It was purely acci-dental.
Source: This 4,000-Year-Old Pot Spent Years as a Toothbrush Holder
The stone crushers of Taxila: Are we ready to lose pieces of our history and heritage?; Rina Saeed Khan; Express Tribune
The entire school would shake as if an earthquake had occurred and stones from blasting would fly into school grounds.
Source: The stone crushers of Taxila: Are we ready to lose pieces of our history and heritage?
Where Alexander’s world met Persia and India; Ammad Ali; Friday Times
Barood Khana — An arsenal depot of British era; Tania Qureshi; Daily Times
Lahore Fort is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Pakistan. The Lahore Fort was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981 and Tania Qureshi can claim that Lahore Fort is one of the astonishing structures of its kind in the world having the world’s largest picture wall and the majestic mirror palace.
Source: Barood Khana — An arsenal depot of British era – Daily Times
No boundary wall for Makli as Shirazi votes dearer to PPP: report; Minerwa Tahir; Samaa TV
Pakistan – Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta
UNESCO recommended that a boundary wall be built around the majestic Makli necropolis. It could not materialise as votes are dearer to the Pakistan Peoples Party, says the World Heritage Watch Report 2018.
World Heritage Watch is a Berlin-based independent body overlooking conservation activities at UNESCO-listed heritage sites. In its 2018 report, anthropologist Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro writes about Makli, the largest necropolis of the world in Thatta that contains the tombs and graves of kings, queens, poets and religious scholars.
“I have been writing about these issues since forever but nobody listens,” Dr Kalhoro tells SAMAA Digital. “You see, big money is involved.”
His report says that local elites, who have occupied Makli land, resisted building a boundary wall. “The local Shirazi family is creating problems and influencing the State Party [Sindh, Pakistan] not to complete the boundary wall – it would appear that political parties listen more to local elites who are also their voters,” says the report. “They don’t want to lose their votebank, and this is one of the reasons the boundary wall has been stopped.”
Read more from source: No boundary wall for Makli as Shirazi votes dearer to PPP: report – Samaa TV
A Buddhist’s pilgrimage to Pakistan; Manoranjan Sharma; Daily Times
Pakistan – Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi and Neighbouring City Remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol
At Lumbini in Nepal, we have a connection with Buddhism like a baby has with the breast. It is religious and spiritual, yes, but far more. Since it is the birthplace of Lord Buddha and a pilgrimage site, Buddhism – its sacraments and ceremonies – flows through the streets and sites of Lumbini like blood through veins. It is a part of our everyday life, like to a Muslim living in Mecca or a Christian in Vatican. So when I heard from my friends Bikram Pandey and Sarad Pradhan – who had been to Pakistan on the Buddha Circuit Tourism – about the country’s Hindu and Buddhist monuments, I decided to go and explore our heritage there.
My Napalese friends were much surprised to see Hindu temples in Pakistan well preserved, an impression that you don’t get from news media. My visit itself threw up more surprises. I found Pakistan quite different from what I had perceived it to be. The roads were safe, the security situation much better than what I had expected; the infrastructure good and the people friendly.
Read more from source: A Buddhist’s pilgrimage to Pakistan
Pakistan in efforts to rejuvenate Taxila, one of most important archaeological sites in Asia; Raheela Nazir; Xinhua
Pakistan – Taxila
When it comes to the ancient history, Pakistan has its fair share of treasures of which the most prominent and undeniably important archaeological sites in South Asia is Taxila, a place where rich human civilizations rose and declined over the last five millennia.
Sadeed Arif, assistant professor of archaeology at the Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad, told Xinhua that Taxila was ruled by various empires over the centuries for its special location and also an important trade route in the times of yore. The ancient city used to be a regional or national capital.
Once strategically important place that linked Southern, Western and Central Asia regions to the West, Taxila was a meeting point of various cultures which include Achaemenids, Hellenistic, Mauryans, Indo-Greek, Kushan, Gupta, Huns and eventually the Muslims, said Arif, adding that different religions such as Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism had been practiced in Taxila.
World’s largest picture wall; Tania Qureshi; Daily Times
Pakistan – Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore
As you enter the imperial Lahore Fort through the British era built Postern Gate, you will be astounded by the gigantic wall in front of you which is 1450 feet long and 50 feet high. So now, you can imagine the grandeur and majesty of this wall. This is the world’s largest mural Picture Wall inside the Lahore Fort, and it is situated right here in Lahore, Pakistan.
Read more from source: World’s largest picture wall – Daily Times
Pakistan: Legends of Lahore; Bilal Hassan; Gulf News
Pakistan – Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore
The country’s second city is a melting pot of history and culture with plenty of options for discerning foodies…
Read more from source: Pakistan: Legends of Lahore
Piplan: a hidden jewel of ancient Taxila; Amjad Iqbal; Dawn
Pakistan – Taxila
Piplan, the ancient Buddhist monastic establishment in Taxila that was named for the thick peepal trees of the area, is a Buddhist archaeological jewel located in a calm valley that has stayed hidden from local and foreign tourists and the public, despite its unique landscape.
The ancient site lies at the foot of the hills between Mohra Maradu and Julian, the ancient Taxila university. According to Dr Mohammad Ashraf, the former director of the Taxila Institute of Asian Civilisation, the site was excavated in 1923-24, under Sir John Marshall, the director general of the Archaeological Survey of India.
Department of Archaeology and Museums Deputy Director Abdul Ghafour Lone said that later, study papers had revealed that archaeologists during the excavation had found the site belonged to two different periods.
Studies conducted by the archaeologists found that to the east is a courtyard of a monastery dating back to the late Partian or early Kushan times. It consists of an open quadrangle in the centre, with a range of cells on all four sides. Mr Lone added that in the middle of the courtyard is the basement of a square stupa.
US-funded Makli tomb preservation project completed; Express Tribune
Pakistan – Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta
Heritage sites remind us of historical experiences of humanity, says US consul-general.
The United States (US) recognises that the cultural heritage sites in Pakistan are essential reminders of the historical experiences of humanity and conservation efforts should be carried for the preservation of such sites so that they continue telling stories of the past.
This was said by US Consul-General Grace Shelton during her visit to Makli on Sunday to attend the completion ceremony of the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) project for the preservation of the tombs of Sultan Ibrahim and Amir Sultan Muhammad at the cemetery.
Makli is one of the greatest historical sites situated in Sindh. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) included Makli in the list of world heritage sites in 1981.
World’s oldest University started by Lord Rama’s nephew is now in Pakistan (even Chanakya studied there); Shruti Shrivastava; SpeakingTree
Pakistan – Taxila
Most people know and identify Taxila as the first ever University, where great scholars like Chanakya received their higher education, but did you know when and who built this sanctum of formal education?
It is said that Lord Rama before surrendering his life divided equal regions under the rule of his sons and nephews. He coroneted his sons, Luv and Kush as the crowning prince of Ayodhya and declared the coronation of Bharat’s son Taksha over Gandhara region.
Taksha during his reign build the first ever University, where greatest masters and scholars imparted and shared their knowledge and wisdom with those who yearned for higher education. The university was named after their King Taksha, hence got its name Taxila.
Like many of the great Indian thinkers and philosophers and eminent personalities, Chanakya also studied and taught at the first university of the world–Taxila.
Saving the lost city of Mohenjo Daro – Pakistan; AFP
Pakistan – Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro
If nothing is done to protect the ruins — already neglected and worn by time — they will fade into dust and obscurity.
The centre of a powerful ancient civilisation, Mohenjo Daro was one of the world’s earliest cities — a Bronze Age metropolis boasting flush toilets and a water and waste system to rival many in modern Pakistan.
Some 5,000 years on archaeologists believe the ruins could unlock the secrets of the Indus Valley people, who flourished around 3,000 BC in what is now India and Pakistan before mysteriously disappearing.
But they warn, if nothing is done to protect the ruins — already neglected and worn by time — they will fade to dust and obscurity, never taking their rightful place in history.
Reactive Monitoring Mission to the Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore, Pakistanl Unesco
Pakistan – Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore
Pakistan’s Vanishing History; Daud Khattak; The Diplomat
Photo: Daud Khattak
Pakistan’s 2,000-year-old historical treasures are under threat from religious extremists and smugglers.
Source: Pakistan’s Vanishing History
The ancient city that’s crumbling away; Razia Iqbal; BBC
Photo: Razia Iqbal
How the ancient city of Mohenjo Daro in Pakistan could be destroyed by neglect.
World Heritage: Lahore Fort in Eastern Pakistan; china.org.cn
Tourists visit Lahore Fort in eastern Pakistan’s Lahore on Jan. 24, 2015.
A New Life Or A Final Breath For World’s Largest Necropolis?; Zofeen Ebrahim; Mint Press
Photo: Mint Press
Unless Pakistan takes steps soon to fulfill its promises to international historical and cultural preservation agencies, an ancient graveyard — one of the world’s largest — may not be around for future generations to study and enjoy.
Source: A New Life Or A Final Breath For World’s Largest Necropolis?
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