The Somapuri Vihara at Paharpur
was once the biggest Buddhist monastery south of the Himalaya. It dates from
the 8th century AD. This is the most impressive archaeological site in Bangladesh;
it was declared a protected archaeological site back in 1919, although the
scholar-traveller Dr Buckman Hamilton had shown interest in it as far back as
1807. The name of the site has changed over the eons; it began life as Somapura
(abode of the moon), then became Mahavihara (greatest monastery) before taking
its current combination name. Getting to Paharpur is a bit of a pain on public
transport, but it all adds to the element of discovery.
Paharpur an important
archaeological site in Bangladesh, situated in a village named Paharpur
(Pahadpur) 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 is in the midst of alluvial flat plain
of northern Bangladesh. In contrast to the monotonous level of the plain,
stands the ruins of the lofty (about 24m high from the surrounding level)
ancient temple which was covered with jungle, locally called Pahar or
hill from which the name Paharpur is derived.