Important Archaeological Sites of
ancient Bangladesh-Wari-Bateshwar-the
locations of Gangaridai Kingdom,
Mahasthangarh-Bhasu Bihar, Paharpur,
Sitakot Vihar, Jagaddala Mahavihara
and Bharat Bhayna.
Presented By
Prof. Dr. Ashit Boran
Paul
Department of Archaeology
Jahangirnagar University
Savar, Dhaka – 1342.
Important Archaeological Sites of ancient Bangladesh
Cultural heritage of Bangladesh
We know that our cultural heritage is very rich
as is evident from the various archaeological
explorations and excavations at different
archaeological sites in Bangladesh.
The Study of archaeological remains began in
Bangladesh from the second half of the
Nineteen century.
Today we will discuss our cultural heritage
that is archaeological remains of Bangladesh
particularly Wari-Bateshwar, Mahasthangarh-
Bhasu Vihara, Sitakot Vihara, Paharpur,
Jagaddala Mahavihara and Bharat Bhayna.
Wari-Bateshwar
Wari-Bateshwar-Location of the Site
The Wari-Bateshwar site is located at
Belabo Upazila in Narsingdi District,
Bangladesh. It is an ancient fort city.
The Department of Archaeology in
Jahangirnagar University has been
playing a significant role in probing new
fields in the archaeology of Bangladesh.
There are two pioneering
achievements have been in the field
of ‘Prehistory’ and ‘Early History’ of
Bangladesh.
Wari-Bateshwar
Their recent work in Wari-Bateswar
has established an ‘early historic’
horizon, 4th-3rd century BCE-
Mauryan, perhaps pre-Mauryan-in
southeast Bengal like
Mahasthangarh in northern Bengal.
Wari and Bateshwar are two
adjoining villages in the Narsingdi
district in Bangladesh which is
known for various surface finds of
minor antiquities.
Wari-Bateshwar
Hanif Pathan and his son Habibullah
Pathan-have built up a family
collection of these ancient relics and
have been trying tirelessly since 1933
to project the importance of the site
by writing in journals and publishing
books about them.
What is significant is that several miles around Wari
and Bateshwar there are sites bearing punch-marked
coins establishing the cultural, political and
economic importance of the entire region.
Wari-Bateshwar
There are several early medieval sites around, for
instance Belavo (Bhojavarman copperplate inscription)
and Ashrafpur (2 copperplate inscriptions of Deva
Khadga) which speak of the continuity of the importance
of the area over a long period.
The Archaeology Department of Jahangirnagar
University has been investigating the site since 1989. In
2000, Archaeology Department of Jahangirnagar
University, International Centre for Study of Bengal Art
(ICSBA), and the government Archaeology Directorate
carried out a joint excavation in the nature of trial
digging.
Wari-Bateshwar
A preliminary report has come out
recently, and has been published by
ICSBA. However, much more work is
needed to establish the nature of the site.
That it goes back to ‘early historic’ times
of the sub continental chronological
frame work – 4th-3rd century BCE-is now
evident.
Wari-Bateshwar
Based on the artifacts found here the city was active
between about 2000 BCE to 450 BCE. The ruins being
unearthed near the old course of the Brahmaputra
river are a major archaeological discovery in South Asia,
which challenges the earlier notions of early urban
civilization in Bengal.
Silver punch-marked coins, different types of earthen
pots, rouletted ware, knobbed ware, northern black
polished ware, black-slipped ware, common ceramics,
semi-precious stone beads, iron artefacts includes, hand-
axes, spearheads, knives, nails and slugs, melted pieces of
iron.
Locations of Gangaridai Kingdom
Gangaridai occurs as the name
of a people and of a country in
Greek and Latin writings, dates
of which range between 1st
century BCE and 2nd century
ACE.
The term Gangaridai and its variants
Gangaridae, Gangaridum and Gangarides are
found in the works of classical authors.
Locations of Gangaridai Kingdom
Writing about the countries beyond
the Indus on the basis of the
knowledge obtained by Alexander
and his soldiers, Diodorus (69 BCE-
16 ACE) mentions that beyond the
Ganges were the dominions of the
Prasioi and the Gangaridai.
Quintus Curtius Rufus tells us that two peoples, the
Gangaridai and the Pharrisii, inhabited the further
banks of the Ganges.
Locations of Gangaridai Kingdom
Strabo (63 BCE-21 ACE) informs us
that the Ganges flows through the
Gangaridae, forming its eastern
boundary. Pliny (c 1st century ACE)
writes that the final part of the
Ganges flowed through the country
of the Gangarides.
Greek historian, Siculus
Virgil (c 30 BCE) mentions Gangaridai without
indicating its location.
Locations of Gangaridai Kingdom
A number of modern scholars locate
Gangaridai in the Ganges Delta of
the Bengal region, although alternative
theories also exist. Gange or Ganges, the
capital of the Gangaridai (according
to Ptolemy), has been identified with
several sites in the region,
including Chandraketugarh and Wari-
Bateshwar.
Locations of Gangaridai Kingdom
Historian Hemchandra Ray Chowdhury opined
that it may reasonably be inferred from the
statements of the Greek and Latin writers that
about the time of Alexander’s invasion.
The Gangaridai were a very powerful nation,
and either formed a dual monarchy with the
Pasioi, or were closely associated with them on
equal terms in a common cause against the
foreign invader.
Mahasthangarh
Mahasthangarh-Location of the sites
It is represents the earliest and the
largest archaeological site in
Bangladesh consists of the ruins of
the ancient city of Pundranagara.
The site is 13 km north of Bogra
town on the Dhaka-Dinajpur
highway.
The ruins form an oblong highland
measuring 1500m N-S and 1400m E-
W and are enclosed on their four
sides by rampart.
Mahasthangarh
Founder of the city
The Pundranagara city was
probably founded by the Mauryas,
as testified by a fragmentary stone
inscription in the Brahmi script
(Mahasthanbrahmi inscription)
mentioning Pudanagala
(Pundranagara).
It was continuously inhabited for a
Beads (glass)
long span of time.
Mahasthangarh
Archaeological Excavations at the site
The first regular excavation was
conducted at the site in 1928-29
ACE by the Archaeological Survey
of India under the guidance of K.
N. Diksit, and was confined to
three mounds locally known as
Bairagir Bhita, Govinda Bhita and a
portion of the eastern rampart,
together with the bastion known as
Portion of the eastern rampart
Munirghun.
Mahasthangarh
Archaeological Excavations at the site
Work was then suspended for three
decades. It was resumed in the early
sixties when the northern rampart
Mankalir Kunda Mound area, Parasuram palace, Mazar area,
Khodar Patharbhita, Mankalir Kunda
mound and other places were
excavated.
Kushana terracotta figurines and Pottery
The preliminary report of these
excavations was published in 1975.
After about two decades excavation was
Kushana Gold Coins
once more resumed in 1988.
Mahasthangarh
France-Bangladesh expeditions
Excavation at the city has reached virgin
soil at several points.
Of these, the recent excavations
conducted by the France-Bangladesh
mission have revealed 18 building
levels.
The works carried out at different times
from 1992 to the present (including
France-Bangladesh expeditions) reveal
the following cultural sequence:
Mahasthangarh
Mahasthangarh
Period I
Period I represents the Pre-Mauryan cultural
phase characterised by large quantity of
Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW) of
phase B, Rouletted ware, Black and Red Ware
(BRW), Black slipped ware, Grey Ware, Mud-
built houses (kitchen) with mud floors,
hearths and post-holes.
Fine NBPW are more numerous in the
lowermost levels; dishes, cups, beakers and
bowls are the predominant types. No precise
date for this early settlement could be
ascertained. But some radiocarbon dates from
Bronze Mirror
the upper level goes back to late 4th century
BCE.
Mahasthangarh
Period II
Period II is represented by the occurrence of
broken tiles, brick-bats used as temper or
binding material in the construction of mud
walls.
NBPW, common wares of pale red or buff
Northern Black Polished Ware
colour, ring stone, bronze mirror, bronze
lamp, copper cast coins, terracotta plaques,
terracotta animal figurines, semi-precious
stone beads.
A few radiocarbon dates (366-162 BCE, 371-
173 BCE) and the cultural materials indicate
that this phase represents the Mauryan period.
Mahasthangarh
Period III
Period III represents the post-Mauryan (Shunga-
Kusana) phase. It is marked by substantial
architectural remains of large sized and better-
preserved brick built houses, brick-paved
Rouletted ware floors, post-holes, terracotta ring wells, large
quantity of terracotta plaques of Shunga
affiliation, beads of semi-precious stones
(agate, carnelion, quartz), large quantity of
common pale red or buff wares and grey wares.
NBPW of course fabric occurs in less frequency
compared to Mauryan level. A few radiocarbon
dates give calibrated intervals 197-46 BCE, 60
Black and Red Ware
BCE-172 ACE, 40 BCE-122 ACE.
Mahasthangarh
Period IV
Period IV represents the Kusana-
Gupta phase. It is marked by the
discovery of substantial amount of
Kushana pottery and terracotta
figurines with definite stylistic
affiliation of the contemporary
idiom.
The principal pottery types are handled
cooking vessels with incised designs,
saucers, bowls, sprinklers and lids.
Mahasthangarh
Period V
Period V represents the Gupta and
late-Gupta phase. Radiocarbon data
of this phase give calibrated dates
between 361 ACE and 594 ACE.
This phase yielded remains of a
massive brick structure of a temple
called Govinda Bhita, located close
to the fort-city, belonging to the
late Gupta period.
Mahasthangarh
Period VI
Period VI represents the Pala
phase, evidenced by architectural
remains of several sites scattered
throughout the eastern side of the
Black polished ceramics city, like Khodar Pathar Bhita,
Mankalir Kunda, Parasuram’s
Palace and Bairagir Bhita.
This was the most flourishing phase
and during this period, a large
number of Buddhist establishments
Grey Ware
were founded outside the city.
Mahasthangarh
Period VII
Period VII represents the Muslim phase
testified by the architectural remains of a 15
domed mosque superimposed over the earlier
period remains at Mankalir Kunda, a single
domed mosque built by Farrukh Siyar, and
other antiquities like Chinese celadon and
glazed ware typical of the age.
Bairagir Bhita, Khodar Pathar Bhita, Mankalir
Kunda Mound, Parasuram’s Palace Mound and
Jiat Kunda are some sites inside the city
which have yielded archaeological objects of
interest.
Bhasu Vihara
Bhasu Vihara-Location of the site
Bhasu Vihara is another archaeological site of
Mahasthangarh known as Narapatir Dhap. It is
located at Shibganj upazila, Bogra district. It
is a complex of two rectangular monasteries
and a semi-cruciform shrine of the Post-Gupta
period.
The site is located (24°58’58.42’’ N
89°17’50.89’’ E) at about 6 km west of
Mahasthangarh on the northern part of village
Bihar, under Bihar union of Shibganj upazila
in Bogra district, about 500m west of the
Nagar river. Three mounds have been
excavated here revealing the basal parts of
two monasteries and one shrine.
Bhasu Vihara
Antiquities
These monasteries and the temple, the
excavations yielded Bronze images,
terracotta plaques, decorated bricks and
inscribed terracotta sealing, apart from
the usual range of minor antiquities
including pottery.
All the images are said to have had back
slabs and high pedestals. They represent
the Buddha or Dhyani Buddha and
Bodhisattva. The images of Aksobhya
are said to be more numerous among
the Dhyani Buddha figures.
Location of Sitakot Vihara
Sitakot Vihara is (25°24’50.46’’ N
89°03’02.40’’ E) a Buddhist monastery.
It is located in Nawabganj upazila under
Dinajpur district. The Vihara was built
roughly on a square plan with large
outside projection on the northern and
southern wings.
The gateway complex, which had a wide
frontage, was set in the middle of the
northern wing as a part of the outer
projection. The complex included two
guardrooms. The approach to the
monastery was through an open space.
Sitakot Vihara
The main gateway led to an
entrance hall, which was aligned
with the monastic cells.
The outer projection on the south
was built as a kind of hall and there
was an entrance into the hall from
the inside.
Central Cell
There were in all 41 cells in this monastery: 8 in the
northern wing and 11 cells each in the three other
Sitakot Vihara
Central Cell
The central cells in the east, west and south
wings were larger than the rest and each of
them possessed a significant brick platform
that was possibly used to install a votive image.
The central cell of the southern wing might
have served as the main shrine. A pillared
tower built in front of this was intended to
serve as the Mandapa.
Sitakot Vihara
Antiquities
The major findings are two bronze
images, one of Bodhisattva
Padmapani and the other of
Bodhisattva Manjushri.
On the stylistic ground the images
have been dated in the 7th-8th
century ACE. The monastery has
not been dated by stratigraphy, but
two building periods have been
estimated.
Paharpur
Paharpur and its location
Paharpur is another important
archaeological site in Bangladesh. It is
located in a village named Paharpur
under the Badalgachhi Upazila of
Naogaon district.
The village is connected with the nearby
Railway station Jamalganj, the district
town Naogaon and Jaipurhat town by
metalled roads. It was selected as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
Paharpur
Excavations at the site
Archaeological survey of India, Varendra
Research Society of Rajshahi and
University of Calcutta jointly started
regular and systematic excavation here
in 1923. After the great liberation war
1971 the Department of Archaeology of
Bangladesh brought the site under
further excavation. The operations took
place in two phases.
The first phase was initiated in 1981-82
and continued in every season up to
1984-1985.
Paharpur
Excavations at the site
The second phase was started in 1988-89 and
continued in the next two seasons up to 1990-
91.
The first phase of excavations was aimed at
establishing the three major building phases of
the cells that Dikshit mentioned in his
excavation report and discovering the
information of early levels.
Paharpur
Excavations at the site
But in the second phase the works were
confined to clear the cultural debris from
the courtyard of the monastery.
After a long gap a small-scale excavation
was conducted in the temple area and
nearby courtyard in 2007-08.
Paharpur
History of the Monastery
A number of monasteries grew up during the
Pala period in ancient India in the eastern
regions of the Indian subcontinent,
comprising 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; Odantapura;
and Jaggadala Viharas.
Huien T Sang of China traveler who resided at
the Somapura Mahavihara, and Atisa Dipankara
Atisa Dipankara traveled from Bengal to Tibet to preach
Paharpur
The excavation at Paharpur, and the finding of seals
bearing the inscription Shri-Somapure-Shri-
Dharmapaladeva-Mahavihariyarya-bhiksu-
sangghasya, has identified the Somapura Mahavihara
as built by the second Pala
king Dharmapala (circa 781–821 ACE) of Pala Dynasty.
The Paharpur pillar inscription bears the mention of
5th regnal year of Devapala’s
successor Mahendrapala (circa 850–854 ACE) along
with the name of Bhiksu Ajayagarbha.
Paharpur
Over time Atisha’s spiritual preceptor, Ratnakara
Shanti, served as a Sthavira of the Vihara,
Mahapanditacharya Bodhibhadra served as a resident
monk, and other scholars spent part of their lives at
the monastery.
A copperplate dated to 159 Gupta Era (479 ACE)
discovered in 1927 in the northeast corner of the
monastery, mentions donation of a Brahmin couple to
Jain Acharya Guhanandi of Pancha-stupa Nikaya at
Vata Gohli, identifiable as the neighbouring village of
Paharpur
Architecture
The quadrangular structure consists of 177
cells and a traditional Buddhist stupa in the
centre. 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
Architecture
The site houses the architectural remains of a
vast Buddhist monastery, Somapura Mahavihara,
covering 11 hectares (27 acres). The 8.5-
hectare (21-acre) complex has 177 cells,
viharas, numerous stupas, temples and a
number of other ancillary buildings.
The outside walls with ornamental terracotta
plaques still display the influence of these three
religions.
Paharpur
Central temple
The purpose of this central structure at
the midst of the courtyard remains
unsolved since its discovery. Hence,
most of the debates generated hitherto
on the architecture of Sompur
Mahavihara are cantered on the
identification its missing superstructure.
The reason may be manifold, but the most important one is
the non-availability of substantial amount of first-hand
resource including a comprehensive architectural
Paharpur
Central temple
Consequently, most of works done so far are mainly
based on the findings of the archaeological
excavation and studying the artefacts from the
archaeological perspective. The first study on this
monument with documentation was by
archaeologist K. N. Dikhist in his Paharpur, Memoirs
of Archaeological Survey in India (1938).
Till today, this study is considered as the most
authentic record of the Sompur Mahavihara.
Paharpur
Structures outside the monastery area
An open platform measuring 32m x 8m is
situated at a distance of about 27m from
the outer wall of the southern wing.
It runs parallel to the monastery. It stands
about 3.5m above the adjoining ground
level and is accessible from a raised
pathway across room 102.
Paharpur
Antiquities
Among the movable objects
discovered from the site the
most important ones are
Balarama, Stone, Paharpur
stone sculptures, terracotta
plaques, copper plate,
inscriptions on stone
columns, coins, stucco
images and metal images,
Buddha, Bronze sculpture, Paharpur
ceramics etc.
Paharpur
Terracotta plaques
Terracotta plaques play the most predominant
part in the scheme of decoration of the walls
of the temple. There are more than 2,000
plaques that still decorate the faces of the
walls and about 800 loose ones have been
registered.
Majority of these plaques is
contemporaneous with the building. No
regular chronological arrangement has
been followed in fixing these plaques on
the walls. The sizes of the plaques vary
in different section of the walls.
Paharpur
Metal images
A few metal images have been
found. The ornamental image of
Hara-Gouri, a standing naked
Jaina and the bronze figures of
Kuber and Ganesh are the only
important images that have
been discovered at Paharpur.
Paharpur
Coins
Five circular copper coins have been
discovered from a room close to the main
gateway complex of the monastery.
All these coins are fabricated on silver
excepting the last one, which is of copper.
But we are not yet sure how these coins made
their way into this vihara.
Jagaddala Mahavihara
Jagaddala Mahavihara
It is a (11th century-mid-12th century)
Buddhist monastery and seat of learning
in Varendra, a geographical unit in
present north Bengal in Bangladesh.
It is located (25°09’32.19’’N
88°53’15.19’’ E) at village of Jagdal in
Dhamoirhat Upazila in the north-west
Bangladesh on the border with India,
near Paharapur.
Jagaddala Mahavihara
Foundation of Jagaddala Mahavihara
Jagaddala Mahavihara was founded by the later
kings of the Pala dynasty, probably Ramapala.
Contemporary Monasteries with Jagaddala
Mahavihara
A large number of monasteries were
established in ancient Bengal and Magadha
during the four centuries of Pala rule in North-
eastern India. Dharmapala is said to have
founded 50 viharas himself, including
Vikramashila, the premier university of the
era.
Jagaddala Mahavihara
Establishment of Jagaddala Mahavihara
Jagaddala Mahavihara was founded
toward the end of the Pala dynasty, most
likely by Rampala. According to Tibetan
sources, five great Mahaviharas stood out
of Vikramashila, Nalanda, Somapura,
Odantapuri, and Jagaddala.
The five monasteries formed a network;
all of them were under state supervision
and there existed a system of co-
ordination among them.
Jagaddala Mahavihara
School of Vajrayana Buddhism
Jagaddala Mahavihara was specialized in
Vajrayana Buddhism. A large number of
texts that would later appear in the
Kanjur and Tengjur were known to have
been composed or copied at Jagadala.
It is likely that the earliest dated
anthology of Sanskrit verse, the
Subhasitaratnakosa, was compiled by
Vidyakara at Jaggadala toward the end
of the 11th century or the beginning of
th
Jagaddala Mahavihara
Excavation of Jagaddala Mahavihara
In 1999 Jagaddala Mahavihara was submitted as
tentative site for inclusion on the list of UNESCO World
Heritage sites. The United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization reports that
excavation in Jagaddala Mahavihara has revealed an
extensive mound of 105 metres long by 85 metres,
which represents the archaeological remains of
Jagaddala Mahavihara that is seemed as an early
medieval Buddhist monastery.
The archaeologists found the terracotta plaques,
ornamental bricks, nails, a gold ingot and three stone
images of deities that depict Buddhists Gods like Tara,
Jhambala, Atisha Dipankara, and Gautama Buddha.
Jagaddala Mahavihara
Decline of Jagaddala Mahavihara
Sakyasribhadra, a Kashmiri
scholar who was the last abbot of
Nalanda monastery and
instrumental in transmitting
Buddhism to Tibet, is said to
have fled to Tibet in 1204 ACE
from Jagaddala when Muslim
incursions seemed looming in the
12th century.
Bharat Bhayna
Architectural remains of Bharat Bhayna, Jessore Part of the temple after the recent excavation
Part of the temple before the recent excavation
Bharat Bhaina
Location of the site
Bharat Bhayna is an
archaeological site in south-
western Bangladesh. Located
on the western bank of the
Buri-Bhadra river in the village
of Bharat Bhayna in Keshabpur
Upazila of Jessore.
It is 20 km southwest of Daulatpur and 18 km
Bharat Bhaina
In 1922, Archaeological Survey
of India protected the mound.
K.N. Dikshit, who surveyed it,
suggested that the mound
covered an ancient Buddhist
temple of the 5th century ACE.
The mound has been disturbed
by brick-hunters several times in
the past.
Bharat Bhaina
The Department of Archaeology
of Bangladesh first excavated
the mound in 1985.
The work was resumed after a
decade in the 1995-96 season,
and since then excavations
have been going on every
season upto 2000-2001 except
1996-97. The excavation work
Bharat Bhaina
The excavations have partly
exposed the remains of a building
whose superstructure seems to
have been completely destroyed.
The surviving part seems to be the foundation or
high podium of an imposing superstructure that
does not exist now.
The foundational part appears to be cruciform in shape.
This foundation consists of a series of blind cells of various
Bharat Bhaina
Antiquities
Of these few antiquities,
fragments of two terracotta
plaques deserve special mention
due to their huge dimension.
One represents probably a
female figurine along with her
counterpart on her proper right
and a drummer on her left.
Bharat Bhaina
So it can be concluded that both the
plaques recovered from Bharat Bhayna
are the largest plaques had ever been
founded not only in of Bangladesh but
also in Eastern India.
Since the major portion of both the
plaques is missing other features of
these figurines could not be examined.
Bharat Bhaina
The recovered shreds are parts of neck, rim
and base of various household objects such
as pitcher, bowl, saucer, lid, oil lamp,
sprinkler's top etc.
The shreds are of various colours and
textures, mostly pale reddish with a few
deep ash and buff coloured. Almost all of
them are thick textured; only a few are
medium textured.
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Heritage: An Introductory Reader, Dhaka: Independent University Bangladesh.
Guhathakurta, Meghna and Willem van Schendel eds., 2013. The Bangladesh Reader. History,
Culture, Politics, Durham; London: Duke University Press.
Haq, Muhammad Enamul. 1975. A History of Sufism in Bengal, Dhaka: Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
Iftekhar Iqbal, 2010. The Bengal Delta: Ecology, State and Social Change (Basingstoke and New
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Karim, Abdul. 1959. Social History of the Muslims in Bengal-Down to 1338, Dhaka: The Asiatic
Society of Pakistan. Imam
Majumder, R.C. (ed.) 1963. History of Bengal (Hindu Period). Dacca University.
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Pakistan Publishing House.
Rahim, Muhammad Abdur. 1978. The Muslim Society and Politics in Bengal, Dhaka, The University
of Dhaka.
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of Dhaka.
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Thank You