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Dharmarajika Stupa

The Dharmarajika Stupa, also known as the Great Stupa or Chir Tope, is an ancient Buddhist monument located in the Taxila Valley of Punjab, Pakistan, approximately 1 kilometer west of the Taxila Museum.^[1] Constructed in the 3rd century BCE during the reign of Emperor Ashoka, it is one of the earliest surviving stupas in the region and enshrines bone relics attributed to the Buddha, making it a key site for Buddhist pilgrimage and veneration.^[2] As part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed archaeological ensemble of Taxila, the stupa complex spans from the Mauryan period through later Kushan and post-Kushan expansions, reflecting Taxila's continuous religious importance from the 5th century BCE to the 5th century CE.^[1] The stupa's origins trace to Ashoka's efforts to propagate Buddhism following his conversion, with the main structure surrounded by subsidiary stupas containing relic deposits of ashes, bone fragments, and jewelry, discovered during excavations led by British archaeologist Sir John Marshall from 1913 to 1916. The main stupa had been looted in antiquity and contained no relics.^[3] Later additions in the 1st to 2nd centuries CE under Kushan patronage included encircling walls, four apsidal chapels at the cardinal points, and numerous subsidiary stupas, some of which yielded coins, beads, and further relics dating to the 2nd century BCE. The complex also encompasses an adjacent monastery with monks' cells, courtyards, and assembly halls, illustrating the integrated monastic life centered around the stupa.^[1] Architecturally, the Dharmarajika exemplifies early Mauryan stupa design with a hemispherical dome (anda) rising to about 15 meters in height, a square base, and a harmika (square platform) topped originally by a chattra (umbrella-like finial), though much of the upper structure has eroded.^[3] The surrounding ambulatory path features ornate schist reliefs in the Gandharan style, depicting Jataka tales, Buddha's life events, and Greco-Buddhist motifs such as fluted pilasters and pseudo-Corinthian capitals, with over 140 sculptures recovered, including rare early images of the standing Buddha. Masonry evolved from wedge-shaped bricks in the core to diaper and semi-ashlar techniques in later phases, highlighting technological advancements and multicultural influences from Persian, Hellenistic, and Central Asian traditions.^[3] The Dharmarajika Stupa holds profound historical and cultural significance as a testament to Taxila's role as a major crossroads of ancient trade routes and a hub of Buddhist scholarship, attracting pilgrims from across Asia and contributing to the spread of Mahayana Buddhism.^[1] Its relics and artifacts, now largely housed in the Taxila Museum, provide crucial evidence for dating early Buddhist iconography and relic worship practices, while the site's ongoing conservation underscores its vulnerability to environmental degradation and urban encroachment. Recognized under UNESCO Criteria (iii) for bearing exceptional testimony to urban evolution and (vi) for associations with pivotal historical figures, the stupa remains a cornerstone of Gandharan heritage, illuminating the interplay of religion, art, and empire in ancient South Asia.^[1]

Overview

Location and Context

The Dharmarajika Stupa is situated within the ancient city of Taxila in the Rawalpindi District of Punjab, modern-day Pakistan, at coordinates approximately 33°44′41″N 72°50′34″E.^[4] As a prominent feature of Taxila's archaeological landscape, it lies in the fertile valley of the Pothohar Plateau, historically part of the strategic crossroads connecting South Asia with Central Asia.^[5] The site is located about 3 kilometers east of the Taxila Museum, along the PMO Colony Road, northeast of Taxila Cantonment, and in close proximity to other key Taxila ruins such as the Greco-Indo-Scythian city of Sirkap, roughly 3 kilometers to the northwest.^[6] It is also near the modern village of Dharmarajika, which shares its name and underscores the site's enduring local significance.^[7] This positioning places the stupa within a dense cluster of ancient settlements and religious complexes that facilitated trade, learning, and pilgrimage along historic routes. Within the broader Gandhara region, encompassing parts of present-day Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Dharmarajika Stupa served as a vital Buddhist center from the 3rd century BCE through the 5th century CE, reflecting the area's role as a hub for Mahayana and early Buddhist practices amid cultural exchanges between Indian, Persian, and Hellenistic influences.^[8] The stupa emerged as a patronage site during the Mauryan Empire under Emperor Ashoka, who supported its establishment to promote Buddhist teachings across his domains.^[7] Recognized for its outstanding universal value as part of an exceptional archaeological ensemble, the Dharmarajika Stupa was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1980 as a component of the Taxila Ruins, highlighting its contribution to understanding ancient Buddhist architecture and urban development in South Asia.^[1]

Etymology

The name Dharmarajika derives from the Sanskrit compound Dharmarāja, literally meaning "King of the Dharma" (where dharma denotes the Buddhist doctrine or righteousness, and rāja signifies king), a title bestowed upon the Buddha as the ultimate promulgator of the Dharma or upon Emperor Ashoka for his role in propagating Buddhism.^[9]^[10] This designation reflects the stupa's association with Ashoka's distribution of the Buddha's relics across eight major sites in the 3rd century BCE.^[11] In local Punjabi usage, the stupa is known as Chir Tope, translating to "Scarred Hill," an appellation arising from its post-destruction appearance as a scarred, mound-like structure resembling a hilltop with visible fissures.^[6]^[12] The etymology is rooted in classical Sanskrit, with no attested variants in Pali or Prakrit inscriptions from the Ashokan period beyond the standard Dharmarāja form adapted to Buddhist nomenclature.^[13]

History

Construction and Expansion

The Dharmarajika Stupa, located in Taxila, was initially constructed in the 3rd century BCE, attributed to Emperor Ashoka as part of his extensive campaign to redistribute relics of the Buddha following the opening of earlier stupas containing the original remains.^[7] This effort aimed to propagate Buddhism across his empire, with the stupa serving primarily as a depository for portions of the Buddha's relics to facilitate worship and merit accumulation. The attribution is based on the site's name ("Dharmarajika," referring to Ashoka as Dharmaraja), Mauryan masonry style, and donative inscriptions; earliest coin evidence dates to the 2nd century BCE.^[3] The original core measured approximately 131 feet (40 m) in diameter at the base, consisting of a simple rubble masonry structure designed for basic circumambulation, with a drum height of about 45 feet (14 m).^[14] Subsequent expansions occurred during the Kushan period in the 2nd century CE, under rulers who patronized Buddhist architecture to assert their imperial and religious authority. These modifications enlarged the central core by encasing it in finer schist stone facing and added peripheral chapels and radiating walls to enhance ritual pathways for pilgrims. Evidence from stratigraphic layers reveals three distinct masonry styles marking these phases: an early rubble core from the Mauryan era, intermediate refinements with schist slabs in the post-Mauryan period, and Kushan-era diaper-patterned ashlar work that provided greater durability and aesthetic elaboration.^[15]^[16]^[7] This evolution transformed the stupa from a compact relic shrine into a more elaborate monumental complex, underscoring its growing role in regional Buddhist devotion. Relics discovered during 20th-century excavations, including bone fragments of the Buddha, confirmed the site's ancient significance, with portions gifted to Sri Lanka in 1937.^[17]

Destruction and Abandonment

The Dharmarajika Stupa, originally constructed during the reign of Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE, experienced partial damages possibly linked to conflicts involving Indo-Greek rulers in the 2nd century BCE, as indicated by numismatic evidence from the site. However, the primary phase of destruction occurred in the 5th century CE amid invasions by the White Huns (Hephthalites), who devastated Buddhist monuments across Gandhara, including those at Taxila.^[18] These invasions, beginning after 455 CE, involved ruthless campaigns that carried "sword and fire wherever they went," leading to the wanton devastation of sites like Dharmarajika.^[19] Under Mihirakula, who ruled from around 515 CE, the persecution intensified; the 7th-century Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang recorded that he demolished 1,600 stupas and monasteries in Gandhara alone, targeting Buddhist institutions amid his broader anti-Buddhist policies. Archaeological findings at Taxila confirm this, with evidence of fire damage—such as charred debris and burnt structural elements—and widespread collapses that buried the stupa under rubble.^[19] The site's main abandonment followed these events in the late 5th century CE, as the Hunnic incursions disrupted economic and monastic life, contributing to Buddhism's sharp decline in Gandhara. This neglect persisted through the revival of Hinduism in the Gupta era and later Islamic expansions from the 8th century onward, leaving the monument interred for over 1,300 years.^[18]

Excavation and Rediscovery

The excavations at the Dharmarajika Stupa in Taxila were initiated under the direction of Sir John Marshall, Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India, beginning in 1913 and continuing through 1916. These efforts, supervised on-site by local archaeologist Ghulam Qadir, focused on systematically uncovering the buried remains of the main stupa and its surrounding complex, which had been largely obscured by debris from later historical disturbances, including the Hunnic invasions of the 5th century CE. Marshall's team documented the site's layout through detailed surveys, photographs, and maps, revealing a multi-phase construction history with successive layers of masonry styles ranging from early rubble and kañjūr ashlar to later diaper and semi-ashlar techniques.^[3]^[17] Key findings during this period included the exposure of the stupa's core structure and peripheral elements, such as the pradakshina path—a circumambulatory walkway encircling the monument—and adjacent monastery remains located to the northwest and west. Artifacts unearthed provided chronological insights, notably Indo-Greek coins dating to the early 2nd century BCE, which indicated the site's religious significance predated later Buddhist expansions. These discoveries were meticulously recorded in Marshall's field notes and illustrated in his comprehensive reports, highlighting the stupa's evolution from an initial foundation possibly in the 3rd century BCE to subsequent enlargements.^[3] Further work under the Archaeological Survey of India extended the excavations from 1934 to 1936, led by A.D. Siddiqui, achieving the full uncovering of the complex and consolidating earlier findings. Initial scholarly interpretations by Marshall linked the stupa's origins to Emperor Ashoka's era, based on the masonry types, coin evidence, and donative inscriptions discovered at the site, positioning it as one of Taxila's earliest Buddhist monuments. These assessments, published in the Archaeological Survey of India Annual Reports (1916, 1918, 1920) and Marshall's seminal three-volume work Taxila (1951), established the foundational framework for understanding the site's historical and cultural role.^[17]^[3]

Architecture

Core Stupa

The core of the Dharmarajika Stupa consists of a circular structure with a base diameter of approximately 35 meters (115 feet), elevating a hemispherical dome referred to as the anda. This dome supports a harmika, a square platform symbolizing the square of the earth, which was originally surmounted by a chatra—a multi-tiered umbrella representing the axis mundi and enlightenment. In its reconstructed form, the stupa reaches a height of approximately 15 meters, embodying the classic hemispherical profile typical of early Buddhist architecture.[](Marshall, J. (1951). Taxila: An Illustrated Account of Archaeological Excavations, Vol. 1. Cambridge University Press, pp. 230-274.) The internal design includes a passageway encircling the base to facilitate pradakshina, the devotional practice of circumambulation, constructed with a rubble core faced by schist stone for durability and aesthetic appeal. This core-relic enclosure served as the primary repository for sacred remains, with the passageway allowing pilgrims to engage in ritual movement without entering the sacred interior.[](Marshall, J. (1951). Taxila: An Illustrated Account of Archaeological Excavations, Vol. 1. Cambridge University Press, pp. 240-241.) During the Kushan period, expansions introduced ornate decorative features to the core structure, such as vibrant glass tiles inlaid for visual splendor, shell bangles arranged in geometric motifs on the facing, and stucco images portraying the Buddha in meditative poses. These elements enhanced the stupa's symbolic role as a site of veneration and artistic expression.[](Marshall, J. (1951). Taxila: An Illustrated Account of Archaeological Excavations, Vol. 1. Cambridge University Press, pp. 691-727; Errington, E. (1999/2000). "The Western Satraps and Gandhara," Silk Road Art and Archaeology, 6, pp. 191-216.) The stupa originated as a modest earthen mound enclosing relics, evolving into a more elaborate monument through phased additions that refined its form and scale.[](Forte, A., & Kuwayama, S. (2018). "Dharmarajika, Taxila." Oxford Centre for Architectural Conservation, pp. 1-5. https://www.carc.ox.ac.uk/XDB/DMS/%7B762B3E5F-1EBB-4EF9-AC5D-7AC5E6890FE7%7D.pdf)

Peripheral Structures

The peripheral structures of the Dharmarajika Stupa complex feature numerous smaller votive stupas encircling the main stupa, with at least 11 identified in a ring formation dating to the Saka period around the 1st century BCE, and additional ones constructed from the 2nd to 5th centuries CE as devotional offerings by pilgrims and benefactors.^[20] These votive stupas, often built with rubble cores and kanjur stone facings, vary in size and decoration, with some containing personal relics such as steatite caskets holding bones, beads, and miniature stupas deposited by devotees.^[20] Over time, more than 30 such structures accumulated, illustrating the site's ongoing role as a center for individual piety and commemorative acts.^[21] Northern and southern avenues, serving as processional routes, are lined with devotional images in niches and small chapels designed for pilgrimage rituals, including circumambulation and offerings.^[21] These avenues, flanked by shrines featuring stucco and stone figures of Buddhist deities, facilitated ritual movement toward the core stupa, the focal point of worship.^[20] The peripheral elements integrate seamlessly with adjacent monasteries, particularly a large northern monastic complex with multiple courts, cells, and assembly halls, forming a cohesive ritual enclosure that supported monastic communities in their daily practices and supported pilgrimage activities.^[20] This arrangement created a bounded sacred space where monks and visitors could engage in communal worship and meditation. The overall layout demonstrates symmetry along an east-west axis, with the circular main stupa centered on a raised terrace accessible via aligned staircases, while the encircling stupas and chapels radiate outward in patterned rows.^[21] The total site spans several acres on a lofty plateau above the Tamra Nala, encompassing the stupa courts, avenues, and monastic quarters within a unified archaeological enclosure.^[20]

Construction Techniques

The Dharmarajika Stupa was constructed primarily using local materials such as schist and kanjur stone, with rubble cores for stability. Early Mauryan phases (3rd century BCE) employed rough rubble masonry bonded with mud or lime mortar, faced with schist slabs for the core structure and ambulatory.^[7] These techniques provided durability on the site's plateau terrain, with walls 3 to 5 feet thick radiating from the center.^[7] Subsequent expansions from the Saka to Kushan periods (1st century BCE to 3rd century CE) introduced more refined methods, including small diaper masonry (interlocking wedge-shaped stones) in the 1st-2nd centuries CE and larger diaper or semi-ashlar techniques thereafter, reflecting advancements in stone dressing and jointing for added precision and load distribution.^[22] Foundations were dug to bedrock where possible, especially on sloping ground, and surfaces were often plastered with lime for protection and decoration, sometimes inlaid with glass or shell elements.[](Marshall, J. (1951). Taxila: An Illustrated Account of Archaeological Excavations, Vol. 1. Cambridge University Press, pp. 230-274.) The multi-phase construction began with a simple hemispherical dome over relics, evolving through additions like encircling walls and chapels, with no evidence of advanced tools like saws; instead, natural fissures were exploited for quarrying, and stones were shaped using hammers and chisels. Later repairs used baked bricks and stucco for aesthetic enhancements, adapting to regional Gandharan influences.^[12]

Relics and Artifacts

Discovery Process

The discovery of relics at the Dharmarajika Stupa took place during excavations carried out between 1913 and 1916 under the direction of Sir John Marshall as part of the Archaeological Survey of India's work at Taxila. These digs targeted the core stupa and surrounding peripheral chapels, where teams employed careful stratigraphic removal to excavate layer by layer, using tools such as picks, spades, and brushes to clear accumulated debris while preserving contextual integrity. This methodical approach allowed archaeologists to identify construction phases and locate relic deposits at varying depths, often 4 to 13 feet below the surface in subsidiary structures.^[23] Excavation of the stupa's core involved sinking a vertical shaft, but no intact reliquaries were found due to prior disturbance; relic deposits were located in peripheral structures. This technique minimized disturbance to surrounding materials and enabled the controlled extraction of intact containers from those areas. Overall, 18 vessels were recovered from diverse stratigraphic layers in the peripheral sites and smaller stupas, encompassing materials like grey schist, gold, silver, copper, and crystal, many of which had been placed as votive offerings. Some deposits showed evidence of prior tampering by treasure-seekers, complicating recovery but not preventing the salvage of significant items.^[23] Marshall's team documented each find extensively through on-site measurements, photographic records, and field notes, contributing to detailed catalogs in the Archaeological Survey of India's annual reports from the period. Following initial assessment, the relics were carefully transported to the Taxila Museum for safekeeping, study, and long-term curation, ensuring their availability for scholarly analysis.^[23] A major challenge was the fragility of bone fragments and other organic elements within the caskets, which risked disintegration upon exposure to air and handling. On-site preservation efforts involved immediate application of consolidants like shellac, gentle cleaning with acids for metal components, and protective wrapping to mitigate damage during transport, particularly for delicate items such as ivory and gold leaf.^[23]

Types of Relics

The relics at the Dharmarajika Stupa encompass bone fragments venerated as those of the Buddha, including calcined pieces distributed after his parinirvana, underscoring their profound sacred status in Buddhist tradition. These remains, often minute in size, were carefully enshrined to commemorate the Buddha's physical legacy and inspire devotion among pilgrims. In 2016, two bone relics from the site were gifted to Sri Lanka for public veneration and exhibition.^[24]^[25] Reliquary vessels formed the primary containers for these relics, featuring intricate nested designs made from diverse materials such as silver caskets, small gold caskets, steatite or stone boxes, and crystal elements. A prominent example from a chapel deposit, dated to 78 CE, included a steatite casket enclosing a silver vase that held a gold casket with bone fragments, accompanied by fragments of gold leaf and small pearls. Other vessels incorporated semi-precious stones like lapis lazuli, ruby, and coral, enhancing the sanctity and aesthetic reverence of the enclosures; for instance, crystal jars or beads were paired with gold reliquaries in subsidiary stupas to house similar bone pieces.^[19]^[26] In addition to the sacred bone relics, deposits contained non-human items interpreted as donor offerings, such as trade goods including carnelian beads, agate, rock crystal, and coins from Indo-Greek and Indo-Scythian periods (e.g., issues of Apollodotus II and Maues). These artifacts, totaling dozens across sites like Stupas B3, B6, and U1, reflected the economic and cultural exchanges of the era while supporting the ritual deposition. Overall, excavations revealed over 18 reliquary vessels from the smaller stupas surrounding the main structure, along with more than 100 associated fragments, beads, and minor artifacts primarily from layers linked to the 78 CE period.^[26]^[27] Such relics were typically placed within the core of the stupa or its chapels to align with cosmological symbolism, ensuring their protective enclosure and accessibility for worship.

Inscriptions and Cultural Items

The Dharmarajika Stupa features several inscriptions in Kharosthi script discovered on silver caskets within its relic chambers, providing key evidence of royal patronage during the Kushan period. One prominent example is the inscription on a lenticular silver casket unearthed from chapel G, dated to 78 CE (year 136 of the Azes era), which records the enshrinement of relics attributed to the Buddha by Urasaka, son of Athadapha from Balkh and resident of Noacha. This dedication was made for the welfare of the Kushan ruler, invoking the title "Maharaja Rajatiraja Devaputra Kushanasa," highlighting the involvement of Central Asian donors under Kushan oversight in supporting Buddhist institutions.^[15] Other Kharosthi inscriptions from the site, documented in early 20th-century epigraphic studies, similarly reflect donations by local elites and reflect the script's prevalence in the region from the Indo-Scythian to Kushan eras.^[28]^[29] Earlier Brahmi script inscriptions linked to the Ashokan era, though less directly associated with the stupa's core, appear in the broader Taxila complex and underscore the site's foundational ties to Mauryan patronage. These include fragmentary Brahmi dedications from the 3rd century BCE, consistent with Ashoka's edicts promoting Buddhism across his empire, which facilitated the stupa's initial construction to house redistributed relics.^[30] Cultural items recovered from the stupa's relic deposits and surrounding structures illustrate extensive trade networks along the Silk Road, blending local, Greco-Roman, and Central Asian influences. Indo-Greek coins, such as those of kings like Menander I from the 2nd century BCE, were found in stupa fills, indicating ongoing cultural exchange and use as votive offerings by pilgrims during the site's early phases. Glass artifacts, including square tiles used to pave the procession path around the stupa, point to imports around the 1st-2nd centuries CE, likely via overland routes. Central Asian jewels, such as carnelian, agate, and etched stone beads from relic chambers in stupas B and S, reflect artisanal traditions from regions like Bactria, deposited as part of devotional hoards.^[31]^[20]^[32] Devotional artifacts further emphasize the site's role as a pilgrimage center, with stucco images of the Buddha and attendant figures adorning chapel niches, such as a 9-inch-high Bodhisattva head from chapel B. These lime-based sculptures, typical of Gandharan art, were likely commissioned by visiting devotees. Jewelry deposits, including gold earrings with pearls and small gold coins interspersed in relic spaces between peripheral stupas P and P, represent personal offerings from pilgrims seeking merit through dedication.^[33]^[15] Interpretations of the stupa's relics connect them to the traditional post-parinirvana distribution of the Buddha's remains, where Ashoka is said to have opened seven of the original eight stupas to reallocate portions into 84,000 new structures, including this one at Taxila. Bone fragments served as the primary relic contents, symbolizing the Buddha's physical presence and drawing pilgrims for veneration.^[34]

Significance and Preservation

Religious and Historical Importance

The Dharmarajika Stupa holds profound religious significance in Buddhist tradition as an early stupa constructed during the reign of Emperor Ashoka to enshrine relics attributed to the Buddha following his parinirvana, serving as a key site for commemorating the Buddha's final passing and the distribution of his ashes among the faithful.^[7] These relics, attributed to the Buddha and accompanied by inscriptions recording their deposition by donors, underscore the stupa's role in preserving tangible links to the Buddha's life and teachings. As a focal point within ancient pilgrimage circuits in Gandhara, the stupa attracted devotees seeking spiritual merit through circumambulation and veneration, reinforcing its centrality in Theravada and Mahayana practices across South and Central Asia.^[35]^[6] Historically, the Dharmarajika Stupa exemplifies Emperor Ashoka's efforts to propagate Buddhism beyond the Mauryan heartland, with its construction in the 3rd century BCE marking a pivotal expansion of the faith into the northwestern frontier of the Indian subcontinent.^[36] Located in the Gandhara region, it illustrates the syncretic Greco-Buddhist culture that emerged from interactions between Mauryan Indian traditions and Hellenistic influences following Alexander the Great's campaigns, blending indigenous stupa architecture with Western artistic motifs in surrounding reliefs and sculptures.^[37] In 2016, relics from the Dharmarajika Stupa were loaned to Sri Lanka for a month-long exhibition during Vesak celebrations, displayed across major shrines in Colombo, Kandy, Anuradhapura, and Polonnaruwa, drawing millions of visitors and reigniting global interest in Gandhara's Buddhist heritage.^[24] This event highlighted the stupa's enduring interfaith and international relevance, fostering diplomatic ties between Pakistan and Sri Lanka while emphasizing the relics' role in contemporary Buddhist devotion. As the largest stupa in Taxila, the Dharmarajika uniquely bridges the Mauryan and Kushan empires, originally erected under Ashoka in modest form before significant expansions under Kushan patronage from the 1st to 3rd centuries CE, reflecting evolving imperial support for Buddhism and cultural continuity in the region.^[38]

Modern Conservation and Access

Following the major excavations led by Sir John Marshall from 1913 to 1916, the Pakistan Department of Archaeology and Museums has overseen the conservation of the Dharmarajika Stupa, focusing on site stabilization through measures such as fencing, vegetation control, and structural reinforcements to prevent further deterioration.^[39]^[40] Since Taxila's inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980, international monitoring has intensified, with joint UNESCO/ICOMOS missions in 1995 and 2000 assessing progress and recommending actions like closing nearby stone quarries to mitigate damage from quarrying activities near the Dharmarajika site.^[40] A comprehensive Master Plan for Taxila, approved in the early 2000s with an allocation of 200 million Pakistani Rupees, outlined restoration efforts across sites including Dharmarajika, though implementation has been partial, emphasizing documentation and controlled interventions to preserve authenticity. In June 2025, an updated Taxila Master Plan was released, outlining enhanced restoration and sustainable management strategies for sites including Dharmarajika.^[39]^[2] Conservation faces significant challenges, including natural erosion from tropical rains, humidity, earthquakes, and flooding, which have accelerated the degradation of exposed brick structures at Dharmarajika.^[40] Urban encroachment poses another threat, with historical instances of industrial development, military installations, and a proposed sports stadium on nearby mounds encroaching on buffer zones, though some projects like the stadium on Bhir Mound were halted in 2000.^[40]^[39] Additional pressures include illegal excavations, unchecked vegetation growth, lichen, and termite infestations, compounded by limited funding and staffing within the Department of Archaeology, leading to outdated conservation practices and a lack of major restorations in recent decades.^[40] Climate change exacerbates these issues through intensified temperature fluctuations and precipitation, while tourism management remains inadequate, with overcrowding straining the site's fragile remains despite its UNESCO status requiring sustainable visitor controls. The Dharmarajika Stupa is accessible as part of the Taxila archaeological complex, located approximately 4 km from the Taxila Museum, and is open to visitors from Saturday to Thursday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with closures on Fridays and public holidays.^[41] Entry requires a ticket covering multiple Taxila sites, priced at 20 Pakistani Rupees for locals and 500 Pakistani Rupees for foreigners, with children under 12 entering free; these fees support basic maintenance. Guided tours, often starting from the Taxila Museum, provide essential archaeological context for understanding the stupa's layout and history, and are recommended for a comprehensive visit, especially during the optimal cooler months from September to March when road access via the Grand Trunk Road or Haripur Road is more reliable despite occasional repairs.^[39] Facilities at the site include basic signage, restrooms, and a small shop, though a proposed Visitor Management Plan aims to enhance pathways, information centers, and capacity limits to balance accessibility with preservation.^[40]

References

[1]
Taxila - UNESCO World Heritage Centre
The Buddhist archaeological sites at Taxila include the Dharmarajika complex and stupa, the Khader Mohra grouping, the Kalawan grouping, the Giri monasteries, ...
[2]
[PDF] Taxila - 2055 Archeological Master Plan - The Urban Unit
Jun 5, 2025 · Most of the Buddhist stupas and monasteries date from 1st to 5th century AD although the Dharmarajika. Stupa was founded by Asoka in 3rd century ...
[3]
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### Summary of Dharmarajika Stupa, Taxila
[4]
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139-005, Sirsukh (fortified ruined city), Pakistan, N33 46 20.12. E72 50 59.06 ; 139-006, Dharmarajika stupa and monastery, Pakistan, N33 44 40.81. E72 50 33.6 ...
[5]
[PDF] Dharmarajika, Taxila
May 18, 2018 · Marshall (1951: 236) dated the foundation of the main stupa at the Dharmarajika on the basis of coin finds and the masonry type to between ...
[6]
Dharmarajika Stupa, Taxila
Located just over 3 kilometers east of the Taxila Museum, down PMO Colony Road, you'll find the Dharmarajika Stupa. It's situated near the ancient city of ...
[7]
Dharmarajika Stupa - Heritage of Pakistan
Jul 23, 2025 · Location · Town/City: Taxila, Punjab · Tehsil. Taxila · District: Rawalpindi · Region/Province: Punjab · Latitude: 33.74458 · Longitude: 72.84228 ...
[8]
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Gandhāran Buddhism refers to the Buddhist culture of ancient Gandhāra which was a major center of Buddhism in the Indian subcontinent from the 3rd century BCE ...
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Dharmaraja, Dharmarāja, Dharma-raja: 22 definitions
Jun 9, 2025 · Dharmarāja (धर्मराज) refers to the “god of death”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.18 (“The conversation between Nārada and Jalandhara”).In Hinduism · In Buddhism · India history
[10]
Dharmarajika Stupa — left to decay - Newspaper - DAWN.COM
Nov 30, 2014 · According to historic details, the name Dharmarajika is derived from 'Dharmaraja', a title given to Maurya Emperor Ashoka due to his services ...
[11]
Dharmarajika Stupa
Dec 12, 2022 · This Stupa is the most important Buddhist edifice in Taxila and is likely one of the earliest. The nucleus of the Stupa goes back to the days of Ashoka.
[12]
Dharmarajika- Great Stupa of Taxila - Make Heritage Fun!
Sep 1, 2016 · The Dharmarjika is locally known as Chir tope – chir meaning a scar and tope referring to top of a hill- relating to a split scar on the western ...
[13]
Dharmarajika, Dharma-rajika, Dharmarājikā: 6 definitions
Mar 4, 2021 · Dharmarājikā.—(IA 14; ML), Buddhist; a stūpa built on the relics of the Buddha called Dharmarāja; a Buddhist stūpa.
[14]
This ancient trading city in modern-day Pakistan had a surprising ...
Aug 22, 2025 · The Great Stupa of Taxila, first built by Ashoka the Great in the third century B.C., known as the Dharmarajika Stupa, named for Dharmaraja, ...
[15]
https://archive.org/details/cu31924024121125
[16]
(DOC) The Contribution of Ashoka to the Stupa Shape - Academia.edu
Ashoka's edicts from 249 BCE mark the first known record of the term 'stupa'. He constructed 84,000 stupas, distributing Buddha's relics across his empire.
[17]
[PDF] Title Across the Hindukush of the First Millennium - CORE
Stupa of Dharmarajika in Taxila, Kanishka Stupa in Gandhara, and the Sacred Precinct ... Scholars who believe in the Hephthalite destruction of Gandharan ...
[18]
A guide to Taxila
Taxila, namely, the Buddhist stupas and monas- teries at Mohra Moradu and JauliaSi. The Dharmarajika stupa or ' Chir Tope'^ (PL IX), as it is locally kno ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[19]
Dharmarājika Stūpa, Taxila - Photo Dharma
The name Dharmarājika was given because the stūpa was erected over the body relics of Gautama Buddha, the true Dharmarāja. Taxila was one of the many cities ...
[20]
[PDF] A Guide To Taxila
Dharmarajika stupa is a winding one and nearly two miles. There is a short cut across the Tamra nala imme-. ^diately to the eastof the Bhir mound. Page 54 ...Missing: "Taxila:
[21]
Dharmarajika: An Ancient Sacred Site of Taxila - Tourism Guide Book
Jan 2, 2024 · According to Marshall, the word Dharmarajika is derived from Dharmaraja, which was the moniker given to Buddha, who was the real Dharma Raja ( ...
[22]
[PDF] The Monuments Of Sanchi - Rapeutation
The main stupa was built by Asoka Maurya who also erected a pillar here. Sanchi is also hallowed by another stupa ... Sanchi thus affords immense material.
[23]
[PDF] Procedures Followed in Different Regions of India to Prepare Lime ...
Nov 30, 2021 · But wide spread of this lime mortar structure was found in Buddhist era (200. BC to 300 AD). Best example is Sanchi Stupa and Nagarjuna. Konda ...
[24]
The Great Stupa at Sanchi (article) - Khan Academy
At its simplest, a stupa is a dirt burial mound faced with stone. In Buddhism, the earliest stupas contained portions of the Buddha's ashes, and as a result, ...
[25]
None
Below is a merged summary of the excavation and discovery of relics at Dharmarajika Stupa (1913-1916), consolidating all provided information into a comprehensive response. To retain the maximum detail, I will use a structured format with text for the overview and a table in CSV format for specific details across segments. This ensures all information—process, methods, reliquary access, vessels recovered, documentation, transportation, challenges, page references, and URLs—is included efficiently.
[26]
Dharmarajika - Digital Gandhara
While archaeological evidence suggests that it may date back to the 1st century BCE, the name “Dharmarajika” points to an earlier foundation attributed to King ...
[27]
(PDF) Stone Beads from Stupa Relic Deposits at the Dharmarajika ...
Aug 5, 2018 · ... Marshall suggests that the foundation of the. main stupa at this site may date back to the. reign of King Ashoka during the third centu ...
[28]
https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.32007
[29]
https://gandhari-texts.sydney.edu.au/edition/urasaka-dharmarajika-taxila-silver-sheet-azes-136/
[30]
Edicts of Ashoka – Pillar Edicts - Puratattva
Jul 22, 2012 · Sarnath – The inscribed Ashokan pillar is located south of the Dharmarajika stupa. Its lion capital became the national emblem of India. It ...
[31]
Numismatic evidence for dating the Buddhist remains of Gandhara
Numismatic evidence is examined to establish a chronology for Buddhist remains in Gandhara, particularly focusing on coin finds at significant ...
[32]
[PDF] Buddhist from Gandhara - The Metropolitan Museum of Art
31 Particular instances include the glass tiles used to pave the path around the Dharmarajika stupa at Taxila and the glass objects buried along with ...
[33]
Stone Beads from Stupa Relic Deposits at the Dharmarajika ...
This article investigates twenty-eight stone beads excavated from the Dharmarajika Buddhist complex in Taxila, dated to the early and mid-second century BC.
[34]
negative | British Museum
Jaulian including heads of deities and a bull and stucco figures from the Dharmarajika stupa including a head of the Buddha and Bodhisattva. Production date ...
[35]
Asoka and the Buddha-Relics
And it is there that Asoka, after breaking into all the seven stupas in vain (the Nagas protecting the eighth), finds the relics.(1) These he takes, and ...
[36]
https://www.inebnetwork.org/newsbuddhist-heritage-of-gandhara-pakistan/
[37]
Buddhist Heritage of Gandhara, Pakistan - INEB
Mar 4, 2021 · The earliest Buddhist stupa and monastery is found in Dharmarajika (3rd Century BCE) which is located three kilometers from Taxila Museum. It ...
[38]
Gandhara - The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Apr 1, 2012 · Gandhara, Synthesis of foreign styles with Indian forms is typical of the multi-ethnic character of Gandharan taste.
[39]
Buddhist Channel | Sri Lanka
### Summary of 2016 Sri Lanka Exhibition of Relics from Dharmarajika Stupa
[40]
Gandhara Civilization - World History Encyclopedia
Jul 7, 2015 · One of these is the grand Dharmarajika monastery east of the river Tamra at Taxila, famous for its stupa, and it is said Ashoka buried several ...Missing: scholarly | Show results with:scholarly<|control11|><|separator|>
[41]
(PDF) Current Status of Management and Protection of Taxila World ...
Aug 7, 2025 · This collection builds on and is within the context of other work done in Pakistan related to community-based archaeology and heritage projects.<|control11|><|separator|>
[42]
[PDF] II State of Conservation of the World Heritage Properties in the Asia ...
Most of the Buddhist stupas and monasteries date from the 1st to 5th century AD although the. Dharmarajika Stupa was founded by Asoka in the. 3rd century BC ...Missing: modern | Show results with:modern
[43]
Islamabad to Taxila: the ultimate day trip guide - Backpack Adventures
Oct 14, 2024 · How to get there: Dharmarajika stupa is 4 kilometers from the Taxila museum. ... Sirkap and then to Dharmarajika stupa. This means a lot of ...