Kalawan, literal meaning "The Caves", is an archaeological site near Taxila, Pakistan. It is one of the most important Buddhist site in the country. It's around 2 kilometers from the Dharmarajika stupa and 5 kilometers from Taxila Museum located on the foothills of Margalla hills. Sir John Marshall: the father of archaeology in sub-continent mentioned Kalawan in his book “A guide to Taxila” as important archaeological site having a stupa and monasteries. The largest vihara monastery in the subcontinent is located at Kalawan. An inscription in a chaitya hall showed the enshrinement of relics as a gift to the Sarvastivadin School in "the 134th year of Azes," which corresponds to 77 CE. Within the monastery, little stupas were unearthed. Like the Dharmarajika, the Kalawan monastery features a distinctive architectural style that includes an image shrine opposite the entrance. This architectural style is claimed to have started in the northwest and later served as a model for the construction of monasteries with famous shrines at Devnimori, Ajanta, Aurangabad, Ellora, Nalanda, Ratnagiri, and other related places. Recently archaeological department has started its renovation and planned to open for public after restoration of site. It has great potential for tourism once open for public.
Written, Reserched, and Photographed by:
Salman Qamar
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