M Mahmud Ali

Bangladesh is a land of cultural heritage and diverse archaeological sites. The ancient Pala Empire existed between 756 and 1174 AD in northeastern India, which included the areas of Bengal and Magadha. Hundreds of Buddha viharas (monasteries) were established by the rulers of the Pala dynasty, but five were distinct as mahaviharas (great monasteries), namely Somapura (Bangladesh), Jagaddala (Bangladesh), Odantapura (India), Vikramashila (India) and Nalanda (India).
The five great monasteries served as seats of learning. Dharmapala (781-821), the second Pala king, is said to have founded 50 viharas himself, including Vikramashila, the most prominent one. Jagaddala Mahavihara specialised in ‘Vajrayana Buddhism’. The Mahavihara was founded by King Ramapala. Scholars believe that inhabitants of Jagaddala abandoned the monastery ahead of Muslim invaders and it was destroyed in 1207. The abandoned monastery is located at Jagaddal village in Dhamurhat upazila, 65 km north of Naogaon town. It is a protected site of the Department of Archaeology (DOA).
DOA undertook a limited excavation project in 1996. The limited exploration has revealed an extensive mound of 105 metres by 85 metres. The excavation work yielded some important artifacts such as stone sculptures, terracotta plaques, ornamental bricks, nails, a gold ingot and three stone images of Buddhist deities like Tara, Jhambala and Gautama Buddha. The terracotta plaques decorating one of the walls depict deer, birds, an archer and a doorkeeper. A black stone image of Vishnu, as well as a limestone-carved image of Heruka, the wrathful protector of Buddhist devotees, has also been unearthed. It seems to be an early medieval Buddhist monastery
In 1999, DOA submitted details of Jagaddala Mahavihara to UNESCO for inclusion as a World Heritage Site. It is currently on UNESCO’s tentative site list for this status.