Taxila: History, Former Names & Timeline
Ancient city of Gandhara where Persian, Greek, Mauryan and Kushan cultures met; a renowned centre of learning in ancient India.
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Former names of Taxila
| From | Name | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 600 BC | Takshashila |
Timeline of Taxila
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 326 BC | The king of Taxila submits to Alexander |
| 180 BC | Indo-Greek kings rule Gandhara (about this date) |
| AD 630 | Xuanzang finds the city in decline when he visits |
| 1980 | The ruins become a World Heritage Site |
Who ruled Taxila
Derived from the border maps; each row runs until the next recorded border change.
| Period | State |
|---|---|
| 500 BC–401 BC | Gandhāra |
| 400 BC–324 BC | Hindu kingdoms |
| 323 BC–301 BC | Empire of Alexander |
| 300 BC–201 BC | Seleucid Kingdom |
| 200 BC–101 BC | Bactria |
| 100 BC–2 BC | Kushan Empire |
| 1 BC–499 | Suren Kingdom |
| 500–599 | Kushan Principalities |
| 600–699 | Hindu kingdoms |
| 700–799 | Kingdom of Kashmir |
| 800–899 | Abbasid Caliphate |
| 900–999 | Samanid Empire |
| 1000–1099 | Unclaimed / no data |
| 1100–1199 | Karkhanids |
| 1200–1299 | Buyid dynasty |
| 1300–1491 | Sultanate of Delhi |
| 1492–1499 | Punjab |
| 1500–1599 | Sultanate of Delhi |
| 1600–1782 | Mughal Empire |
| 1783–1799 | Lahore |
| 1800–1814 | Sikhs |
| 1815–1879 | Maratha Confederacy |
| 1880–1944 | British Raj |
| 1945–today | Pakistan |
Battles and sites near Taxila
- Battle of Hydaspes · 326 BC
Famous people of Taxila
| Lived | Person | |
|---|---|---|
| c. 340 BC – 297 BC | Chandragupta Maurya | Founder of the Maurya Empire |
| AD 602 – AD 664 | Xuanzang | Buddhist monk and translator |
Nearby cities
Further reading
Questions about Taxila
What was Taxila called in the past?
Taxila has been known as Takshashila (from 600 BC). Its present name dates from 600 BC.
Which states have ruled Taxila?
On the historical border maps from 500 BC to today, Taxila lies within 21 different states: Gandhāra, Hindu kingdoms, Empire of Alexander, Seleucid Kingdom, Bactria, Kushan Empire, Suren Kingdom, Kushan Principalities, Kingdom of Kashmir, Abbasid Caliphate and others.
What are the key dates in the history of Taxila?
326 BC: The king of Taxila submits to Alexander. 180 BC: Indo-Greek kings rule Gandhara (about this date). AD 630: Xuanzang finds the city in decline when he visits. 1980: The ruins become a World Heritage Site.
Which famous people are connected with Taxila?
Chandragupta Maurya (founder of the maurya empire, c. 340 BC – 297 BC); Xuanzang (buddhist monk and translator, AD 602 – AD 664).
Last updated 9 November 2026. Sources: border data from historical-basemaps, land and rivers from Natural Earth; texts written for Chronica Maps from standard reference works. How we make the maps.