Sirkap is an archeological site in Taxila, Punjab. Sirkap is one of the oldest stupas and it was displaced and relocated to its current location by a strong earthquake in the 1st century AD. Later, when the new city was built, the stupa was preserved by constructing a protective wall around it.

Sirkap is the name of a mythological demon that was believed to have lived on the site. The name Sirkap means severed head. The city was founded by the Bactrian King Demetrius, who conquered the region in the 180s BC. It was the second city of Taxila. Later, the city was rebuilt by King Menander. When the Bhir site was abandoned, Sirkap became the main city of Taxila in the 2nd century BC.
The site of Sirkap is evidence of the Indo-Greek city-building and their integration of other faiths, specifically Buddhism, during their two-century occupation of Indian territory.
What is a Stupa?

The stupa, which comes from the Sanskrit word “heap”. It is a significant type of Buddhist architecture, although it existed even before Buddhism. It is typically regarded as a funerary structure, used for burial purposes or as a container for religious artifacts. A stupa can be as simple as a mound of dirt covered with stones.
History of Sirkap
Sirkap was settled from the second BC to the second AD. The city was settled by the Bactrian Greeks first. All the remains found in modern times belong to the Parthian or Pahlavi period. In the 1st century AD, the Parthian ruler Gendo Firski ruled the city.
City Layout and Architecture:
The city, designed with Greek-style architecture, featured four sides constructed with robust piles of low mountain stones, each about 5 feet wide and 10 feet high. Streets were meticulously organized, mainly composed of coursed stone houses, with temples, shrines, stupas, and houses lining the primary north-south street.
Commercial Hub and Artifacts:
In the heart of the city lies a 6-meter-wide road, a bustling north-south street adorned with shops displaying artifacts, predominantly gold and silver jewelry, suggesting a vibrant bullion market. The main street hosts residences and various temples on both sides.

Diverse Religious Hub:
Sirkap, resembling a chessboard with narrow alleys branching from the main street, serves as a hub for diverse religious beliefs. Carefully planned and ornamented places of worship include stupas, monasteries, Jain temples, and the noteworthy Eagle Temple, sundial, and round temple.
Shahi Mahal and Royal Residency:
The largest house, Shahi Mahal, positioned to the east of the main road, spans an impressive area of 120 x 105. This palace, named for its layout, yielded sophisticated silver and copper vessels, reflecting Greek and Roman influences. Declared a temporary residence for the royal family, it offers a splendid view of changing seasons and lush green fields.
Jain Temple

On the main street to the right, there is a Jain temple that has a unique design compared to other stupas. It has four round limestone pillars on top of its round plinth, and its round dome and canopies have collapsed. Earlier, the dome above the platform was once surrounded by a conjured stone grill, but it is now in a dilapidated condition. The stone grill is now in the Taxila Museum.
A few steps away from the Jain temple, on the right, two green stairs ascend to a platform supported by a Greek-style sun – a time-telling clock commonly known as sundial, which was created using different angles. Examples of this are found in Greece, China, and other countries, which are unique in terms of their structure and technology.
Eagle Temple

The Eagle Temple, a majestic stupa, is located near the Jain temple on the right side. It stands adjacent to houses and shops. A staircase leads up from the center of a circular high platform. The right and left walls are finely carved in conjured stone, displaying Ionic and Corinthian columns. These columns are divided into three sections on either side of the staircase. These three parts were carved from three different schools of art for example Greek, Indian, and Iranian.
The borders of the sides of the stupa were beautifully carved. There were two rooms on the outside which were probably for the guards called “Darban”. Many parts of this temple have collapsed, but it is still a great example of Greek-Roman art.
Conclusion
Sirkap is a spectacular and wonderful place, full of historical artifacts and notable views of an old city which have markets, temples, schools, houses, better roads of that time, and many religious places e.g stupas, etc. Moreover, it is evidence of the Indo-Greek city-building and their integration of other faiths, especially Buddhism. Sirkap City is a Greek-style architecture and built with a very elaborate plan.