Overview

The most famous civilization of Ghandhara comprised essentially the Peshawar valley including the present district of the Peshawar. Mardan and swat on the west bank of Indus in the NWFP of Pakistan .its earliest capital was push kalawati present Charsada in Peshawar district. Ghandhara is mentioned in the for the first time in the Rig-veda,the oldest book of Arians Ghandhara region had been the centre of Budhism and cradle of world famous Ghandhara sculpture , culture, art and learning. The archaeologist remains of Ghandhara found in Taxila, Peshawar, Charasadda. Takht-e-bai and Swat. The rock carving of Ghandhara along the ancient Silk Road (KKH) have well recorded history of Gandhara. Gandhara remained under control of Achaemenian Empire later on it came under the Mourian dynasty and reached a remarkable matured level of development under the great Ashoka. After Mourian dynasty Bactrain Greeks or indo-Greeks descendants of Alexander’s warrior ruled Ghandhara. After those Scythians a nomadic tribe ruled Ghandhara .Then the Parthians overthrew them and became the masters of Ghandhara .Finally Ghandhara came under the control of most creative dynasty known as Kushan dynasty. During this age Ghandhara enjoyed its greatest prosperity and art reached its climax. Peshawar and Swat became the renowned Centre of art and trade. Pilgrims and travelers were attracted to Ghandhara from different in this age. In the fifth century A.D the White Huns, a barbaric tribe from central Asia trampled Ghandhara and carried fire where ever they went, and Ghandhara never recovered after their fierce attack.