Mahasthangarh
(Bengali: মহাস্থানগড় Môhasthangôṛ) is one of the earliest urban archaeological
sites so far discovered in Bangladesh. The village Mahasthan in Shibganj thana
of Bogra District contains the remains of an ancient city which was called
Pundranagara or Paundravardhanapura in the territory of Pundravardhana. A
limestone slab bearing six lines in Prakrit in Brahmi script recording a land
grant, discovered in 1931, dates Mahasthangarh to at least the 3rd century BC.
The fortified area was in use until the 8th century AD. See More..
Mahasthangarh
(Pundranagar), the ancient capital of Pundravardhana is located 11 km (6.8 mi)
north of Bogra on the Bogra-Rangpur highway, with a feeder road (running along
the eastern side of the ramparts of the citadel for 1.5 km) leading to
Jahajghata and site museum.[7] Buses are available for Bogra from Dhaka and
take 4½ hours for the journey via Bangabandhu Jamuna Bridge across the Jamuna
River. Buses are available from Bogra to Mahasthangarh. Rickshaws are available
for local movement. Hired transport is available at Dhaka/ Bogra. Accommodation
is available at Bogra.[8] When travelling in a hired car, one can return to
Dhaka the same day, unless somebody has a plan to visit Somapura Mahavihara at
Paharpur in the district of Naogaon and other places, or engage in a detailed study.
decided upon
because it is one of the highest areas in Bangladesh. The land in the region is
almost 36 metres (118 ft) above sea level, whereas Dhaka, the capital of It is
believed that the location for the city in the area was Bangladesh, is around 6
metres (20 ft) above sea level. Another reason for choosing this place was the
position and size of the Karatoya, which as recently as in the 13th century was
three times wider than Ganges.[9]
Mahasthangarh
stands on the red soil of the Barind Tract which is slightly elevated within
the largely alluvium area. The elevation of 15 to 25 metres above the
surrounding areas makes it a relatively flood free physiographic unit.
Several
personalities contributed to the discovery and identification of the ruins at
Mahasthangarh. Francis Buchanan Hamilton was the first to locate and visit
Mahasthangarh in 1808, C.J.O'Donnell, E.V.Westmacott, and Beveridge followed.
Alexander Cunningham was the first to identify the place as the capital of
Pundravardhana. He visited the site in 1879.
