Pakistan to exhibit its Buddhist heritage

ICNS, April 2, 2006

Amritsar, Punjab (India) In an attempt to attract tourists from largely Buddhists nations in South East Asia, Pakistan plans to have week-long program to exhibit its Buddhist heritage.

Titled "Gandhara Week" the program aims to showcase Buddhist heritage and boost tourism in the country, Pakistan's Tourism Minister G.G. Jamal told media.

He said Pakistan was home to some of the world’s oldest archaeological and religious sites, and this could help it attract a large number of tourist, especially from the Buddhist countries from East and South East Asia.

Jamal said that previous year also "Gandhara Week" was held to boost tourism in the country. At that time a large number of foreign tourists, including scholars, historians, archaeologists, journalists and writers from all over the world visited Pakistan to participate in the event.

He said, this year, the event will start from April 24, for which foolproof arrangements would be made, reports the Daily Times.

The history of Gandhara shows it as an ancient center of Buddhism, the cradle of the world famous Gandhara sculpture, culture and learning. The archaeological remains found in Taxila, Peshawar, Charsadda, Takht Bhai, Swat Valley along the ancient Silk Route has well recorded the history of Gandhara.

Lying in Haro River valley, Taxila, the main center of Gandhara, is over 3,000 years old as it had attracted the attention of the great conqueror, Alexander in 327 BC, when it was a province of the powerful Achaemenian Empire.

It later came under the Mauryan dynasty and reached a remarkable matured level of development under the great Ashoka. Then appeared the Indo-Greek descendants of Alexander's warriors and finally came the most creative period of Gandhara.

The Kushan dynasty was established in about 50 A.D. during the next 20 years, Taxila, Peshawar and Swat became a renowned center of learning, philosophy, art and trade.

Pilgrims and travelers were attracted to Gandhara from as far as China and Greece. In fifth century AD, the White Huns snuffed out the last of the successive civilizations that held unbroken sway in this region for several centuries.

source: http://www.theindiancatholic.com/news_read.asp?nid=1388

Buddhist tourists = money. The Bangkok Post had an article on a visit to one of the sites in Pakistan recently. It must be taking off.