Mankiala

Mankiala Stupa is a Gandhara era stupa built in the nearby village of Tope Mankiala to memorialize the place where, according to legend, an earlier incarnation of Buddha sacrificed some of his body parts or his entire body to feed seven hungry tiger cubs [1]. Mankiala dates from the Gandharan era, around 2000 years ago [1]. The settlement during the Buddhist era may have consisted of approximately 2,000 homes, interspersed with monasteries and 15 stupas [1]. Mankiala's stupa was built in the reign of Kanishka (128-151 CE) [1]. Mankiala stupa's relic deposits were removed from the site during British colonial rule, and are now housed in the British Museum [1]. Many were found by Jean-Baptiste Ventura in 1830 between 10 and 20 metres below the top of the dome [1].