Mahasthangarh,Totaram Panditer Dhap

 

Mahasthangarh is one of the most ancient cities in Bangladesh. It has a significant archaeological importance in the history of Bangladesh. Bihar Dhap is an important archaeological site in Shibganj Upazila of Bogra district. It is also locally known as Totaram Pandit's step or the home of Totaram Pandit. 

Location: The site is located in the village of Bihar in Shibganj, Bogra. Nagar river flows west and south of it.It is located about four kilometers northwest of Mahasthangarh and about one kilometer from Bhasu Bihar.   

History of the site: Famous Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang (638-645 AD) During this period traveled to this region of Bengal. He referred to a monastery named Po-Si-Po Bihar at 6 km west of Mahasthangarh. It is believed that this monastic phase is the Po Che-poh Bihar. There was a continuous excavation work from 1979-1986. 

In addition to this, two Buddhist monasteries along the west side and a temple structure on the east were partially opened. Later, excavation work was carried out again in 2005-06. Then a section of the ruins of another temple was exposed besides the previously discovered temple. Two temples are north-facing. 

There are more than 1,000 different types of artifacts that have been found here due to excavation at different times. Among them, the bronze meditative Buddha statue, silver coins, glass beads, 60 terracotta plaques, burnt seals, patches, earthenware, 100 designs made bricks, iron nails etc. 

By analyzing the characteristics of archaeological remains and related artifacts of the first construction period, the period of this era was determined by four or five centuries. It is believed that the second and third years of the six to the 10th century. Old brick recycling has been observed in many ways in the architecture of the fourth to the fifth generation. It is further estimated that at least some time from the eleventh to the 12th century this place fell.  

Infrastructure: At one time, the mound-shaped area was about 250 meters in length and the width was about 220 meters and the land was about 2 meters high. In the first phase, it was discovered to be 57 meters north-south and 61-meter east-west monastery. 

In the middle of which there is an open courtyard, around which 37 monks can be seen. The location of 10 rooms on the north and south sides, 8 in the east and 9 on the west side is observed. The thickness of the walls of the walls ranges from 2 meters to 2.6 meters. 

The two temples found here are six feet tall and 5 meters east-west and probably 6 meters long in the north-south. Each step is 24cm wide, 1.70cm long and 27cm high. It's plaster is made of 2 cm thick and made of brick and clay. It is called thunderstorm and which has not yet been found in any other ancient temple architecture in Bangladesh. 

In the second construction period, a new temple was built on the west side and the old temple was rebuilt, connecting the old temple with the construction of the first construction era. As the excavation work is still not complete, the entire structure of the second temple has not been exposed. We hope further excavation will give us more important history about Mahasthangarh.