Shalvan Vihara a tourist centre in Kotbary

Shalvan Vihara a tourist centre noted for antiquity. Salvan Vihara is among the most important excavated sites in mainamati. It lies about the middle of the Lalmai ridge in the vicinity of the present day bangladesh academy for rural development at Kotbari near Comilla. Excavations have exposed a large paharpur type Buddhist monastery and other material objects datable from the 7th to 12th centuries AD. Formally arranged in four wings around a central shrine, this 167.6m square monastery contains a total of 155 cells. Its single entrance in the middle of the north wing is set in a grand 22.6m wide front facade with guardrooms projected outwards. All the walls of the monastery are solid and massive, the back wall being the most massive, 5m thick. This feature, together with the forbidding character of the single gateway with its guardrooms, and the dreary look of the massive outer wall, must have given it the appearance and utility of a citadel necessitated by the increasing wealth of these establishments and the insecurity of the period. Deep diggings in the monastery have revealed four repair and rebuilding phases, the earliest corresponding to Period III of the central shrine (7th-8th century AD). No monastery remains corresponding to Periods II and I have yet been found. During the next two phases, that is to say, Periods IV and V (9th to 10th century AD), new floors and thresholds were built on top of earlier remains. Fireplace and ornamental brick pedestals, two interesting features noticed inside the cells, were added later during these phases. They do not belong to the original plan. They, evidently, relate to individual cooking and cult worship inside the cells by a few resident monks. There was, of course, a community kitchen and a great shrine in the establishment for all monks. Other interesting features noticed are a few flight of steps in the courtyard, grand staircases in the corner rooms, chapels in the central cells, and three corbelled niches in each cell for keeping votive images, lamps, and reading and writing materials. The Central Shrine The central shrine at Shalvan Vihara consists not of one but six different structures built successively on the same spot in different periods and on different plans. They provide interesting evidence of the evolution and gradual transformation of traditional Buddhist stupa architecture into that of the Hindu temple. The remains of the first two periods are hidden below the Period III cruciform shrine built with the monastery as a single complex. The Cruciform Shrine It is an exceedingly interesting piece of architecture resembling in ground plan a Greek cross, 51.8m long, with chapels built in the projecting arms. Its basement walls are embellished with a stringcourse of delightfully sculptured terracotta plaques set within parallel bands of ornamental bricks. This shrine bears a striking resemblance with that of Paharpur and represents a fully developed and finished example of the 7th-8th century Buddhist temple architecture of Bengal. Since the Mainamati monuments are unquestionably earlier in date by about a century, and as there are a number of early and intermediary stages of development in this evolutionary process clearly traceable in Mainamati, it is reasonable to assume that Mainamati supplied prototypes of cruciform shrines not only for Paharpur and Vikramashila in eastern India but also for subsequent developments in Burma, Indonesia and Indochina. The next two periods (IV and V) witnessed further interesting developments in the plan of the central shrine. In these periods, the cruciform shape has been replaced by an oblong one. Fully open, spacious and functional, it is much nearer to a Hindu temple. In these structural changes may lie the primary reason for discontinuing traditional terracotta decorations in the basement walls of Buddhist shrines. The main attraction in these evolved shrines shifted from the outer walls around the ambulatory path to the inner chambers where the images, sculptures and architectural decorations lie. The Subsidiary Structures Excavations have also exposed here a number of subsidiary structures including a community dining establishment, smaller oblong, pillared and square shrines, votive stupas with excellently moulded plinth and base, and a variety of other buildings both inside and outside the monastic quadrangle. The interesting medium-sized outer shrine looks more like a classical peristyle temple representing an individual style not hitherto observed in any other site. Other Discoveries Important discoveries from this site include eight copperplate inscriptions, about 400 gold and silver coins, many terracotta and baked clay seals and sealings, and a large number of sculptures in stone, bronze and terracotta found in situ or otherwise.

Kutila Mura, Comilla

Kutila Mura stupas stand majestically on top of the highest mound in the northeastern part of the Lalmai ridge near ananda vihara. The stupas are among the best preserved and most attractive monuments in mainamati. In form and style, they differ from those of shalvan vihara and other sites. They represent the traditional style, while Shalvan Vihara and others reveal an evolved style. The three main stupas here, standing north south in a row, apparently symbolise the 'three jewels' of Buddhism (tri-ratna): Buddha (knowledge), Dharma (morality) and Sanggha (discipline). The foundation of the middle stupa was laid in the form of a Dharma-chakra, its hub being represented by a deep shaft, while the spokes were formed by eight box-chambers where innumerable tiny terracotta and clay votive stupas and sealing were enshrined together with large pieces of a class of fine Buddhist sculptures in soft grey shale. The foundation shafts of other stupas also contained similar relics, but no sculptures. Evidence from the excavations suggests 7th century as the probable date of the earliest of these monuments; the latest perhaps dates to13th century AD, as indicated by an Abbasid gold coin recovered from an upper level of the site. Five ancient epigraphic records discovered in the Mainamati area refer to two Ratna-traya shrines in devaparvata. It may reasonably be inferred that the Kutila Mura establishment was one of them. A lot of visitor visit in the spot. ~ By Nahid

Ananda Vihara near Kotbari Comilla

Ananda Vihara situated in the archaeologically rich Kotbari area near Comilla, is the largest of the mainamati monuments. It also has the largest water tank in the area. This Vihara complex was built by Anandadeva, the third ruler of the Early deva dynasty, at the end of the 7th or the beginning of 8th century AD. The contractors and brick hunters damaged this great establishment beyond recognition in 1944-45; the builders of the Cantonment did more damage to it in subsequent years. The excavations carried out here are incomplete. The work done so far has revealed the outlines of a large shalvan vihara type monastery, 198m square in size. The Vihara has similar rows of monastic cells arranged in four wings around a large cruciform shrine that stands majestically in the centre of a wide open courtyard. Its imposing single entrance in the middle of the north side is set in a broad and massive front facade projected outwards. It is larger and more elaborate than that of Shalvan Vihara. The massive outer wall is also more pleasing due to the decorations of offsets and mouldings. The inner verandah wall is also decorated with mouldings and ornamental bricks. A few cells in the northern wing and a section of the southern part of the central shrine have been cleared. They show clear evidence of intensive occupation of the site for a long time. Much work remains to be done yet. But the excavations did not continue beyond the initial stage. Its large size, earlier discoveries of a copperplate inscription, a hoard of 63 silver coins, many bronze images, terracotta sculptured plaques and pottery kilns outside the monastery indicate the potential importance of the site.
visit it Today ~ by Nahid

Martyr Minaret In Comilla.bd

The Martyr Minaret was invented to keep the honor of freedom fighter. It is situated in Comilla Cantonment. Firstly The Martyr Minaret was inaugurated Shek Mujibor Rahman in
11 march 1974.
Dhaka "Basto Shilpo" `s inventor Md. Abdur Rashid drew the art without any cost. Lieutenant Colonel Zia Ur Rahman laid the foundation of Martyr Minaret. The work of Martyr Minaret was possible by the help of CEO. Comilla Cantt 44 brigred commander Lieutenant Colonel Nurul Islam’s help and there soldiers help.
Beside the Martyr Minaret the freedom fighters were bury. About 24 graveyards are there. From history we can know that the Pak Hanader killed the freedom fighters and fell them in a big hole.In January 1972 people found their dead bodies.
In the Martyr Minaret there is a museum called "Somor Jadhughar". It was established by General Hossain Mohamed Ershad in 13 August 1989.
In the Martyr Minaret there’s also a library named "Muktijudho Library". It was full of books on our liberation war.
There are many photos which remind us liberation war. Those are very charming.
For these the Martyr Minaret is a very important historical place. ~ Posted by SHAHID