HERITAGE SITE IN BANGLADESH- PAHARPUR

Somapura Mahavihara in Paharpur, Badalgachhi Upazila , Naogaon District, Bangladesh is among the best known Buddhist viharas in the Indian Subcontinent and is one of the most important archeological sites in Bangladesh. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.It is the largest Buddhist Vihara and one of the largest building complex along with its principal temple.

History:
- A number of monasteries grew up during the Pāla 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; Odantapurā; and Jaggadala. The 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 Pāla 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 the

ARCHITECTURE :
It was excavated at 1879 and discovered by Sir Alexandar Cunningham, an archaeologist. - It has been identified as Sompur Vihara its Founded by Dharmapala the 2nd Pala ruler.

 Dimension: 922X919 ft from east-west to north-south
Principal structures: Consisted of three parts -Main temple-cruciform shaped, Dominating part of the whole complex -Monastery-monastic cells enclosing the whole courtyard -satyapir vita
Entrace: - Main gateway at north - Another gateway between the 15 & 16 cells Area: 22 acres. 08. No of cells: 177.
Material: Entire Temple and monastery were made of brick Principal Temple
Plan: 356X314 ft from north-south to east-west and had a cruciform shape.
Height: Presently 72 ft height from the ground. It has four tires. Each cardinal point had a rectangular chamber. Temple was designed around a hollow and square shaft rising above the three terraces.
Path: All the tapering masses and receding terraces are processional path. Staircase: Grand staircase at the north providing access to the 1st and 2nd terrace. Hall & antechamber: Located at the 2nd terrace.
Mondopa: The shaft surrounded by four chambers with four columns- these chambers are called Mondopa.
Shrine: Probably at the enter there was a towering superstructure with four columns at the ground level. Hall room & lobby
space: Entering the north block a large hall room of 53X47 ft dimension then a lobby space of 37X24 ft.
Plinth: It was very high with terracotta decoration expressing mythological incidents.

Ornamentation: -terraces are adorned with terracotta decorations. - 3 rows of stone sculptures. - 2000 terracotta plaques in site and 800 were collected during excavation. - Terracotta size was 8’6”X8’4”.

Paharpur Monastery Plan: Quadrangular. Area: 22 acres Wall thickness: 16ft
Cells: 177 monastic cells, north has 45 and other sides had 44 each and the size of those cells were 14’0”X13’6”.
Verandah: Cells were connected by a 9 ft wide verandah which had no access from courtyard to corridor.
Central Block: It was extended on each side to the interior having 3 rooms.
Gateway: The elaborate gateway complex is flanked on either side by guard rooms. Shrine: At the south-east corner of the courtyard were a group of five votive shrines of various shapes.
Kitchen: It was also located in the same spot as the shrine. Toilet: Monastery latrine block was located on the southern side. Passage: Passage is vaulted with radiating true arch. 
Bathing Ghat: 160 ft away at the southeastern corner.
NAMEABLE STATUE
Nameable statues found The statues are reserved in the adjacent museum for display.
• 'Chamunda' Statue of Clay Stone.
• Standing 'Seetala' Statue of Red Stone.
• Broken Parts of 'Visnu' Statue of Krishna Stone.
• 'Keerti' Statue of Clay Stone.
• Damaged 'Haargouri' Statue.
• Broken Statue of Laxmi Narayan of Krishna Stone.
• 'Uma' Statue of krishna Stone.
• 'Gouri' Statue of Clay Stone.
• 'Visnu' Statue of Clay Stone.
• Nandi Statue.
• 'Visnu' Statue of Krishna Stone.
• Sun Statue.
• 'Mansha' Statue of Clay Stone.

Travel
Sompur Bihar at Paharpur is about 282 km by road from Dhaka. Iit will take about 6.5 hours to reach Paharpur by bus/taxi/private car if no major stops are made along the way. If one starts from Dhaka, the route shall be Dhaka - Savar - Chandra - Tangail - Jamuna Bridge - Bogura - Naogaon - Badalgashi- Paharpur. The best way to tour the site is to first reach Naogaon and stay there or reach Badalgacchi and stay there in Dakbanglo