Gandhara - the restaurant and museum

The geo-historical area of Gandhara stretches across the vallies of North-west of Pakistan and Eastern Afghanistan. Prior to the emergence of the Silk Road, Gandhara was the major convergence of trade routes and cultural exchange between India, Central Asia and the Middle East. Various conquerors attracted by Gandhara riches also left their influences; Gandhara fell under the domination of Persia (VI-V c.a B.C, and Alexander the Great (327 B.C. Later, the Mauryan dynasty, the Greeks, the Seythians, the Parthians, the Sakas and the Kushan Empire each came in conquest to subdue the seductively rich and diverse cross roads.

The various Cultural influences engendered a fusion of eastern and western art forms characterized prominently by a blend of Graeco-Roman and indigenous stylistic conventions. It was in Gandhara that a now well known religious art devoted to representation of Buddha in human form, emerged for the first time.

Gandhara art and culture flourished in 2 century A.D. under the patronage of King Kanishka, the great Kushan ruler, during whose reign the Silk Route was established from Peshawar through Indus valley. Today, the Gandhara sculptures in green phylitte, gray-blue mica schist, stucco and terracotta occupy a prominent place worldwide in noted international museums as well as many private collections. Likewise the cuisine of area, now, as in ancient times, blends some of the most exciting flavors of east and west.

Gandhara - the restaurant and museum, is a showcase of Gandhara relics that highlight the artistic traditions of Pakistan and the diversity of the regions cultural heritage.