What happened
A delegation of tourists, historians and cultural enthusiasts from South Korea visited Peshawar Museum, spending hours in its main hall — originally built in 1907 as Victoria Hall during the British colonial era — examining its collection of ancient Gandhara art. The group studied rare schist stone sculptures, sacred Buddha relics, ancient coins, terracotta figurines and panels depicting the life, birth and spiritual journey of Prince Siddhartha.
The artefacts on display were unearthed from key archaeological sites including Takht-i-Bahi, Sahri Bahlol and Jamal Garhi. One visiting guest told Dawn that standing among the masterpieces felt like “walking directly through the very origins of Mahayana Buddhism”, and described the shared spiritual history carved into the stones as a link between Northeast Asia and ancient Gandhara.
Briefing the delegation, Dr Abdul Samad, Director General of Archaeology and Museums, said the provincial government’s top priority remains the scientific preservation of historical sites alongside the active promotion of religious tourism. He said that by opening its doors to international delegations and scholars, Pakistan was showing the world its identity as a welcoming hub of shared history. Museum curators also told the visitors that systematic documentation, digital archiving and structural restoration work are currently under way, designed to help international researchers, historians and Buddhist pilgrims who visit the province.
What it means for travellers
This is a useful reminder that Pakistan’s heritage trail extends well beyond the northern mountains. Peshawar Museum holds one of the world’s finest Gandhara collections, and the visit shows it is open, curated to a high standard and actively welcoming international visitors. For travellers flying into Pakistan for a Gilgit-Baltistan trip, Peshawar and its Gandhara sites — Takht-i-Bahi, Sahri Bahlol and the museum itself — make a strong cultural stop on the way north or on the way home.
It also signals where official effort is going: preservation plus religious tourism. Buddhist pilgrims from South Korea, Sri Lanka and other countries are a growing visitor segment, and the documentation and restoration work under way should make the sites easier to visit and understand. Travellers interested in Gandhara should allow a full day for Peshawar — the museum, the old city and a site visit such as Takht-i-Bahi cannot be done justice in a flying visit.
What to watch
- Whether the visit leads to any formal heritage or tourism partnership between Pakistan and South Korea.
- Progress on the museum’s documentation, digital archiving and restoration projects.
- Any new visitor facilities or guided programmes for Buddhist pilgrims at Peshawar Museum and the Gandhara sites.
- Further international delegations visiting Gandhara sites in the coming months.
Source: Dawn, “S. Korean delegation explores Gandhara heritage at Peshawar Museum”
