Main image: Muhammad Zahir, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Getting There
Mansehra, Ashoka Rocks is the historical place of the Ashoka Religion in the district of Mansehra and it’s located at the distance of 104 km from Islamabad via Hazara Motorway and from Peshawar 207 km
By Air: The nearest airport that can be used for air travel to Mansehra, Ashoka Rocks he’s Islamabad International Airport
By Train: If you want to go to Mansehra, Ashoka Rocks by train from any part of the country, there is no train available to go to Mansehra, Ashoka Rocks So you can get off at Rawalpindi Railway station or Peshawar station and go Mansehra, Ashoka Rocks by car, bus and Jeep
By Road: Through a car, bus and Jeep you can reach Mansehra, Ashoka Rocks from Islamabad via Hazara Motorway in one and half hours. The distance of Mansehra, Ashoka Rocks from Peshawar is 207 Km and from Islamabad is 104 km.
What to Expect
Mansehra Ashoka Rocks are one of the north sides of town is Mansehra’s tourist attraction, three granite boulders on which 14 edicts were engraved by order of the Mauryan king Ashoka in the 3rd century BC. Appalled by the destruction wreaked by his military campaigns, Ashoka converted to Buddhism and tried to dictate a new morality based on piety, moderation, tolerance, and respect for life. He was greatly revered, but his reforms (and his empire) didn’t last much longer than he did.
History
Mansehra Rock Edicts are fourteen edicts of the Mauryan emperor Ashoka, inscribed on rocks in Mansehra in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The edicts are cut into three boulders and date back to the 3rd century BC and they are written in the ancient Indic script of Gandhara culture, Kharosthi. The edicts mention aspects of Ashoka’s dharma. The site was submitted for inclusion in the World Heritage Sites and is currently in the tentative list.
Ashoka was dismayed by the destruction caused by his military during the conquest of Kalingas and in remorse later converted to Buddhism. Following his conversion, Ashoka visited sacred Buddhist locations throughout the Mauryan Empire and erected multiple pillars bearing his inscriptions of a new morality law.
Mansehra Rock Edicts are one of the 33 inscriptions of Edicts of Ashoka describing the expansion of Buddhism and his Law of Piety or dharma. The fourteen edicts contain text in the Kharosthi script which is an ancient script used in the Gandhara. The Kharoṣṭhi script was first deciphered by James Prinsep after which the Edicts of Ashoka in Kharosthi script were translated.
Emperor Ashoka won the Kalinga War, a battle fought between him and the Mauryan army led by King of Raja Anantha, but the price was high. The war took a tremendous toll on life and property. More than 100,000 soldiers were killed, and 150,000 civilians were deported.
Facilities Available
- It is safe for families.
- Accommodation in town and hilly areas are clean and affordable.
- You can enjoy the hills, greenery, and peace from your hotel and resorts.
- The road to the main towns is paved and accessible throughout the summers.
- Jeep route takes you to the beautiful meadows and valleys. (if you don’t want to hike)
- Tourism Department helps the Tourist/ Visitors through providing broachers in both Urdu and English languages. The local Police and the local Guides can speak multi languages (i.e local languages, Urdu, English and some of them can speak Chinese also).
- Popular tourist locations have most of the facilities available including eateries, shops, dhabas, washrooms, guesthouses, and car/jeep rentals.
- For hikers and trekkers, all the equipment and tents can be hired in the towns along with porters, local guides and horses, or mule.
- Filling stations are available Mansehra which includes Petrol and Diesel.
- Taxis are available in Mansehra on daily rent basis.
- Shops are available in Mansehra
