The Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur

The Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur, 200 kilometers northwest of Dhaka was founded in the 7th century. It is the largest single Buddhist monastery in the India subcontinent and is also known as the Somapura Mahavira, the Great Monastery. It was a renowned intellectual center from the 7th century until the 17th century. Its layout is perfectly adapted to its religious function.This monastery-city represents a unique artistic achievement which has influenced Buddhist architecture as far away as Cambodia.It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1985 at the 9th session of the 21-member international committee.