Raw data
Giri Fort and Monastery : It was built in the fifth century perhaps as a stronghold for the thousands of monks in Taxila Valley. About 500 meters of the fort wall still stands. Part of the monastery is also in good condition.
http://oneworldpakistan.com/trips_taxilla.php
139-009
Giri complex of monuments
Punjab, Pakistan
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/139/multiple=1&unique_number=153
"The glen of Giri is located 8 km north-east of Taxila, at the foot of Margallah. It is approached through a rough torrent bed near two villages named Khurram Gujar and Khurram Paracha.
Two groups of Buddhist establishments are found here, a fort, a Muslim Ziarat and mosques, all ranging from the early Kushana period to the time of Akbar(1556-1605). The Buddhist constructions fall into two groups- the eastern and the western. The eastern group, which stands just above the spring, consists of a stupa in the north and monastery in the south. The western group consists of a stupa of square shape in the north and a monastery on the east.
To the north of the monasteries lie mosques, Ziarats, and a rocky hill strengthened by a fort wall having semi-circular bastions. Inside there are remains of dwellings and other structures. The fortification belong to a time much later than that of the Huns.
There are remains of two monasteries and stupas, one on the top of the hill [= Giri-1 - tmciolek] and other below it [= Giri-2 - tmciolek] . The remains of Giri Fort are perched on the hill top, with spring water falling within it. The fort was built in 5th century by the Buddhist monks. Later, it was used by Sultan Masud, son of Sultan Mahmud of Gazni."
http://www.buddhistravel.com/index.php?id=61,267,0,0,1,0 citing http://www.heritage.gov.pk/html_Pages/chapter-IX.htm
Input by: tmciolek, July 13, 2012
Final data (and their sources)
Last updated: 07 Apr 2013
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 Giri-2 monastery, PK.
Lat 33.7279 Long 72.8805
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2012.
Google Map link:
Final data - explanatory notes
1. Monastery's name
- Giri-2 monastery -
2. Monastery's modern country & province
- Pakistan: Punjab
3. Monastery's alternative/historical names
- Ghri monastery - http://maps.google.com/
4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates
- Giri-2, approx., Lat 33.7279 Long 72.88353 - based on the visual identification of the site in maps, http://maps.google.com/ - tmciolek, 25 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-1 monastery
- Bhamala-2 monastery
- Chhema monastery
- Dharmarajika monastery
- Ghai monastery
- Giri-1 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
- The fort was built in 5th century by the Buddhist monks - http://www.buddhistravel.com/index.php?id=61,267,0,0,1,0 citing http://www.heritage.gov.pk/html_Pages/chapter-IX.htm
- MBM chrono-tag 0400-32p 0433-66p 0467-99p - tmciolek 07 Apr 2013
- 0400-32p 0433-66p 0467-99p dated-e
12. Date-intermediate
- [missing data]
13. Date-late
- Later, it was used by Sultan Masud, son of Sultan Mahmud of Gazni - http://www.buddhistravel.com/index.php?id=61,267,0,0,1,0 citing http://www.heritage.gov.pk/html_Pages/chapter-IX.htm
14. Details of contacts with other monasteries
- [missing data]
15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery
- archaeological, architectural
16. Additional notes
- [missing data] (incl. details of the size of the monastic population)
17. Corrections & addenda to this page were kindly provided by
- [missing data]
end of page
