The Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur

The Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur, 200 Kilometres northwest of Dhaka, was founded in 7th century. It is the largest single Buddhist monastery in the Indian subcontinent and is also known as the Somapura Mahavira, the Great Monastery. It was a renowned intellectual centre from the 7th century until the 17th century. Its layout is perfectly adapted to its religious function. This monastery- city represents a unique artistic achievement which has influenced Buddhist architecture as far away as Combodia. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1985 at the 9th session of the 21- member international committee.