Somapura Mahavihara
A vast Buddhist monastery organized around a monumental central shrine, with hundreds of cells, courts, gateways, and terracotta decoration.
Photo: Abdulmominbd · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Region
- Rajshahi Division
- Civilisation
- Pala Buddhist
- Period
- 8th–12th centuries CE
- UNESCO
- World Heritage ↗
Through time
The story
Somapura Mahavihara, also known as Paharpur Buddhist Vihara (Bengali: পাহাড়পুর বৌদ্ধবিহার, romanized: Pāhāṛpur Bôuddhôbihār), is a major Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhist monastery (mahavihara) in Paharpur, Badalgachhi, Naogaon, Bangladesh. It is among the best known Buddhist viharas in the Indian subcontinent and one of the most important archaeological sites in the country. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
It is one of the most famous examples of pre-Islamic Bengali architecture. It dates from a period to the nearby Halud Vihara and to the Sitakot Vihara in Nawabganj, Dinajpur.
Adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What you will see
- Central shrine
- Monastic cells
- Terracotta plaques
Before you go
- Check opening hours and ticket rules shortly before your visit — they change seasonally.
- Plan for the heat. Most ancient sites have little shade; go early or late.
- Respect the barriers. Fragile surfaces are protected for the next visitors.
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