Gandhara Gallery
Gandhara is the name for an ancient region that is presently situated in the Peshawar Valley. In this region, the Mahayana Buddhist religious sculptures, known as Gandharan art, originated and flourished during the first five centuries of the Christian era. Popularly believed to have been later destroyed by the White Huns in the 5th century A.D. Gandharan art developed during the rule of Kushan emperors and under the impact of the Philhellenic dynasties of Greeks preceding Kushans in this region. Gandharan art is thought to have introduced the first figural representations of the Buddha.
The gallery showcases a number of friezes, panels and sculptures depicting the life story of the Buddha. These include narratives reliefs of his previous incarnations, birth, youth, enlightenment, preaching of the law (Dharma) and death (Mahaparinirvana). Beyond these, along the other walls of the gallery, are the statues of the Buddha and Bodhisattavas, panels and pieces showing foreign influence, architectural fragments, stucco and terracotta sculptures. Highlights of this gallery include the famous Fasting Buddha, the Miracle of Saravasti now usually identified as Sukhavati Heaven; a small Buddha head with traces of original gilding and the standing figure of Athena.
The friezes and other pieces of a reconstructed Stupa in the center of the gallery are from Sikri near Jamal Garhi, District Mardan.
