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The fact that the great Buddhist civilization better known as the Gandhara civilization held sway in the north-western region of present-day Pakistan is known to many. But one can only begin to fathom the real glory and extent of this civilization by visiting the sites, many of which the world is yet to see.

This could change now with the Government of Pakistan keen to attract tourists worldwide to share with them that fascinating aspect of the country. An aspect that has been overshadowed by political upheavals and terrorism that have plagued the area, and which unfortunately have become more symbolic of this part of the world than its arts and culture.

The Gandhara civilization flourished in the north-western region of Pakistan from the 6th Century BC to the 5th Century AD and the main purpose of the arts of that time was to propagate Buddhism through images carved in stone, stucco, terracotta and bronze. These were mostly enshrined in monasteries and stupas throughout the Gandhara region.

The Gandhara School of Art is credited by many, as being the first creators of the Buddha in human form, rather than as a symbol – the method which was adopted before the Gandhara period. Some of these early interpretations of the Buddha included His footprint.

What would enthral any visitor to the region would be the sight of well preserved pieces of art which depict the life story of the Buddha -- conception, birth, enlightenment and death; His previous birth stories- (the Jathakas) as well as images of the future Buddhas. Gandhara art is a mix of many cultures and the dedicated artists of the era painstakingly carved out the life story of the Buddha mixing Greek, Persian, Indian and Roman schools of art. It was from here that Buddhism travelled to China, Korea and Japan.

The actual territory of Gandhara is a triangular piece of land about 100 kilometres, east to west and 70 kilometres north to south, on the west side of the Indus river, surrounded by mountains. But the expansion of Gandhara art crossed geographical limits and covered an area from Eastern Afghanistan, Taxila, the modern day Swat valley, Dir, Malakand, Mardan and Peshawar valley to Kashmir.

Many Sri Lankans are familiar with Taxila as a seat of learning in ancient times. Taxila, situated about 35 km north-west of Pakistan’s capital of Islamabad was the main centre of Gandhara, dating back to over 3,000 years ago. It had attracted Alexander the Great from Macedonia in 326 BC, who brought Greek culture to this part of the world.

It later came under the Mauryan dynasty and reached its highest level of development under Emperor Asoka who during the 2nd Century BC adopted Buddhism as the state religion, which flourished and prevailed for over 1,000 years, until the year 10 AD. It was during this time that Taxila along with other cities became important centres of culture, trade and learning.

A journey from Taxila to the Swat Valley up to Peshawar up to the Khyber Valley, along the ancient trail of Buddhist civilisation is bound to fascinate anyone irrespective of their religious beliefs. But for a Buddhist it is a pilgrimage to a holy land where the pace of life seems to go on in the same manner in which it probably did when the great Buddhist civilization thrived. Hundreds of stupas and monasteries were erected in Gandhara and many of the artefacts uncovered today are well preserved and protected in several museums including the museums in Dir, Peshawar and Lahore. The Peshawar museum takes pride of place among these with a collection of Gandhara art including about 1000 pieces of Buddhist sculpture.

Other than the museum, some of the original sites where stupas and monasteries were built can be seen as well. Many of these are in remarkably good condition. The Dharmarajika stupa and monastery founded by Emperor Asoka is one such site. Hundreds of Buddhist monks are believed to have resided here and many Buddhist and non -Buddhist sculptures have been recovered dating back to between the 3rd Century BC and 5th Century AD.

The Juliana stupa and monastery in Taxila are also two well preserved Buddhist monuments. The monastery is believed to have been a double storey complex but only a part of it remains intact now. Yet the stone carvings of the life story of the Buddha can be seen in its remnants.

Swat in Saidu Sharif about 258 kilometres north of Islamabad is another place where Buddhism had flourished and had been a place of pilgrimage for many hundreds of years before the religion began to decline around the 10th Century AD. There are more than 400 Buddhist sites covering an area of 160 km in Swat valley.

Another fascinating place on the Buddhist trail is the well preserved Buddhist monastery at Takht-i-Bhai, about 156 km north of Islamabad dating back to between the 2nd and 5th Century BC. The existing buildings include the main stupa, two courtyards in different terraces, cells for meditation for Buddhist monks as well as several stone figures of the Buddha.

These are but a handful of what Gandhara art achieved during its days of glory. The archaeological authorities in Pakistan are unearthing more and more wonders from these sites each day.

Starting from this cradle of Buddhist civilization, the Gandhara Buddha moved onto central Asia taking a message of peace influencing millions of people in the ancient world. And even though Buddhism may not be practised throughout the region anymore, the universally accepted message of compassion preached by Lord Buddha comes to the mind of anyone fortunate enough to walk the trail of the greatest Buddhist civilization the world has known.