BANGLADESH ~ Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara - Paharpur - UNESCO ~

... One more great new UNESO site👍... Paharpur Bihar (Sompur Bihar) is one of the most important and spectacular archaeological sites in Bangladesh... and the second largest single Buddhist monastery south of the Himalayas...  it was the Buddhist's most famous religious center for 300 years... Buddhists from other countries like China, Tibet, Myanmar (earlier Burma), Malaysia, Indonesia, etc. used to come here to achieve the study of religion... the monasterial remains have been hidden under the same grass and stones for centuries, after the monks left in the 13thC... locals thought it to be a hill, hence the name Paharpur (hill town)... it was discovered by Sir Cunninghamthis in 1879... in the museum you can see ancient coins, 3,500 burnt soil paintings, seals, stone statues, inscription, etc.... Thanks a lot Zahra!【ツ】 

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The Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur comprise a Buddhist Monastery dating from the late 8thC located in Paharpur, in the northwest of Bangladesh. The monastery was named after the area, Sompur, during Pala period.

The monastery is built as a quadrangle, measuring 281m on each side. All outer four wings contain monastic cells, 177 in total. In the center of the vast open courtyard of the monastery stands the shrine. Its remains are still 21m high and have three gradually diminishing terraces. The walls were built of burnt bricks, some ornamented with motif of flowers and seated Buddhas. There were also bands of terracotta plaques in rows all around the terraces. From the 12thC on, after numerous attacks by invaders, the monks left and the monastery buildings suffered decline and desintegration.

Paharpur Buddhist Monastery was declared a World Heritage site in 1985.

 Stamps:

 Fish Eagle 

(Issued 15-08-2018)

2X Flowers of Bangladesh

(Issued 03-08-2017)