Gandhāra is the name of an ancient kingdom (Mahajanapada), located in northern Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan.

Gandhara is located mainly in the vale of Peshawar, the Potohar plateau, and on the Kabul River.

Its main cities are Purushapura (modern Peshawar), literally meaning City of Man and Takshashila (modern Taxila).

The Kingdom of Gandhara lasts from the early 1st millennium BC to the 11th century CE.

It attains its height from the 1st century to the 5th century under the Buddhist Kushan Kings.

The Hindu term Shahi is used by history writer Al-Biruni to refer to the ruling Hindu dynasty that took over from the Turki Shahi and ruled the region during the period prior to Muslim conquests of the 10th and 11th centuries.

After it is conquered by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1021 CE, the name Gandhara disappears.

During the Muslim period the area is administered from Lahore or from Kabul.

During Mughal times the area is part of Kabul province.