Mahasthangarh, located in the village of Mahasthan in Bogra District, Bangladesh, is an ancient urban archaeological site. This historical site, also known as Pundranagara or Paundravardhanapura, traces its origins to the 3rd century BCE as evidenced by a Brahmi script inscription on a limestone slab found in 1931. Initially thriving under the Maurya Empire, this fortified city remained significant until the 8th century CE.
Geography
Mahasthangarh, the ancient capital of Pundravardhana, is situated approximately 11 km north of Bogra along the Bogra-Rangpur highway. A feeder road, running along the eastern side of the citadel’s ramparts for 1.5 km, leads to Jahajghata and the site museum. Travelers coming from Dhaka to Bogra can find buses that make the 4.5-hour journey, crossing the Jamuna River via the Bangabandhu Jamuna Bridge. From Bogra, there are buses available to Mahasthangarh, and local rickshaws can be hired for short trips within the area. Hired transportation options are accessible from Dhaka or Bogra. Accommodation facilities can be found in Bogra.
The selection of this location for the city was influenced by several factors. Firstly, it is one of the highest areas in Bangladesh, with the land elevation reaching approximately 36 meters above sea level, in contrast to the capital city of Dhaka, which stands at around 6 meters above sea level. Additionally, the positioning and size of the Karatoya River played a significant role in the decision. In the 13th century, the Karatoya River was three times wider than the Ganges River.
Mahasthangarh is situated on the red soil of the Barind Tract, slightly elevated within the predominantly alluvial region. This elevation, ranging from 15 to 25 meters above the surrounding areas, provides relative protection from flooding, making it a favorable physiographic location.
Discovery & Citadel
The discovery and identification of Mahasthangarh’s ruins involved several notable individuals. In 1808, Francis Buchanan Hamilton was the first to locate and visit the site, followed by C.J. O’Donnell, E.V. Westmacott, and Beveridge. Alexander Cunningham, who visited in 1879, was the first to recognize Mahasthangarh as the capital of Pundravardhana.
Unfortunately, on April 19, 2004, The Daily Star reported instances of local residents looting bricks and valuable items from the site. Additionally, some were constructing residences on the site in defiance of government regulations.
The heart of the ancient city, known as the citadel, is rectangular and roughly 1.523 kilometers (0.946 miles) long from north to south and 1.371 kilometers (0.852 miles) from east to west. It is fortified with high and wide ramparts on all sides and covers an area of approximately 185 hectares. The Karatoya, once a mighty river, now flows as a small stream on its eastern side.
Before excavations began in the 1920s, the interior of the citadel was over 4 meters higher than the surrounding areas, featuring scattered elevated pieces of land. The rampart appeared as a jungle-covered mud rampart with openings at several points. This rampart was 11–13 meters (36–43 feet) higher than the surrounding terrain. At the southeastern corner, a mazhar (holy tomb) stood, and a mosque built in 1718–19 was also present.
Today, the citadel houses several mounds and structural remnants. Notable among them are Jiat Kunda, believed to have life-giving properties, Mankalir Dhap dedicated to Mankali, Parasuramer Basgriha, a palace associated with King Parasuram, Bairagir Bhita, a palace for a female anchorite, Khodar Pathar Bhita, a place with a stone bestowed by God, and Munir Ghon, a bastion. Various gateways can be found at different points, including Kata Duar (north), Dorab Shah Toran (east), Burir Fatak (south), and Tamra Dawaza (west). At the northeast corner, there is a flight of steps known as Jahajghata. On the banks of the Karatoya lies Govinda Bhita, a temple dedicated to Govinda, with a nearby site museum showcasing representative findings and a rest house.
Mahasthangarh Excavations Overview
The systematic archaeological excavation of Mahasthangarh commenced in 1928–29, led by K.N. Dikshit of the Archaeological Survey of India. Initial explorations encompassed areas such as Jahajghata, Munir Ghon, and Bairagir Bhita. Subsequent excavations took place in 1934–36 at Bairagir Bhita and Govinda Bhita, followed by further efforts in the 1960s around Mazhar, Parasuramer Prasad, Mankalir Dhap, and Jiat Kunda. Excavation activities also extended to parts of the northern rampart. Later phases of excavation included sporadic work on the east and north ramparts, with the final report pending. Between 1992–98, excavations took place in the area between Bairagir Bhita and the gateway exposed in 1991, undertaken as a Bangla-Franco joint venture. This project, now in its second phase, includes excavation around the mazhar on the western side of the citadel.
Discoveries and Movable Antiquities
The excavations at Mahasthangarh unearthed a wealth of historical artifacts, including:
- Inscriptions: Notable among these finds is a 4.4 cm x 5.7 cm limestone slab inscribed with six lines in Prakrit using the Brahmi script, discovered accidentally in 1931. This inscription appears to be a royal order from Magadh, potentially during the reign of Asoka, dating the antiquity of Mahasthangarh to the 3rd century BC. Additionally, an Arabic inscriptional slab from 1300–1301 mentions the construction of a tomb in honor of Numar Khan, a naval fleet lieutenant. Another Persian inscriptional slab from 1718–19 records the construction of a mosque during the rule of Mughal Emperor Farrukhsiyar.
- Coins: The excavation yielded silver punch-marked coins dating from the 4th century BC to the 1st–2nd century AD. Some uninscribed copper cast coins were also discovered. Nearby Vamanpara village revealed two Gupta period coins, and coins from the sultans of the 14th–15th century and the British East India Company were also found.
- Ceramics: The ceramics collection primarily comprises numerous pottery shards.
- Sculpture: Several remarkable sculptures were uncovered, including a 5th-century Buddha stone sculpture from Vasu Vihara, a Lokesvara stone sculpture displaying elements of Vishnu and Avalokiteśvara, sandstone door-frames, pillars, and lintels dating from the 5th–12th century, numerous bronze Buddha sculptures from the 10th–11th century, a terracotta Surya discovered at Mankalir Bhita, among other pieces.
- Terracotta Plaques: Numerous terracotta plaques were also discovered during the excavations.
These archaeological treasures are now on display at the site museum, which is open to the public from Sunday to Thursday during summer (10 am to 6 pm) and winter (9 am to 5 pm), with a recess from 1–2 pm.
On Fridays, the recess is from 12.30 to 2.30 pm, and the museum opens at 9 am in the summer, with similar timings during other seasons.
Notably, summer timings are observed from April 1 to September 30, while winter timings apply from October 1 to March 30. Books on Mahasthangarh and other archaeological sites in Bangladesh, available in Bengali and English, can be obtained at the ticket counter for the site museum.