Description of the attraction
The term "vihara" originally denoted the refuge of wandering monks, and later - a Buddhist monastery. The monks led a wandering lifestyle, having no permanent housing, and only the rainy season they spent in huts of temporary construction. It was considered honorable to shelter a monk and provide him with food. Instead of small huts, wealthy laymen professing Buddhism built luxurious complexes. Usually they were located close to trade routes, which contributed to the prosperity and well-being of the monasteries.
Somapura Mahavihara is considered the largest monastery on the Indian part of the continent. It is located in the city of Paharpur, in the northwest of the country. Its foundation at the beginning of the 8th century is attributed to the ruler Dharmapala.
The layout is traditional, with a central stupa and cells built in the form of a surrounding square. In total, there are 177 monks' cells in Somapura Mahavihara, farm buildings adjoined from the east, west and south. The outer wall from the side of the entrance is faced with terracotta clay plates with images of Buddha. The total area of the complex is over 85 thousand square meters.
The monastery flourished until the 11th century, when it was burned down by the Indian conquerors of Vanga. Later, the buildings were rebuilt, but with the spread of Islam, the complex was forgotten and abandoned. UNESCO in the 20th century provided funds in the amount of several million dollars for the restoration of a Buddhist religious monument, and inscribed it as a protected World Heritage Site in 1985.
