Shalban Vihara & Maynamati Museum

Type: Monastery

Contributed By: Nayeem

Brief

Salban Vihara (Sanskrit; Bengali: শালবন বিহার Shalban Bihar) in Mainamati is one of the best known Buddhist viharas in the Indian Subcontinent and is one of the most important archaeological sites in the country. At the end of the 8th century, King Shri Bhavadeva (Vobodev) made the “Salban Bihar” in this place. The digging started from 80th decades. Many archaeological elements were found here. Most of them are kept in the Mainamati Museum now.

Previously it was known as Salban Rajar Bari. But after excavation ground plan of a Buddhist monastery measuring 550’x500′ with 115 monastic cells, it was exposed. Hence it is now popularly known as salbanvihara. The special attraction here is a dominant central shrine and its monumental gate way on the north. In its central shrine has revealed six building and rebuilding phases while in the monastery four. The terracotta in sealing indicates that the monastery was built by Sri Bhava Deva, the 4th ruler of the early deva dynasty during mid-8th century. Previously it was called Bhava Deva MahaVihara. The antiquities recovered during excavation are now displayed in the Maynamati Museum.

Before 1200 years ago the King Bhava Deva, the fourth ruler of the Early-Deva dynasty built that place on 168 square meters of ground. It was the royal palace for the early Buddhist students. This site, previously called Shalban Rajar Bari, came out after archaeological excavation as a Buddhist monastery and hence termed as Salban vihara from the terracotta seals and copper plates discovered. Its original name is supposed to have been Bhava Deva Mahavihara after the 4th king of the early Deva dynasty which ruled this region from the mid-7th to mid-8th centuries AD. It was built in or on the outskirts of Devaparvata, the Samatata capital bordering the Lalambi forest.

How to go

The final destination of the bus is Comilla town, but it will be better for you to get down at Comilla Cantonment, as it is near from Comilla Cantonment rather than Comilla town.

From Cantonment, take a ‘CNG Auto Rickshaw’; it will cost you 70 to 80 taka to reach the Shalban Bihar & Maynamati Museum. Just tell the driver that you want to go to Shalban Bihar &Maynamati Museum. Remember, they will ask BDT 120 to 150 from you for this. So you should be careful. Also there is mini bus transport through the cantonment; it will cost you 10-15 taka to reach at BARD, after that you can take a rickshaw to Shalban Bihar &Maynamati Museum.

How To Reach: Comilla District

Comilla has excellent transport and communication system. Comilla and Dhaka are linked by both road and railway. There is also an airport in the district, but it is not currently being used.

By Road

The road distance of Comilla from Dhaka is 97 kilometers. You can take a bus from Dhaka to reach Comilla. Some of the bus services are listed below for your assistance:
1. Upakule Royal
Komolapur Bus stand
Contact: 01981-002 932, 01981-002 942
2. Tisha
Sayedabad
Contact: 01731-217 322
3. BRTC
Komolapur Bus stand
Contact: 01770-493 775
4. Prime Service
Hatchel Road
Contact: 02-9554496
Buses leave from Dhaka every fifteen minutes starting from 6:15am until 8pm.

Where to Stay

Some of the hotels/motels in Comilla are listed below for your assistance.
1. Ashik Residential Resthouse
Address: 186 Nazrul Avenue, Comilla
Contact: 68781

2. Hotel Abedin
Address: Station Road, Comilla
Contact: 76014

3. Hotel Noorjahan
Address: Dhaka-Chittagong Road, Comilla
Contact: 68737

4. Hotel Sonali
Address: Kandirpar Circle, Comilla
Contact: 63188

Eating Facilities

As well as you can find many quality restaurants here to eat. Referred to where to eat in Comilla, click here

Map

Array ( [0] => Array ( [name] => Bikrompur Bouddha Bihar [post_id] => 8281 [post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/bikrompur-bouddha-bihar/ [thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/bb-1-300x169.jpg [post_content] => Bikrompur Bouddha Bihar(বিক্রমপুর বৌদ্ধ বিহার) is one of the most ancient Buddhist Bihar (Approximately 1000 years old), buried under soil at Rampal union parishad of Raghurampur Village in Munshiganj District. It is assumed that this Bihar was built in late 8th-9th century AD. It was revealed by conducting excavation very recent years. Bihar is a place being used as a Residential Higher Education Center. How it was discovered: Researchers said, from the very beginning they had conducted nine test excavations at Rampal & Bojrojogini Union Parishad, where they found the evidences of pre-medieval human settlement. At the 9th grid they discovered the existence of a brick wall. Depending on that evidence Archaeologist dug a trench measuring 80×60m. Later they discovered this Buddhist Bihar. What can be seen there: In the south-east corner of that structure there are two diagonal brick walls. One is extended from south to north and another one is extended from east to west. Likewise, the other Buddhist Bihar structure the chamber for Buddhist Monk was built beside main brick wall. In the northern side there are five chambers have been revealed. Near to the western there is a another chamber. Dimension of those chambers are nearly three square meter. The side wall dividing the chambers is also being discovered. Observing the architectural strategy and characteristics, researchers had confirmed this feature as a Buddhist Bihar. Similarity had been found in architectural property and design with the Shompur Bihar (Naogaon), Mahasthangarh (Bogra), Shalbon Bihar ( Comilla) and even with Nalonda Bihar of Patna (India). A pancha-stupa (Five stupa) structure is also been discovered at the middle of that Bihar. ) [1] => Array ( [name] => {:en}Jagadbandhu Sree Angan{:}{:bn}জগদবন্ধু শ্রীঅঙ্গন{:} [post_id] => 5897 [post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/jagodbondhu-sree-angan-or-sreedham-sree-angan/ [thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Jagodbondhu-Sree-Angon-300x240.jpg [post_content] => {:en}

Jagadbandhu Sree Angan or Sreedham Sree Angan was established by the "Jagadbandhu Shundar" during the "Roth Jatra" festival of "Ashar 1306" of Bengali calendar. The land for the Angan was donated by "Sreeram Sundar" and "Sreeram Kumarmudi". Everyday lots of "bhokto"(devotee) used to visit the place. For them, the Angan has a facility for providing accommodations. It has around 30 rooms that can take 150 devotee. This Angan is a specious area, and there are several prayer hall around it. If you enter the prayer halls, you have to take your shoes off.

Most interesting thing about the Angan premise is, that it was the "Nouka Mandir". Inside the Mandir, a boat is placed. The founder, Jagadbandhu used to go for a jaunt at river Padma with His devotees, and returned during the last part of the night. This is the reason for such name. Beside the Nouka Mandir, there is a "Roth" placed inside a building. The Roth was completely made from wood. This is not looked like a giant one, only a medium one. During the "Roth jatra" at Ashar of Bengali Almanac, this is used to exhibit for the people. This place is calm and relent place, no chaos from the outside life. If you pass some time inside the premise, it will simply please your mind.

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বাংলা ১৩০৬ সালের আষাঢ় মাসে রথযাত্রা উৎসবের সময় জগদবন্ধু সুন্দর এই অঙ্গনটি প্রতিষ্ঠা করেন। শ্রীরাম সুন্দর এবং শ্রীরাম কুমারমুদি অঙ্গনের জন্য জমি দান করেন। প্রতিদিন প্রচুর ভক্ত (পুন্যারথী) এখানে আসেন যাদের জন্য অঙ্গনে থাকার ব্যবস্থা রয়েছে। অঙ্গনের ৩০টি কক্ষে প্রায় ১৫০ জন ভক্ত থাকতে পারেন। এই অঙ্গনে প্রার্থনার জন্য বেশকিছু কক্ষ রয়েছে যেখানে আপনাকে খালি পায়ে প্রবেশ করতে হবে। অঙ্গনের অভ্যন্তরে একটি নৌকা মন্দির রয়েছে। এই মন্দিরের অভ্যন্তরে একটি নৌকা রাখা আছে। অঙ্গনের প্রতিষ্ঠাতা জগদবন্ধু ভক্তদের নিয়ে পদ্মা নদীতে প্রমোদবিহারে যেতেন এবং রাতের শেষভাগে ফিরে আসতেন। এই কারনেই নৌকা মন্দিরের এমন নামকরণ করা হয়েছে। নৌকা মন্দির ছাড়াও অঙ্গনে সম্পূর্ণ কাঠের তৈরি মাঝারি আকারের একটি রথ রাখা আছে। বাংলা আষাঢ় মাসে রথ যাত্রার সময় এই রথটি প্রদর্শন করা হয়। অঙ্গনের কোলাহলমুক্ত শান্ত পরিবেশে কিছু সময় কাটালে আপনি মানসিক প্রশান্তি অর্জন করবেন।

{:} ) [2] => Array ( [name] => Basabo Buddhist Monastery [post_id] => 7276 [post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/basabo-buddhist-monastery/ [thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Buddhist-Temple-Bashabo-Dhaka-01-225x300.jpg [post_content] => Dhaka is the city of mosque and we are blessed with myriad of mosques at this compacted town. Comparing to Muslims, there are very few people from Bangladesh are having Buddhist in religion and which reflects to the number of their prayer halls. Dharmarajika Buddhist Monastery (ধর্মরাজিকা বৌদ্ধ মন্দির) is such a prayer hall (also known as Bashabo Buddha Mandir) located inside the Dhaka city. It was built during 1962 to conduct their activities for Buddhist community alongside the prayer, teaching, and meditation. This temple has a medium sized pond inside and beside this, you'll find a large golden status of Buddha standing on the Lotus. Also you'll find the teaching (Pali Language) center and the prayer hall inside the premise. [This spot needs more detail. If you have more information and photos, please be advised to add in our website. Your name will be published as a Content Contributor] ) [3] => Array ( [name] => {:en}Lamarpara Khyang{:}{:bn}লামাপাড়া খিয়াং{:} [post_id] => 5571 [post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/lamarpara-kyang/ [thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/offroadbangladeshlogo2-300x178.png [post_content] => {:en}

Lamarpara Khyang is located on the bank of the Bakkhali River that flows past the Fatekharkul union of Ramu Pourasova, 1 km. south of Ramu Chowmohony Bus-station. The Lamarpara Kyang was built in the first decade of the 19th century by Mr. Thu Aung Gyaw Chowdhury, one of the celebrities of Ramu. The brass image of the Lord Buddha set up on a marble pedestal inside the temple is the second biggest of its king in Bangladesh, the image of the Lord Buddha unearthed in the palace of Bhoj Raja in Comilla being the biggest one.

The artistry of all the structures of the temple complex made of Burma-teak is likely to elate one with wonder. Almost all the Kyangs are of the same pattern and house hundreds of big and small images of the Buddha. There are about twenty three such Khyangs in Ramu only. Except Kutubdia, there are such Kyangs in all other thanas of the district. The Bara Khyang or the big Khyang of Haitopi deserves special mention.

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লামাপাড়া খিয়াং কক্সবাজার জেলার রামু পৌরসভার অধীনে ফতেখারকুল ইউনিয়নে রামু চৌমুহনী বাসস্ট্যান্ডের ১ কিলোমিটার দক্ষিনে বাকখালী নদীর তীরে অবস্থিত। ১৯ শতকের প্রথম দশকে রামুর প্রখ্যাত ব্যাক্তিত্ব জনাব থু অং গিয়াও চৌধুরী এই খিয়াংটি নির্মাণ করেন। এখানেই বাংলাদেশের দ্বিতীয় বৃহৎ পিতল নির্মিত বুদ্ধ মূর্তিটি একটি মার্বেলের মঞ্চের উপর স্থাপন করা হয়েছে। বার্মা টিকে তৈরি এই খিয়াংটির স্থাপত্যশৈলী আপনাকে মুগ্ধ করবে। কুতুবদিয়া ব্যাতিত কক্সবাজার জেলার প্রায় সব থানাতেই এমন খিয়াং চোখে পরবে। শুধু রামুতেই এরকম প্রায় ২৩টি খিয়াং রয়েছে তবে এসকল খিয়াং এর মধ্যে হাইতোপিতে অবস্থিত বিশাল খিয়াংটি বিশেষভাবে উল্ল্যেখযোগ্য।

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