Piplan

Name of Monument: Piplan

Location: Taxila

Date of Construction: 1st to 3rd Century AD

The ancient site of Piplan lies at the foot of the hills between Mohra Maradu and Julian. The site was excavated in 1923-24, under Sir John Marshall, the director general of the Archaeological Survey of India. Studies conducted by the archaeologists found that to the east is a courtyard of a monastery dating back to the late Partian or early Kushan times. It consists of an open quadrangle in the center, with a range of cells on all four sides. There are also remains of a square stupa in the middle of the courtyard. The early monastery, which was constructed of diaper masonry, fell to ruin before the 5th century, and a second monastery was later constructed on the western side.