Takht-i-Bahi
A view of the site's main cluster of ruins | |
| Location | Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 34°17′10″N 71°56′48″E / 34.28611°N 71.94667°E |
| Type | Settlement |
| Area | ... |
| History | |
| Founded | 1st century CE |
| Abandoned | 7th century CE |
| Official name | Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi and Neighbouring City Remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | iv |
| Designated | 1980 (4th session) |
| Reference no. | 140 |
| Region | Asia-Pacific |
Takht-i-Bahi (Pashto/Urdu: تختِ باہی, lit. 'throne of the water spring'), 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.
The monastery was founded in the 1st century CE, and was in use until the 7th century. The complex is regarded by archaeologists as being particularly representative of the architecture of Buddhist monastic centers from its era. Takht-i-Bahi was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1980, with UNESCO describing it as "exceptionally well-preserved."