Пәкістанның ежелгі буддалық монастының археологиялық орталығы – Такт-и-Бахи

Archaeological site of an ancient Buddhist monastery in Pakistan

Takht i Bahi (Pashto/), is an Indo Parthian archaeological site of an ancient Buddhist monastery in Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The site is considered among the most important relics of Buddhism in all of what was once Gandhara, and was in use until the 7th century. Takht i Bahi was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980.

A monastery under the domain of Purusapura which was also a center for Buddhist learning, the origin of the name Takht i Bahi is uncertain. Local belief postulates that site got its name from two wells on the hill, or the springs nearby. In Persian, Takht means 'top' or 'throne' while bahi means 'spring' or 'water'. When combined, its meaning is 'spring from the top' or 'high spring', and there were two springs on the top of mountains. Another meaning suggested is 'throne of origin'.

The ruins are located about from Mardan in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. It is located around 500 feet (152 m) atop the small hill and around from the village bazar. It is proven by an inscriptions found bearing the name of Gondophares (2046CE). The first modern historical reference to these ruins was made in 1836 by a French officer who referred to the Buddhist remains in a village named Mazdoorabad. The site underwent a major restoration in the 1920s.

The villages of Thordher (Old name Said Ghani Kalae), Ghafe, Lund Khwar, Sher Garh, Saroo Shah, Sehri Bahlol, Pathai, Mazdoorabad, Fazl e abad, Gangai, Hathian, Jalala, Pirsaddi, Takkar and Mashal Khan Kalai are other historical places in the vicinity of Takht i Bahi. The most historical location in the era is Sehri Bahlol. The monastery is situated on Malakand Road. The word "Sehri Bahlol" has been explained by various people in different ways. Local people claim that this is a Hindko word meaning "Sir Bahlol", a prominent political and religious leader of the area. However, the name is not as old as the village of Sehri Bahlol.