Visitors can book guided tours from the main entrance near the museum or explore between sites independently.

Excavations revealed an advanced drainage system from the Kushan period featuring terra-cotta pipes and underground water channels running throughout the ancient city. These installations demonstrate a high level of technical understanding of sanitation and urban infrastructure during an era often considered less developed.