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Somapura Mahavihara or Paharpur vihara

Introduction
Somapura Mahavihara (Sanskrit; Bengali: োসোমপুর মহোিবহোর Shompur Môhabihar) in Paharpur,
Naogaon, Bangladesh (25°1'51.83"N, 88°58'37.15"E) is among the best known Buddhist
viharas in the Indian Subcontinent and is one of the most important archaeological sites in the
country.

Since its discovery in the early twentieth century the ruins of Sompur Buddhist monastery
became the focus of the scholars of the architectural history of Bengal. This mega structure
became a landmark in the history of architecture for two reasons. Firstly it marks an important
transition between the subconscious and vernacular mode architecture to the most conscious,
symbolic and metaphoric mode. Secondly, it represents a particular era when Buddhism had its
last stronghold under the royal patronage of the Pala kings and gradually transformed into a
more ritualistic practice than the philosophical doctrine as preached by Buddha, which is known
as neo-Buddhism or Tantric’ Buddhism. Considering its cultural and historical significance,
UNESCO has inscribed it as a World’s Cultural Heritage Site in 1985.

Architecture
Sompur Mahavihara was one of the major learning centres during the heyday of Buddhism in
Bengal under the Pala kings (8th-11th centuries AD). The quadrangular structure consists of
177 cells and a Buddhist temple in the centre. The rooms were used by the monks for
accommodation and meditation. In addition to the large number of stupas and shrines of various
sizes and shapes, terracotta plaques, stone sculptures, inscriptions, coins, ceramics etc. have
been discovered.
The central lofty pyramidal structure lies in the middle of the 22 acres courtyard. The structure
rises upward in a tapering mass of three receding terraces, which, even ruins, reaches a height
of 23 meters. Each of the terraces has a circum-ambulatory passage around the monument. At
the topmost terrace (of the existing ruin) there were four antechambers on the projecting arms
of the cross. The overall design of this complicated architecture is cantered on a square hollow
shaft, which runs down from the present top of the mound to the level of second terrace.