The Taxila was one of the most important cities in ancient India, located at the crossroads of three major trade routes: the Royal Highway from eastern India, the western route from Persia and Central Asia, and the northern route from Kashmir. It was also a renowned center of learning, where scholars and students from different regions and religions studied various subjects, such as grammar, logic, medicine, astronomy, and Buddhism.
Taxila’s history dates back to the Neolithic period, when it was a small settlement on a hill called Saraikala. It later became part of the Achaemenid Empire of Persia, which ruled over most of western Asia in the 6th and 5th centuries BCE. The Persian influence can be seen in the stone walls, house foundations, and winding streets of the Bhir mound, the oldest historic city of Taxila.
In 326 BCE, Taxila witnessed a dramatic change in its political and cultural landscape, when Alexander the Great invaded India with his Macedonian army. Alexander was a young and ambitious king who had conquered most of the known world by then, from Greece to Egypt to Persia. He wanted to extend his empire to the east, where he believed lay the source of the Indus River and the edge of the world.
Alexander’s campaign in India was not easy, as he faced fierce resistance from some local kings and tribes. However, he was able to capture Taxila without a fight, as its ruler, King Omphis (or Ambhi), surrendered the city and offered his allegiance and resources to Alexander. According to Greek historians who accompanied Alexander, Taxila was “wealthy, prosperous, and well governed.”
Alexander stayed in Taxila for some time, where he received delegations from other Indian kings and rulers, who either submitted to him or sought his friendship. He also visited some of the famous Buddhist monasteries and stupas in Taxila valley, which were built by previous kings and patrons. He was impressed by the architecture and art of these monuments, as well as by the teachings and practices of Buddhism.
Alexander’s presence in Taxila also had a lasting impact on its culture and society. He introduced new elements of Greek art, architecture, language, religion, and administration to Taxila, which blended with the existing Indian traditions. He also founded a new city on the site of Sirkap, which was laid out on a grid plan and had a fortified wall with rounded bastions. The city reflected the diverse and cosmopolitan nature of Alexander’s empire, as it housed people from different regions and backgrounds.
Alexander left Taxila in 325 BCE, after crossing the Indus River and fighting his last major battle in India at Hydaspes (modern Jhelum) against King Porus. He wanted to continue his conquests further east, but his army refused to follow him any more. He then decided to return to Babylon via a southern route along the coast of Arabia. He died there in 323 BCE at the age of 32.
Taxila continued to flourish after Alexander’s departure, under the rule of his successors and later under the Mauryan Empire of India. It remained an important political, economic, religious, and cultural center until it was destroyed by the Huns in the 5th century CE. Today, Taxila is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that attracts visitors from all over the world who want to explore its rich and diverse heritage.
