Hi sir this is quoted from that archaeology thread ..................... I have always wanted to visit those sites in Taxila but could not figure out the directions (call it my incompetence), as soon as I reach the Taxila museum gate I fail to gather any clue which direction should be followed to reach these sites. Plus that Taxila museum it does not seem to be open for general public? Once I tried they did not let me take my car inside and park there. I would appreciate if you could help me with the directions .............. I think this is one of those over the weekend trips I can make with my family.
First things first sir, the taxila museum IS for general public and it is open to all. No worries about that. However parking is not allowed inside the museum. I think this is why you had some trouble. There is this museum parking outside the boundary fence, right in front of the Museum. When you are on Khanpur road going towards the museum the Museum gate will come on your right hand side (i am assuming that you are going there from South side (Pindi/Islamabad) and not coming from north ( Haripur/Abbotabad ) while the parking is on the left hand side, across the road. It is completely secure so no need to worry about it.
Things to see: Obviously, you will want to visit those halls with all the ancient Gandhara civilizations relics on display. If you are with family chances are a guide will approach you himself and show you the two three smaller locked rooms as well (coins and other such things in them). I wont go into details, you can see that all for yourself. However one thing most people miss are the airy laws with ages old tress providing an excellent relief from sun. Do visit those lawns on the back side of Museum (you will normally get out of the halls from the back door so you will be there anyway). Just like most of our things those are not well maintained either but i do love that tree cover and airy space.
Archaeology Sites: Taxila is full of such sites but there are two or three important places that you need to visit when on tour. Once you have been there, you can say you have seen all of taxila.
I will try to cover those three and give you simplified directions to get there (they really are simple for me as i spent 26 years of my 30 year life in that place
so if any confusions please do let me know)
Dharmarajika Stupa:
This one is just about 10 min drive from the Museum. I am assuming that you know you way to the Museum. To go to the Museum you take the Khanpur road from GT road right after the Margalla hills. That road passes in front of HIT and gets you to Taxila Museum in about 15 min maximum. Right in front of the museum gate you will see a road that goes on your right hand side from that Khanpur road that you originally came from. Take that road, and just in a minute or so you will come at a fork. Take the left hand side road and drive for about 5 minutes and you will come to the stupa site on your left hand side. You won’t miss it because there is a board mentioning it (blue color board). Take the small cement track to your left, park somewhere in shadow and walk to the site (just a few meters)
It is an amazing place, sits on a mound and there are some huge tress on one side where you can have a nice family picnic. (it is quite an airy place)
Map
Sirkap Excavations:
This was the main city in the region at that time and is a must visit when you are on a tour to archeological sites in Taxila. Luckily, this one again is not more then 10 minutes drive from Museum. Direction, simple again!!
Remember that Khanpur road you took from the GT road to reach the Musems? (the one in Yellow above) just go past the Museum and keep going. Right after the museum you will come to the handicrafts market. Shops on you right hand side displaying Taxila's famous hand made marble and stone pieces. You must buy something as without that the visit is incomplete. A nice 8 to 12 inch tall pair of Onyx vase should cost you around 1500 Rs.
If bhabhi is there she might be interested in:
Anyway, back to the topic you just go past that Museum, through the market and keep driving on the Khanpur road for about 8 minutes. Once you are through that market area and as soon as the shops etc end you will see fields on your right hand side (lower then the road level) and immediately after that a water stream (again it is quite lower than road level so you may not notice it). Please note that this will be after driving for some 7 8 minutes past the Museum. You will cross the bridge on that small stream and immediately on your right hand there is a road going to the site. Again, a huge board clearly marks the spot. Take that road and in a minute you will be at gate of Sirkap.
Park there, it is secure, be aware of the "guides" you do not need them. Visit that other thread you mentioned about Sirkap and all the information is there. Also those supposed Murthys of Buddah that those guides will try to tell you are NOT FROM THE SITE but from that market you just crossed
you do not need them!!
Park the car and visit the Sirkap site, the spots inside are marked with boards so you wont have any trouble guiding yourself around.
https://defence.pk/threads/archaeology-in-pakistan-thread.437102/#post-8459742
One little tip or hint for you. About 300 meters
after that road on right to Sirkap there is the UET Taxila gate on left side. So if you come across that UET Taxila gate you can be sure that you have missed the Sirkap road
Suggestion: Avoid going there in afternoon and there is not much vegetation/big trees to provide shadow. Evening are perfect as it is a vast plane and you will normally be welcomed by cool breeze.
Things to see: Well the whole site. It takes an hour or so to visit it all. Plus i have already told you about those handicraft shops, you must visit them and you will enjoy that (just be ready to bargain).
Plus in Sirkap, when you enter the site you are on what used to be the main boulevard with houses shops and temples on both sides. IF you just keep going on that track, go past those excavation you will see a small hill right in front of you. It takes about an hour to reach that and on top of that hill are the remains of what used to be the Kings palace at that time. It is quite a long walk and frankly, the place is also a must visit but i am telling you just in case. One good thing about that is that it is on a hill and once on top the view is nice.
(perhaps it was for me only as i could see as i could make sense of! Wont be that great for you, not sure. I liked it however, specially the evenings)
NOTE: You can cover all this in a single day tour as you can see all three sites are right next to each other.
Nice thread, i will need the info here and questions coming up to plan my trip.
Sure thing! Shoot them sir, i hope someone here will have all the right answers for you.
. Not sure if it will be upto that Fairy Meadows and Deosai mark but Kashmirs and Swats are covered. 
