The City Lost in History

This is a very interesting short film on the city of Taxila, well-known in Buddhist history as the capital of the Gandhāran civilisation, which played such a crucial role in the devleopment of Buddhist culture.

The film mainly focuses on its Buddhist history, and the rise and fall of the civilisation that flourished there, and has interview with Pakistani historians, archeologists and curators who are doing their best for its preservation.

The film also narrates some of the local legends, such as how King Asoka’s son had his eyesight restored at Taxila, and how it subsequently became a famous place for eye treatments, which it continues to have till this day.

Asoka also built a stupa for the Buddha’s relics at Taxila, and there are a number of other stories related in the film. We also hear from local artisans, who still produce Buddhist arts, but are struggling to continue their traditions.

The city was eventually ransacked by the Huns invading from the north, and it fell into ruins. The film ends on a dire note stating that modern destruction of the landscape through rock mining is causing more destruction that even the Huns did.