Somapura Mahavihara in Paharpur, Badalgachhi Upazila, Naogaon District, Bangladesh (25°1’51.83″N, 88°58’37.15″E) is among the best known Buddhist viharas in the Indian Subcontinent and is one of the most important archeological sites in the country. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur.
Bangladesh – a country in South Asia, in the northeastern part of the Indian subcontinent. To the west, north and east by India, on the south-east -. Burma (Myanmar). On the south by the Bay of Bengal. 143998 km2 area of ​​the country. Bangladesh – plains state, crossed by numerous rivers. Much of the country lies within the broad delta formed by the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers, which flooded almost every year. Relatively elevated area – the Chittagong hills – it takes less than a tenth of the country. Here, on the border with Burma, is a mountain Modoc-Muallem (1,003 m) – the highest point in the country.
Somapuri Mahavira, or the Great Monastery, has witnessed the establishment of a VII century Mahayana Buddhism in Bengal, was a renowned intellectual center until the XII century. Its layout fits nicely with the religious function, and the monastery-city represents a unique artistic achievement. With its simple, harmonious lines and abundant Ornate he influenced Buddhist architecture of the region up to Cambodia.
A number of monasteries grew up during the PÄla period in ancient Bengal and Magadha. According to Tibetan sources, five great Mahaviharas stood out: Vikramashila, the premier university of the era; Nalanda, past its prime but still illustrious, Somapura Mahavihara, OdantapurÄ, and Jaggadala. The five monasteries formed a network; “all of them were under state supervision” and there existed “a system of co-ordination among them . . it seems from the evidence that the different seats of Buddhist learning that functioned in eastern India under the PÄla were regarded together as forming a network, an interlinked group of institutions,” and it was common for great scholars to move easily from position to position among them.
The quadrangular structure consists of 177 cells and a traditional Buddhist stupa in the center. The rooms were used by the monks for accommodation and meditation. In addition to the large number of stupas and shrines of various sizes and shapes, terracotta plaques, stone sculptures, inscriptions, coins, ceramics etc. have been discovered.
Paharpur Buddhist Monastery is another tourist attraction of North Bengal. Paharpur is a small village 5 km. west of Jamalganj in the greater Rajshahi district. You can go to Paharpur from Jaipur district. Its only 10 km from Jaipur.King Dharma Pal established Paharpur Buddhist Monastery in 7th century, which is the most important and the largest known monastery south of the Himalayas, has been excavated. The main Mandir is in the center of this Monastery. This 7th century archaeological find covers approximately an area of 27 acres of land.The entire establishment, occupying a quadrangular court, measuring more than 900 ft. externally on each side, has high enclosure- walls about 16 ft. in thickness and from 12 ft. to 15 ft. height. With elaborate gateway complex on the north, there are 45 cells on the north and 44 in each of the other three sides with a total number of 177 rooms. The architecture of the pyramidal cruciform temples profoundly influenced by those of South-East Asia, especially Myanmar and Java.A small site-Museum built in 1956-57 houses the representative collection of objects recovered from the area, where you can see the statues of Buddha and Vishnu. The excavated findings have also been preserved at the Varendra Research Museum at Rajshahi. The antiquities of the museum include terracotta plaques, images of different gods and goddesses, potteries, coins, inscriptions, ornamental bricks and other minor clay objects.