Gandhara was an ancient kingdom of Peshawar valley, extending between the Swat valley and Potohar plateau regions of Pakistan as well as Jalalabad district of northeastern Afghanistan.

It was ruled by a number of different rulers. Its capital was Taksashila or Taxila

The ruler of Taxila, Ambhi, had made peace with Alexander of Menader, the Bactrian ruler and Kanishka, the Kushan ruler.

Gandhara became a centre of learning with a university at Taxila where scholars and teachers came in search of knowledge. Kautilya, the author of Arthashastra had also studied at Taxila .

Evidence of the Stone Age human inhabitants of Gandhara, including stone tools and burnt bones, was discovered at Sanghao near Mardan in area caves. The artefacts are approximately 15,000 years old. More recent excavations point to 30,000 years before the present.

Some pictures of Gandhara Art