Buddhist Site
Somapura Mahavihara, Paharpur: A Landmark of Buddhist Heritage in Bangladesh
Somapura Mahavihara, Paharpur: A Landmark of Buddhist Heritage in Bangladesh, Paharpur, Badalgachhi Upazila, Naogaon District
Somapura Mahavihara at Paharpur stands as one of the most important archaeological and religious heritage sites in Bangladesh and the wider Buddhist world. Located in present-day Naogaon District in northwestern Bangladesh, the monument is internationally recognized for its scale, architectural sophistication, and historical significance as a major center of Buddhist learning during the Pala period (UNESCO World Heritage Centre, n.d.; Ahmed, 2012). More than a ruined monastery, Somapura Mahavihara represents a remarkable cultural landscape where architecture, religion, art, and education once came together in a highly organized monastic setting.