Takht i Bahi

A domed chapel at Takht i Bahi

Main stupa base with surrounding chapels and niches

Takht-e-Bahi is a well-preserved Buddhist monastic complex located on a high hill in Tehsil Takht-e-Bahi of District Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The site covers an area of approximately 33 hectares and is accessed by a ten-minute uphill trek. The complex is divided into two main groups of structures, each containing distinct architectural and functional components of the monastery. Group I includes the Court of Many Stupas, the Main Stupa Court, the Monastery, the Conference Hall, the Lower Level Chambers, and the Court of Three Stupas. Group II comprises a covered staircase, a courtyard, and certain secular buildings. The entire complex is constructed using dressed and semi-dressed local stone blocks, set in lime and mud mortar, and built in Gandharan “diaper” masonry style.

The Court of Many Stupas forms the main entry point for visitors today. It is a large courtyard containing approximately thirty-five votive stupas, which are smaller commemorative structures built as acts of devotion, or to honor individuals or events. These stupas are predominantly square in shape, although circular and octagonal examples are also found within the court. Most of them were originally adorned with friezes and had decorative divisions marked by Indo-Corinthian columns, indicating Greek architectural influence. Cube-shaped niches with tapering domes are visible along the perimeter of this court, adding to the architectural richness. Corinthian pillars are also seen at the base of several votive stupas.

Many structures had upper storey as well

The Cluster of Votive stupas in the Court of Many Stupas

To the south of the Court of Many Stupas lies the Main Stupa Court. Oblong in shape, this courtyard measures approximately 56 feet by 45 feet. The main stupa itself stands on a square base, although its upper section has been destroyed. Surrounding the stupa are rows of chapels or niches, which feature corbelled domes, a common architectural element in the region.

North of the Court of Many Stupas is the Monastery, which lies on a higher level and is accessible via a flight of five steps. This section is among the largest within the complex and consists of a central quadrangular courtyard surrounded by monastic living cells. The courtyard, measuring 62 feet square on the inside, has fifteen cells arranged along three of its sides. Each cell was designed to house a single monk, suggesting a structured monastic lifestyle. Archaeological evidence indicates that the monastery had an upper storey, accessed through a narrow staircase, although only the remains of the ground floor have been preserved. The overall structure may have accommodated approximately thirty monks. A bathroom has also been found in this section, along with traces of domestic arrangements, indicating the residential function of the monastery. The central courtyard likely doubled as an assembly hall for the monks.

Adjacent to the monastery on the western side is a large conference hall. This hall has walls rising to a height of around thirty feet and served as a venue for general gatherings of the monastic community. The placement and size of this hall suggest its importance in the daily functioning of the monastic order.

Detail of a Votive Stupa

Another stupa complex has also been discovered within the site. This includes a central main stupa flanked by smaller votive stupas. Excavations at this location have yielded several sculptural fragments, including heads and feet of Buddha statues.

A unique feature of the site is an ‘underground’ section of the monastery. This part comprises two corridors lined with small dark cells on both sides. The cells are accessed through corbelled arches and feature small openings constructed in the same corbelled style. These enclosed spaces may have been used for deep meditation or for storing food grains, reflecting the practical and spiritual dimensions of the monastic complex.

Together, these architectural and archaeological features make Takht-e-Bahi an exemplary model of Gandharan Buddhist architecture, reflecting both religious devotion and thoughtful planning in monastic life.