Interlude. Taxila

The magical city of Taxila, that rare place where tradition co-exists with modernity, where old wisdom meets new science, and weaves into a fabulous pattern of insight. Taxila is like a source of knowledge and enlightenment that looks up on ancient modes of education system prevailing through those times, picks apart the good and the bad, discards the bad parts, and integrates the good parts into the modern methods thus preserving the past while also keeping up with the present.

The moment you enter Taxila, you will realize that it combines the past with the present. The ancient pages-like streets of any ancient town and modern development. The meeting point of heritage and potential forms a setting that is captivating and at the same time bewitching.

Every single street of the city will tell you a story of its past if only you are keen and patient to listen. With narrow, twisting lanes that guide you and make you experience the passage of time while making you appreciate it. The roads, the lanes, the alleyways are like the spokes of a wheel taking you to the center, the lifeblood and something to discern the true nature of any city. The bustling markets of Taxila teeming with people and activity that offers glimpses of the various and vibrant culture that define this city. This is a city that doesn’t make its history mere memories but lives in the present with it.

The peculiar urban design is manifest in the coexistence of old temples amidst the modern-day skyscrapers. Centuries-old temples with the passage of years inscribed on every stone and piece of wood, are now surrounded by skyscrapers and novelty architecture which represents state-of-the-art architectural achievements. These structures live side by side evidencing that one can fit the modern needs without compromising the historical significance of the place.

Taxila’s traditional buildings, with its oriental architecture, are carved with complex designs and images of dragons of a past era. The buildings are masterpieces that illustrate the skills of the ancestors. However, despite being a witness to these ancient marvels Taxila has blended effortlessly into the modern world.

Taxila’s houses display an ancient elegance, as expressed by the wooden lattice windows that create shadowy patterns in the sunny warmth and tiled roofs that speak of rain and years gone by. Its houses seem to possess some mystery of grace that gives an air of guardianship on behalf of this legacy that the city bears.

There are colored lanterns on every street and if you take a walk in the city during nighttime you can see these lanterns and feel their pleasant light which accompanies you along your way. Such lanterns aren’t mere light, but also emblematic of the local kindness for strangers and visitors from any corner of the globe.

However, Taxila is not only a beautiful city built with a strong architectural foundation but also an intellectual center for knowledge seekers from all over the world. The city’s education system is built upon the age-old customs and practices of the ancient civilization which have been perfected for centuries.

Scholars embark on their journey right from the tender age of six in Taxila. Wise mentors educate them about the long-lived quest for wisdom that lasts till a student is twenty-five years old. This is a system that appreciates the fact that even in early years people should be allowed to learn about themselves so as to understand and unravel their full potential.

The curriculum encompasses a great deal ranging from the various forms of knowledge accrued over eons. Some of which include-

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The Medical Hall. A place where scholars may explore the healing arts which use both common and rare herbs and study their medical value. Using chi to stimulate the body's natural recovery and hasten it, reattaching severed limbs, sending chi through a patient's body to glean a comprehensive understanding of the malady affecting them, and performing awe-inspiring treatments are all things the student learns.

The herbs are transformed from their raw state, their effects amplified when used together with other herbs and form into different pills and potions. Alchemy unveils itself to those in quest of turning lead (ordinary) into gold (extraordinary).

It is by gazing into the cosmos that people understand the secrets of stars and the whole universe in general. Astronomy is another subject where the students learn to predict nature itself by taking an out-of-the-box approach.

The Grand Library is Taxila’s true treasure, surpassing even the famed libraries of ancient Alexandria. The inside encloses endless rows of dusty tomes, scrolls, and grimoires whose pages beckon the minds of learned men. Enchanted guardians keep surveillance on the library and allow only those who have a true yearning for knowledge to peer what is stored therein.

The world’s secrets are revealed as discussions and debates ensue, revelations unfold, and the group’s comprehension of mysteries develops. The library becomes an area of peace where it appears that time stopped as researchers attempt to solve the riddles which have baffled humanity.

At sunset, Taxila is flooded with the light emanating from a thousand spellbound lanterns while its great courtyard attracts many. This is a buzzing place for the free flow of ideas and the air crackles with the suspense of discovery. This is where scholars drawn from different parts of the world who by themselves were unable to crack the mysteries and therefore decided to seek help and gather together to exchange experiences and discoveries through sharing. To find like-minded people and to blaze a new path.

The central square in the city becomes the meeting point for art and wisdom, where there are statues of famous pioneers and those who have left their marks on history. The statues are a work of art themselves, their beauty preserved no many how many years pass by. Scores upon scores of enchantments that were left on them seem to prevent even the passage of time. This open-air space is used for giving performances, the sky itself illuminated with countless stars- a witness to their art.

The festival of illumination, celebrated at the zenith of the summer solstice, is one of the most sacred traditions in Taxila. Celebration of light, knowledge, and magic leads scholars all over to present their inventions and newly found theories. The city comes alive with magnificent displays of magical colored lights and shapes during the night. People exchange new ideas, and of course disputes and disagreements between scholars, all in good faith, arise which like the festivities also continue until dawn.

Grand Library is displayed during the festival of illumination and the newest scholars enjoy being treated to this library’s wisdom. They permit every person looking for knowledge to get the wealth that the city provides. But of course, the library is prepared with countless safeguards to prevent theft, left by both the new and old scholars.

It is more than a mere center of learning. It is an incredibly beautiful city. Its gardens are so large that they can be called mini-ecosystems, filled with a variety of birds, waters from the surrounding river and its tributaries, volcanic rocks, and various greenery created and sustained by the conjunction of nature and magic. It's an ingenious fusion of art and architecture that ensures a calm and cool environment in the city while also reducing the impacts of the changing climate. It provides even densely populated urban cities such as this the same clear and pure environment you can enjoy in the countryside. Intricate silences are woven around the serene fountains that cast their charming spell with the brightening moonlight, coupled with the flowering trees and the lanterns making the city quite a dream destination all year around.

The architecture of the City testifies to its aesthetics and practicality, marked by graceful spires and elaborate designs. Taxila’s attempt to conserve its culture amidst modern civilization is evidenced by the charming scenery it portrays.

Taxilians, as Taxila’s inhabitants are named, are diverse. Coming from faraway places in the pursuit of knowledge they bring different ideas and cultures that add color to the city.