Gandhāra (kingdom)

Gandhāra was an ancient kingdom located in the Peshawar Basin, in the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent (modern-day Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan). Its heartland was the fertile plain centered on Peshawar, with extensions into the Swat Valley and Potohar Plateau.

Gandhāra flourished from approximately the 6th century BCE to the 11th century CE. It was a significant center of early Buddhism, particularly during the Kushan Empire (1st to 5th centuries CE), and developed a distinctive art style known as Gandhāra art, which blended Hellenistic, Persian, and Indian influences. This art form is characterized by its Graeco-Buddhist imagery.

Historically, Gandhāra was ruled by various empires and dynasties, including the Achaemenid Empire, the Mauryan Empire, the Indo-Greeks, the Sakas, the Parthians, the Kushans, the White Huns, and the Hindu Shahi. Its strategic location along major trade routes, including the Silk Road, contributed to its economic prosperity and cultural exchange.

The region's importance diminished after the invasions of Mahmud of Ghazni in the 11th century, marking the end of the kingdom's independent political entity. The legacy of Gandhāra, however, continues to be seen in its archaeological sites, Buddhist monasteries, and artistic traditions. Key sites include Taxila, Pushkalavati, and Takht-i-Bahi.