Raw data
"Bhamala is situated at the very head of the Haro Valley, made beautiful by the bends of the river in the background of surrounding hills having prehistoric caves. The monastic establishment came into existence of coins of Indo assarians and Huns. The nain [main? - tmc] stupa is unique if its kind, having a cruciform plan, consisting of a tall square base for the dome, above which off-set projections for the steps can be seen on all four sides. The Corinthian pilasters divide the plinth into bays. In one of them was found Buddha in sleeping pose, now in Taxila Museum. The monastery is of the Jaulian type."
http://www.buddhistravel.com/index.php?id=61,263,0,0,1,0 citing (http://www.heritage.gov.pk/html_Pages/chapter-IX.htm)
"The monastery was founded about the 4th century A.D. and may have been destroyed about 100 years later when the Huns invaded India and crossed this region. Countless monasteries all over northern Pakistan fell prey to them.
Another theory states that the monastery was left deserted due to economic reasons. Whatever the truth, the ruins are spectacular. This stupa is one of several ruined structures on the hill."
http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Asia/Pakistan/West/North-West_Frontier/photo525079.htm
"Bhamala not only marked with a unique cruciform shaped Buddhist Stupa and a monastic establishment of 4th 5th century but also marked as the first halting place for trade caravans embarking on the northeastern route from Taxila. It is evident from the number of votive Stupas constructed on the bank of the rivet Haro that sweeps the site at its base on three sides in sharp bends before entering the open valley. […]
The monastery having an entrance on the west is of a usual style and located cast of the Stupa, on a lower level, with assembly hall, kitchen and stores in the eastern end. A flight of step is located in the kitchen. Opposite Bhamala, On the other side of the river remains of another Stupa and a monastery (Bhamala-2 - tmciolek) are lying buried under the river silt."
http://www.geocities.ws/looksmiles/bhamala.html
Input by: tmciolek, July 19, 2012
Final data (and their sources)
Last updated: 28 Dec 2012
Lat/Long coordinates' accuracy:
The monastery in question is assumed to be situated actually no farther than 200 m from the point defined by the coordinates below.
General location of the Bhamala-1 monastery, PK.
lat=33.8330 long=72.9766
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2012.
Google Map link:
Final data - explanatory notes
1. Monastery's name
- Bhamala-1 monastery - http://www.buddhistravel.com/index.php?id=61,263,0,0,1,0 citing (http://www.heritage.gov.pk/html_Pages/chapter-IX.htm)
2. Monastery's modern country & province
- Pakistan: Punjab
3. Monastery's alternative/historical names
- Bhamala Sangharama - http://www.printsasia.com/book/Plates-John-Marshall
4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates
- Bhamala-1 monastery, approx., Lat 33.8330 Long 72.9766 - based on the visual identification of the site in maps and satellite photographs, http://maps.google.com/.
- Some 100 m SW of the monastery's building there are remnants of the stupa - tmciolek, 20 Jul 2012.
5. Other known nearby Buddhist monasteries
- The monastery is a part of the Taxila monastic cluster
- Other monasteries from the Taxila cluster include:
- Badalpur monastery
- Bhallar monastery
- Bhamala-2 monastery
- Chhema monastery
- Dharmarajika monastery
- Ghai monastery
- Giri-1 monastery
- Giri-2 monastery
- Jaulian monastery
- Jinan Wali Dheri monastery
- Kalawan monastery
- Kunala monastery
- Karmala monastery
- Lalchak monastery
- Mohra Moradu monastery
- Pippala monastery
6. Ancient name of the known nearest city, town, or village
- TAXILA
- Close to the modern city of Wah - Lat 33.7983 Long 72.6956 http://www.fallingrain.com/world/PK/4/Wah.html
7. The settlement's alternative/historical names
- Takṣaśilā - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxila
- Takshaçila (Prince of the Serpent Tribe) (Sanskrit) - http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/139
- Takkasilâ (Pali) - http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/139
- Taxila (Greek) - http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/139
- Taxilla (Roman Latin) - http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/139
- Chu-ch'a-shi-lo (Chinese) - http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/139
- Sirkap (Severed Head) - http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/139
- Sirkup - http://maps.google.com/
8. The settlement's coordinates
- Taxila Ruins of Sirkup, approx., Lat 33.755 Long 72.829 - based on the visual identification of the site in maps, http://maps.google.com/ - tmciolek, 13 Jul 2012.
9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition
- [missing data]
10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition
- [missing data]
11. Date-early
- Approx. 4th century CE - http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Asia/Pakistan/West/North-West_Frontier/photo525079.htm
- MBM chrono-tag 0300-32p 0333-66p 0367-99p - tmciolek 28 Dec 2012
- 0300-32p 0333-66p 0367-99p 0400-32p 0433-66p 0467-99p dated-el
12. Date-intermediate
- [missing data]
13. Date-late
- Apparently destroyed by the White Huns some 100 years after it was first built - http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Asia/Pakistan/West/North-West_Frontier/photo525079.htm
- MBM chrono-tag 0400-32p 0433-66p 0467-99p - tmciolek 28 Dec 2012
14. Details of contacts with other monasteries
- Architectural affinities with Jaulian monastery - http://www.buddhistravel.com/index.php?id=61,263,0,0,1,0 citing (http://www.heritage.gov.pk/html_Pages/chapter-IX.htm)
- The monastery is situated v. close to halting place for trade caravans embarking on the northeastern route from Taxila. It is evident from the number of votive Stupas constructed on the bank of the rivet Haro that sweeps the site at its base on three sides in sharp bends before entering the open valley. […] http://www.geocities.ws/looksmiles/bhamala.html
15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery
- Archaeological, architectural.
16. Additional notes
- The site is fairly well preserved and it it possible to count the number of dormitory cells - tmciolek, 21 Jul 2012.
17. Corrections & addenda to this page were kindly provided by
- [missing data]
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