About 8 km to the west of Comilla town, which is situated 114 km south east of Dhaka, lies a range of low hills known as Mainamati-Lalmai ridge, an extensive centre of Buddhist civilization ( 7-12 century A.D.). At Salban in the middle of the ridge, excavations laid bare a large Buddhist Vihar (Monastery) and imposing central shrine. It has revealed valuable information about the rule of the Chandra and Dev dynasties, which flourished here from the 7-12 century.

Paharpur is a small village in the Rajshai district (northern part of the Bangladesh) 315 km from Dhaka, where the remains of the monastery have been excavated. This 7-th century archaeological find covers approximately an area of 10.8 hectors of land. The hugeness of central cruciform temple of the monastery is an awe-inspiring sight. It had taken its name from a high mound, which looked like Pahar or Hillock.

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