PESHAWAR, May 31: A scholar has said that the life stories of Buddha, carved in stones, were first written in Gandhara.

Speaking to a 15-member delegation of Friends of the Arts and Museums of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prof Fidaullah Sehrai, former chairman of the archaeology and fine arts department, University of Peshawar, said the Gandhara stupa was the forerunner of the Chinese pagodas. He said Buddhist art had flourished in the times of Kanishka, a great king of Gandhara.

The delegation was given a guided tour to Budhist sites and museums in Taxila, Peshawar and Takht-i-Bahi.

Prof Sehrai explained the evolution of the architecture of Buddhist monasteries in South Asia.He said sculptural decoration was attached to the gateway of Sanchi and Bharhut in India, while in Gandhara the main body of the stupa was decorated from top to bottom with the sculptures.

“The writings of Chinese pilgrims Fahien, Sung Yun and Hiuen Tsang have added to our knowledge about the history, art and religion of Gandhara,” he said.—Bureau