traveling

Travel: Visit Naogaon's Jagaddal Vihar

The Dhaka Times Desk To get a real sense of history and tradition, you have to visit Jagaddal Vihar in Naogaon. If you go here, you will see many things of history with your own eyes.

নওগাঁ জেলা সদর হতে ৫২ কিলোমিটার দূরে ধামইরহাট উপজেলার একটি প্রাচীন প্রত্নতাত্ত্বিক স্থান হলো এই জগদ্দল বিহার। প্রায় ৯শ’ বছরের প্রাচীন এই স্থাপত্য নিদর্শন স্থানীয়দের কাছে বটকৃষ্ণ জমিদার বাড়ির ধ্বংসাবশেষ হিসাবেও পরিচিত। মূলত জগদ্দল মহাবিহার ১১শ’ হতে ১২শ’ শতাব্দীর দিকে প্রতিষ্ঠিত একটি বৌদ্ধ বিহার এবং শিক্ষা কেন্দ্র।

Historical sources say that in the 11th century, after defeating King Rampal Bhima, Varendra recovered his beloved homeland and established the capital Ramavati near Paharpur for the common people and Jagaddal Mahavihara (university) for the spread of education. Established in the latter half of the Pala period, famous scholars like Vibhutichandra, Acharya Mokshakar Gupta, Acharya Dansheel, Shubhakar Gupta were engaged in learning and research in this Vihar, an important place in the field of education and initiation in ancient Bengal. This Bihar is mentioned in various Dharmamangal poetry books of ancient Bengal and Niharanjan Ray's Bengali history book.

The length of Jagaddal Mahavihara is 105 meters from east to west, 85 meters from north to south and height is 5.40 meters. Excavations at the site in 1997 unearthed a partial architectural structure of a Bihar and some important archaeology. Later excavations in 2000, 2013 and 2014 at more than 32 sites in Jagaddal Vihar yielded decorative statues, 134 artefacts, 14 bronze statues, burnt clay terracotta, 33 monks' rooms and 8x8 meter wide hall. Fragments of the Buddhist monastery roof and granite stone pillars with a thickness of 60 cm have been recovered from this monastery alone. Also discovered through excavations are the ornate stone steps at the entrance to the monks' rooms, and in some places also the goddess' rooms. The valuable antiquities recovered from Jagaddal Vihar are currently preserved in the Paharpur Museum.

how to go

Naogaon can be reached by SR, Shyamoli, Hanif or Mau Enterprise AC/Non-AC buses from Kalyanpur, Gabtali or Abdullahpur in Dhaka. On reaching Naogaon you can take a local bus to Jagaddal Vihar located at Dhamirhat.

Also it is possible to go to this Bihar easily from Jaipurhat district. You can go to Jagaddal Vihar which is 3 km from Hartaki Danga Hat via Mangal Bari Dhamirhat road from District Headquarter.

where will you stay

Private accommodation in Naogaon includes Hotel Plaban, Hotel Avakash, Hotel Yamuna, Hotel Farial, Mallika Inn, Hotel Raj are some of the residential hotels where you can stay as you wish.