Shalban Vihara, Buddhist monastery ruins in Cumilla District, Bangladesh.
Shalban Vihara is a Buddhist monastery complex with a rectangular layout where each side measures approximately 168 meters, containing around 155 rooms arranged around a central shrine. Protective walls about 5 meters thick once surrounded and defended the entire structure.
The complex was founded in the 7th century by King Srivavadeva of the Deva dynasty as a center for Buddhist learning and practice. The monastery remained active for several centuries before gradually declining around the 12th century.
The monastic cells feature wall niches where monks once kept religious objects and oil lamps for their daily spiritual practices. These spaces reveal how Buddhist community life was organized within the complex.
The site lies approximately 8 kilometers from Cumilla city center and is accessible by CNG vehicles or auto-rickshaws from there. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended since exploring the grounds requires moving through the ruins on foot.
Excavations at this site uncovered eight copper plate inscriptions, hundreds of gold and silver coins, and numerous terracotta seals. These discoveries reveal the wealth and importance this monastery once held in the Buddhist world.
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