Taxila is a Greek combination of Sanskrit "TAKSHA+SILA" which means Taksha(Serpent) + Hills implying that the region was inhabited and ruled by Takshas. According to old Hindu belief, Takshas were from serpent race that had power to transform into human form at pleasure.
Taxila became famous as university town where more than 18 subjects were taught and Vadas ( Medical Knowledge) was one of them. Taxila had strategic importance because of its location between Greece, central Asia and South Asia. That's why it was conquered and settled by different races.
Archeological excavations of Taxila were first carried out in 1913 under supervision of British archeologist, Sir John Marshall in British rule. It revealed very old and longer sequence of human settlement. Three cities are important to mention which were modern cities of that era and these were settled by different rulers and in different periods. These three cities: Bhir Mound( c 600-190BC), Sirkap( c 190BC-60AD), Sursukh(78-480AD) and many others with monasteries and stupas are not away from Taxila Museum( also founded by Sir John Marshall). Great source of information is through work of Greek historians and Chinese Buddhist pilgrims. They had written a lot about vast culture and modern development of that period.
I personally visited Sirkap city remains, Badalpur, 'Jinnan Di Dheri' and Jullian Monastery (It was Mekkah of Buddhism). Once you get there, you can't ingnore their mesmerising well settled living style, like in Sirkap we noticed there was main boulevard like today's modern colonies and all main institutions were on that central road like Defense, Police department, Parliament, Market place and prayer halls of different religions( stupa of Sun God, Stupa of Jain and two-headed Eagle God).
If you want to feel nostalgia of old Taxila, you must first visit remains of cities and monasteries and then ,to garnish your information about that civilization, you should go to Taxila Museum which has got almost all precious collections( tools, ornamental stones, crockeries, utensils, weapons and small to very large statues of gods etc).
But, don't try to damage, break, mutilate, scribble or even write a sign over any antique objects or remains otherwise you will be charged under Section-19 because Remains of Taxila have been declared "Protected" as National Heritage under the Antiquity Act-1975 and punishment to this is upto 3 years rigorous imprisonment ( Chakki peesing and peesing day & night) or 200000 rupees or both.