Mahasthangarh
Mahasthangarh
Mahasthangarh is one of the earliest urban archaeological sites so far discovered in Bangladesh. The village Mahasthan in Shibganj thana of Bogra District contains the remains of an ancient city which was called Pundranagara or Paundravardhanapura in the territory of Pundravardhana.
Invention
Several
personalities contributed to the discovery and identification of the ruins at
Mahasthangarh. Francis Buchanan Hamilton was the first to locate and visit
Mahasthangarh in 1808, C.J.O'Donnell, E.V.Westmacott, and Beveridge followed.
Alexander Cunningham was the first to identify the place as the capital of
Pundravardhana. He visited the site in 1879.
Castle
The citadel (see map alongside), the
fortified heart of the ancient city, is rectangular in plan, measuring roughly
1.523 kilometres long from north to south, and 1.371 kilometres from east to
west, with high and wide ramparts in all its wings. Area of the citadel is
approximately 185 ha. The Karatoya, once a mighty river but now a small stream,
flows on
its east.
Till
the 1920s, when excavations started, the inside of the citadel was higher than
the surrounding areas by over 4 metres and was dotted with several
straggling elevated pieces of land. The rampart looked like
a jungle clad mud rampart with forced
openings at several points. The rampart was 11–13 metres (36–43 ft) higher
than the surrounding area. At its south-east corner stood a mazhar. A later day
mosque [built in 1718–19] was also there.
At present there are several mounds and structural vestiges
inside the fortifications. Of these a few of note are: Jiat Kunda, Mankalir Dhap,
Parasuramer Basgriha, Bairagir Bhita (palace of a female anchorite), Khodar
Pathar Bhita (place of stone bestowed by God), and Munir Ghon. There are some
gateways at different points: Kata Duar (in the north), Dorab Shah Toran (in
the east), Burir Fatak (in the south), and Tamra Dawaza (in the west) At the
north-eastern corner there is a flight of steps that goes by the name of
Jahajghata. A little beyond Jahajghata and on the banks of the Karatoya is
Govinda Bhita. In front of it is the site museum, displaying some of the
representative findings. Beside it is a rest house.
Systematic archaeological excavation of Mahasthangarh was first started in 1928–29 under the guidance of K.N.Dikshit of the Archaeological Survey of India. The areas around Jahajghata, Munir Ghon and Bairagir Bhita were explored. Excavation was resumed in 1934–36 at Bairagir Bhita and Govinda Bhita. Excavation was carried out in 1960s around the Mazhar, Parasuramer Prasad, Mankalir Dhap, Jiat Kunda and in a part of the
northern
rampart. In the next phase excavation was carried out sporadically in parts of
the east and north ramparts but the final report is yet to be published.
northern
rampart. In the next phase excavation was carried out sporadically in parts of
the east and north ramparts but the final report is yet to be published. Movable proparty
The
excavations have led to the recovery of a large number of items, a few of which
are listed here.
Inscriptions:
Coins:
Silver punch marked coins are datable to a
period between the 4th century BC and the 1st–2nd century AD. Some uninscribed
copper cast coins have been found. Two Gupta period coins have been reported
from a nearby village named Vamanpara. A number of coins belonging to the
sultans of 14th–15th century and British East India Company have been found.
Sculpture:
A 5th century Buddha stone sculpture recovered from Vasu Vihara, a Lokesvara stone sculpture showing blending of Visnu and Avalokitsvara, salvaged from neighbouring Namuja village, a number sand stone door-frames, pillars and lintels, numerous Buddha bronze sculpture datable to 10th–11th century, a terracotta Surya discovered at Mankalir Bhita, and numerous other pieces.Area
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ReplyDeleteThis is the oldest city discovered in Bangladesh and also it is the toppest tourist spots in Bangladesh.
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