Paharpur Buddhist Monastery

The Buddhist monastery known as Paharpur Buddhist Bihar or Somapura Mahavihara is an ancient structure that is almost destroyed. Paharpur Buddhist monastery is located just 10 km from Badalgachi upazila of Naogaon district. Sri Dharmapaladeva, the 2nd king of the famous Palavansh dynasty, built this Buddhist monastery in the 9th century. Sir Cunningham discovered this historical structure in 1879. In 1985, UNESCO listed Paharpur Buddhist Vihara as a World Heritage Site. Paharpur Buddhist Vihara was known as a center of Buddhist practice for almost 300 years. At that time, Buddhists from Tibet, China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Myanmar also rushed to Paharpur Buddhist Vihara to practice and gain knowledge.
Paharpur Buddhist Vihar extends to 922 feet in north and south and 919 feet in east-west. Buddhist monks lived in a total of 177 houses in the monastery. A temple adorns the center of Bihar, which is 400 feet long and 350 feet wide and the temple is about 70 feet high. On the outer walls of the temple are statues of Buddha and Hindu deities and several plaques of burnt clay. The main enclosure of Paharpur Buddhist Vihara is about 20 feet wide. Another Buddhist temple can be seen inside the enclosure.The quadrangular Paharpur Vihar was surrounded by a wide boundary wall. There were 92 small rooms lined up inside the boundary wall. It is assumed that all the rooms were inhabited by monks and later some rooms were used as prayer rooms. Bihar has its main entrance through the northern side. Till 1984 there was a pond in front of the entrance. Excavations here in 1984-85 yielded huge silver coins of the reign of Caliph Harun Al Rashid, which are kept in the museum adjacent to Paharpur Buddhist Monastery. Also, several statues, coins and inscriptions etc. are found from Paharpur Buddhist Vihara.

What is there in Paharpur Buddhist Bihar
Central Temple: Inside the Paharpur Buddhist Vihara are the ruins of the central temple in the middle of the open square. Around 2,000 terracotta plaques are found all over the walls of the temple, a wonderful architectural masterpiece. The main mumpir, 400 feet long and 350 feet wide, was made of mud mixed with bricks.
Baths and Latrines: A number of baths and latrines are constructed on a platform outside the Buddhist Vihara at a distance of about 27 meters from the southern wall. The bathhouse and lavatory were connected to Room No. 102 of the Buddhist Vihara through a raised walkway.
Sandhyavati Ghat: A Shanbandhano Ghat can be seen in the south-east corner outside the walls of Paharpur Buddhist Vihar. This Ghat is known as Sandhyawati Ghat. It is said that Sandhyavati, daughter of King Maidlan used to bathe in this ghat.
Open Courts: Traces of several ruined buildings can be seen in the open court within the Buddhist monastery. Administrative buildings, canteens, kitchens, offering piles, wells etc. are scattered here.
Satyapir’s Vita: Satyapir’s Vita is located 365 meters east of Paharpur Buddhist Vihara. A star temple and the remains of 132 offering stupas were found at Satyapir’s residence. About 50 terracotta plaques, eight-armed deities and terracotta seals inscribed with Buddhist religious doctrines have been found in the temple premises. There are 132 offering piles in Madir area.
Gandheshwari Temple: Another mumpiri can be seen just 12 meters west of the Sandhyavati bathing ghat. Locally, Mompir is called Gandeshwari Madir. Madir is 6.7 meters in length and 3.5 meters in width. On the southern wall of the temple is the statue of the Buddha goddess Padmapani and the front wall has a design of lotus flowers.
Paharpur Buddhist Bihar Schedule
Pahar Pur Buddhist Bihar is closed on Purna Divas every Sunday and on Mondays. It is also closed on any public holiday. Open from April to September from 10am to 6pm and on Mondays from 2:30pm to 6pm. Open from October to March from 9am to 5pm and on Mondays from 1:30pm to 5pm.