Archaeological excavations at Nateshwar Deul in Tongibari upazila of Munshiganj have unearthed a large and rich stupa complex of the Atish Dipankar era for the first time in Bangladesh.
Atish Dipankar was one of the most venerated Buddhist saints and scholars in Asia, who was born in this area over a thousand years ago.
The discovery of the stupa complex was announced in a press conference on Wednesday … the stupa complex, a mound-like or hemispherical structure containing relics that is used as a place of meditation, was built between the 10th-11th century. 1
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State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid visited the stupa complex discovered during the excavation.2
The state minister also inaugurated the Bikrampur Museum at the Raghurampur Buddhist Monastery archaeological site in Munshiganj Sadar upazila on Wednesday afternoon.
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- 1. Among last year's discoveries was a large-sized aesthetic central octagonal mound. It also had four stupa halls around it. This time, two large octagonal mounds, a memorial chamber, part of a protective wall, and carved bricks have been added to the symbolic architecture through excavations. A special kind of architectural memorial chamber in the center of the octagonal mound is a rare and significant discovery. The ashes of Gautama Buddha or his important disciples and their used things were kept in this chamber. Its upper part is round and the lower part is quadrangular.
- 2. "We can learn about our past history from the excavations at Nateshwar. Tourists want to visit historical places. For that purpose, Nateshwar Deul will be developed as a tourist spot. The government is cooperating with this project in all aspects,” said KM Khalid.
