Pushkalavati Museum

Pushkalavati (modern Charsadda) from 6th to 1st century BC, is situated 30 km to the northeast of Peshawar. The term Pushkalavati is a combination of two Prakrit words 'Pushkara/Pushkala' and 'wati/vati', which mean 'lotus' and 'city' respectively. The area is still very fertile and had ponds full of lotus flowers around the city, remnants of which can be seen around the site of Balahisar. The city goddess was also called Pushkalwati. The lotus flower, which also symbolized Buddha in the archaic sect, is still grown in Charsadda. The legendary Hariti Devi and Panchika were born here and converted to Buddhism by Lord Buddha.