Sirkap (Cut Head) Taxila

Sirkap Taxila

‘Sirkap’ is one of the excavated sites in the Taxila group of historical sites. It was found to be an ancient planned urban settlement on Greek -style network of a city-state with a main road running through the city center and all social places lined up on the main road including a temple, a sun watch temple, a jewelry shop, a water well a market place and a double-headed Eagle Tower.. 15 streets originate from the main road that progress away perpendicular to the main road. Sirkap was a walled city with a main gate and a watch tower at the entrance. The length of the wall is believed to be 5.6 kilometers with a thickness of 4.5 to 6.4 meters.

This city-state was built by the Graeco – Bactrian King Demetrius around 180 B.C.
It was rebuilt by King Menander in the 2^nd century B.C. Some scholars are of the view that its design is similar to Macedonia’s Olynthus.
After an earthquake in 30 A.D., the Parthians renovated the city and built the “Double-headed Eagle Tower’ and “Sun Temple”.
Later the city came under the Kushan empire added another city “SIRSUKh “ to Taxila. The round Stupa at Sirkap is believed to be one of the oldest stupas in the Indian Subcontinent.

It is a soulful experience to visit this skillfully designed and artfully constructed city-state with all the civic amenities. It helps you to connect with the thought process of the ancient civilizations with healing and security at the center stage of the city architecture.