Chronological Study of Plinth Forms of Stupas in Central Gandhara, Taxila and Swat

Stupas in Gandhara, particularly those at Taxila and Swat, exhibit distinct chronological transformations in their plinth forms, transitioning from single-story to multi-story designs between the 1st and 3rd centuries AD. While single-story stupas dominated early Buddhist temple construction (1st century), multi-story variants emerged later (2nd century) and persisted through the 5th century, notably at Butkara I. Regional variations were observed: Taxila showed an earlier adoption of both single and multi-story forms with increasing height over time, while Swat featured unique double-story designs across all sites. The study classified plinth forms based on physical characteristics—single, double (equal or smaller upper story), and multiple stories—and analyzed seven sites through field surveys and excavation reports, revealing both shared Gandharan features and localized differences.

KATO, N., YATANI, S., & MASUI, M. (2017). CHRONOLOGICAL STUDY OF PLINTH FORMS OF STUPAS IN CENTRAL GANDHARA, TAXILA AND SWAT. Journal of Architecture and Planning (Transactions of AIJ), 82(741), 2979–2987. https://doi.org/10.3130/aija.82.2979