Mainamati (Shalban Vihara)
Mainamati-Lalmai Ridge · Shalban Vihara Complex
Early Medieval 7th–13th c CE·Buddhist Samatata Chandra dynasty·🇧🇩 Chittagong Division, Comilla District, Mainamati-Lalmai ridge 8 km west of Comilla, Bangladesh
About
About Mainamati (Shalban Vihara)
Mainamati-Lalmai ridge — Buddhist monastic city (7th–13th c CE) 8 km west Comilla, 18 major mounds (Shalban Vihara, Ananda Vihara, Kotila Mura) excavated 1955–73 F.A. Khan. Shalban 7th–12th c cruciform temple with 155 cells, Ananda 8th c cross-shaped, terracotta, bronze, Samatata inscriptions. Pala–Chandra–Deva phases. Pleistocene terrace island.
Why it mattersOnly Pleistocene-ridge Buddhist city in Bengal delta — Samatata type-site
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Ridge water management in monsoon?
Theories
- 01Samatata as Arakan–Bengal Buddhist corridor
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.7th c CE Shalban; Ananda 8th c
- Period
- Early Medieval 7th–13th c CE
- Culture
- Buddhist Samatata Chandra dynasty
- Builders
- Chandra–Deva and Pala kings
- Purpose
- Monastic university ridge and Samatata administrative centre
- Excavation
- Excavated
7th c
Shalban Vihara foundation
8th c
Ananda Vihara cross-shaped temple
1955–73
F.A. Khan excavations
On the ground
Structures & features
23.4259° N · 91.1377° E · 30 m · 2 mapped features
Shalban Vihara Monastery
vihara155-cell vihara with cruciform temple
23.4269° N · 91.1369° EAnanda Vihara and Kotila Mura Stupa
templeCross-shaped Ananda temple and Kotila Mura stupa mound
23.4244° N · 91.1388° E