Assingment Mahasthagarh

BANGLADESH STUDIES ASSINGMENT
(COURSE CODE- 1105)

TOPIC: MAHASTHANGARH
SUBMITTED TO:
Brig. Gen. Shafaat Ahmad
PhD, NDC, PSC (Retd)
Professor Bangladesh University of Professionals
SUBMITTED BY:
Irfanul Haq (2225171081)
Department of Marketing
Section A
1
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Aim of paper
3. Body of paper
• Etymology
• Geography
• Discovery
• Structures of Mahasthangarh
• History
• Excavation
• Tourism
4. Conclusion
5. References
2
1. Introduction
2. Aim of the Paper
3
3. Body of the Paper
• Etymology
The earliest reference to Mahasthan came in the 13th century Sanskrit text entitled Vallalcharita.
The word Mahasthan signifies a place of great sanctity and Garh means a fort. Later discoveries
have revealed that the current name of Mahasthangarh is of later origin and that the original
name was Pundranagara, the ancient capital of Paundravardhanapura.
• Geography
Mahasthangarh is situated in Shibganj upazila of Bogra district, which is a part of the Rajshahi
division in Bangladesh. It lies on the western bank of Korotoa River, about 13 km north of Bogra
city on the Dhaka-Dinajpurpur highway. It is thought that the city's location in the region was
chosen since it is one of Bangladesh's highest places. While Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is
only around 6 meters (20 feet) above sea level, the land in the area is nearly 36 meters (118 feet)
above sea level. The location and magnitude of the Karatoya, which reportedly used to be three
times larger than the Ganges as recently as the 13th century, were additional factors in the
decision to settle here.
• Discovery
The discovery and identification of the ruins of Mahasthangarh were made possible due to
contribution by a number of researchers and travelers. Francis Buchanan Hamilton, CJ
O'Donnell, EV Westmacott, Beveridge, and Alexander Cunningham are notable contributors
among them. Among these people Francis Buchanan Hamilton was the first to locate and he
visited Mahasthangarh in 1808. But the first person to identify the location as Pundravardhana's
capital was Alexander Cunningham. He visited the site in 1879.
4
• Structures of Mahasthangarh
A deep moat surrounded the fortified city's northern, western, and southern borders. Traces of
this moat may still be seen on the first two sides and in part on the southern side. As the river
Karatoya flows on the eastern side. The river and the moat may have acted as the fort city's
second line of defense. In various locations outside the city within an 8 km radius to the north,
south, and west, numerous solitary mounds attest to the presence of suburbs of the ancient
regional capital.
At the heart of the ancient city lies a citadel. The rectangular-shaped walled center of the
ancient city, with high and wide ramparts in all of its wings, is approximately 1.523 kilometers
(0.946 miles) long from north to south and 1.371 kilometers (0.852 miles) from east to west.
Area of the citadel is approximately 185 hectare.
When excavations first began in the 1920s, the inside of the citadel was nearly 4 meters higher
than the surroundings and contained a number of isolated elevated pieces of ground.
There are currently a number of mounds and architectural relics inside the fortifications. Some
of these worth mentioning include
Jiat Kunda (a well said to have life-giving powers),
Mankalir Dhap (a location dedicated to Mankali), They found terracotta plaques, bronze
Ganesha, bronze Garuda, etc. A 15-domed mosque's (15th–16th century) foundational ruins
were discovered.
Parshuramer Basgriha (a palace of a king named Parasuram),contains remnants from three

different occupancy eras. Stone Visnupatta from the Pala period was discovered in the eighth
century AD, some glazed fragments with Muslim origin were discovered in the fifteenth and
sixteenth centuries, and two British East India Company coins from 1835 and 1853 were
discovered.
Bairagir Bhita (a palace of a female anchorite), Built and rebuilt in four time periods: the 4th–5th
century AD, the 6th–7th century, the 9th–10th century, and the 11th century. Poor base ruins
that resembled temples have been discovered through excavations. Two sandstone pillars with
sculptures have been found.
Khodar Pathar Bhita (a location where God bestowed a stone),Stone fragments depicting the
transcendent Buddha and followers bowed down were found.
Munir Ghon (a bastion).
Several gateways are located at various locations of the citadel. Kata Duar in the north, Dorab
Shah Toran in the east, Burir Fatak in the south, and Tamra Dawaza in the west.
A mazhar, which is a holy tomb, was located at its southeast corner. There was also a mosque
constructed around 1718–1719.
5
As previously mentioned there have been discoveries which proved the existence of suburbs
surrounding the citadel. In addition to the fortified region, there are over 100 mounds dispersed
throughout an area over 8 km radius. Some of the excavated mounds which have been
discovered are as follows.
1. Gobhindo Bhita, a temple close to the north-eastern corner of the citadel
2. Khulnar Dhap, a temple 1 km north of the citadel
3. Mangalkot, a temple 400m south of Khulnar Dhap
4. Godaibari Dhap, a temple 1 km south of Khulnar Dhap
5. Totaram Panditer Dhap, a monastery 4 km north-west of the citadel
6. Noropotir Dhap (Vashu Bihara), a group of monasteries 1 km north-west of Totaram
Ponditer Dhap.
7. Gokul Medh (Lokhindorer Bashor Ghor), a temple 3 km south of the citadel
8. Shkonder Dhap, a temple 2 km south-east of Gokul Medh

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BANGLADESH STUDIES ASSINGMENT

(COURSE CODE- 1105)

2. Aim of the Paper

Jiat Kunda (a well said to have life-giving powers),

Parshuramer Basgriha (a palace of a king named Parasuram),contains remnants from three

Munir Ghon (a bastion).

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