CITIES OF PALA DYNASTY (8TH AD to 12TH AD)

1. Pundranagar/ Mahastan
2. Kotalipara
3. Bhitorgarh
4. Gauda/ Gaur
5. Samata
6. Varendra

Figure. Cities of Pala Dynasty

PUNDRANAGAR /MAHASTHAN
Current Location: Mahastan, Shibgonj, Bogura, Rajshahi
Establishment: 3rd B.C
Nearby River: Karatoa
City Type: Riverine Trading-religious fort City
Reason for Abandon: Political, Change of river course

CHARACTERISTICS:
• Inland port city
• The city was ornate with stupas and temples
• Strong and mega engineering fortification
• Massive thick walls constructed to control river courses
• Hierarchy based pattern
• Constructed with several stratums
• Densely shops and Trading hubs were enclosed with public space
and temples

Finding:

Figure. 8th century geographical Situation of Mahastan

PUNDRANAGAR /MAHASTHAN
DOMAINS & SETTLEMENT PATTERN:
Private Realm:

Neighborhood:

Religious Domain:

Commercial Strips:

Figure. 8th century geographical Situation of Mahastan

PUNDRANAGAR /MAHASTHAN
SETTLEMENT SEGMENT PATTERN:
Plate 01: Plate 02:

Plate 03: Plate 04:

Plate 05: Plate 06:

Figure. Settlement segment patterns of Mahastan

KOTALIPARA Fortress Trade City
Current Location: Kotalipara, Gopalganj
Establishment: 6th AD during the Pala Dynasty
Nearby River: Ghaggar River
City Type: Riverine Trading Fort City
Reason for Abandon: Political, Change of river course

CHARACTERISTICS:
• Watery Fort
• Organizational Sequence
• Square Shape of 23 sq. km
• High Wall of 15 ft to 30 ft
• Cultural Centre
• Centre of Sea-borne Trade and Commerce
• Suffered in remote antiquity (Earthquake) Figure. Ground pattern with the ancient city of Kotalipara

Finding:
The relation of water with the defensive character and functions of the fort, a peculiar characteristics in the deltaic Bengal,
is nowhere more apparent and more convincing. Water, an eternally disturbing and obstructing elements to land based
man, has been turned into an effective instrument of defense or offence by these almost semi-aquatic people. It must have
posed an insurmountable barrier to invaders from outside.
BHITORGARH Fortified City
Current Location: Umar Khan Union, Panchagarh, Rangpur
Establishment: 6th-7th Century AD during Prithi Raj of
Pala Dynasty
Nearby River: Telma and Salmara
City Type: Riverine Encampment and Trading Fort City
Reason for Abandon: Political
CHARACTERISTICS:
Unique Form of Defensive Fortification
Several Entry points
Irregular and Oblong in Shape
Area of 25 sq km
High Wall of 14 ft
Brick and Earthen material
Surrounded by Ramparts and Moats
Well-planned Internal Layout Figure. Ground pattern of Bhitorgarh

An ingenious structural feat for irrigation and cultivation

Maharajar dighi with ten brick-paved ghats and brick casing lofty embankments makes Bhitorgarh exceptional

Finding:
The importance of BHITARGARH primarily lay in trade because of its strategic position on the ancient overland and riverine
routes connecting Tibet, Sikkim, Nepal, Bhutan, Assam, Koch Bihar and the regions of the middle and lower Ganga valleys.
GAUDA/ GAUR City
Current Location: Maldah, West Bengal, India & Chapai Nawabganj,
Rajshahi, Bangladesh
Establishment: 7th Century AD during King Shashanka
Nearby River: Ganges and Mahananda
City Type: Riverine and Inland Trading Fort City
Reason for Abandon: Political, River course, Water clogging & Diseases
CHARACTERISTICS:

Finding:
SAMATATA
Current Location: Cumilla, Noakhali, Shylet
Establishment: 3rd Century BCE
Nearby River: Brahmaputra and Meghna
City Type: Riverine Trading-religious City

CHARACTERISTICS:

Finding:

Figure. Samatata
VARENDRA
Current Location: Cumilla, Noakhali, Shylet
Establishment: 3rd Century BCE
Nearby River: Brahmaputra and Meghna
City Type: Riverine Trading-religious City

CHARACTERISTICS:

Finding:

Figure. Varendra
MONASTERY OF PALA DYNASTY
1. Ithakhola Mura, Cumilla (7th AD)

Somatata
2. Salban Vihara, Cumilla (mid 7th AD)
3. Ananda Vihara, Cumilla (7th AD)
4. Pandit Vihara, Cumilla (9th AD)
5. Bhoja Vihara, Cumilla (9th AD)
6. Sitakot Vihara, Dinajpur (7th AD)

Varendra
7. Halud Vihara, Naogaon (8th AD)
8. Somapura Mahavihara, Naogaon (8th AD)
9. Satya Pir Bhita, Naogaon (9th AD)
10. Jagaddala Vihara, Naogaon (11th AD)
11. Nalanda Mahavihara, Bihar (7th AD)

Bihar
12. Odantapuri Mahavihara, Bihar (8th AD)
13. Vikramsila Mahavihara, Bihar (8th AD)
SPATIAL ORGANIZATION OF VIHARAS
Vihara Accessibility Orientation Symbolism
Ithakhola Mura, The temple is accessed from the The temple assumes a static position The temple represents the Dhyani Buddhas, and
Cumilla east; while the vihara is accessed with its four cardinal directions; while its eastern projection signifies the Ratnatraya;
from the north there are ambiguities in the vihara while there are ambiguities in the vihara

Sitakot vihara, The vihara is accessed from the The vihara accommodates a juxtaposed The vihara represents the Dhyani Buddhas
Dinajpur north; and with it, the main sanctum condition of the static, a north-south and/or the Ratnatraya; while signifying the
inside also opens up to the north axial direction and a centralized Dharmachakra at the same time
clockwise rotation

Salban vihara, The vihara is accessed from the The vihara complex accommodates a The vihara complex primarily represented the
Comilla north; and with it, the central temple juxtaposed condition of the static, a Dhyani Buddhas, but later concentrates on only
also opens up to the north in its final north-south axial direction and a one and/or the figural representation of Buddha
form, although initially it centralized clockwise rotation himself and/or his Bodhisattva(s); while
accommodated the four cardinal signifying the Dharmachakra at the same time
directions

Jagaddala vihara, The vihara is accessed from the east; The vihara accommodates a juxtaposed The vihara represents the Dhyani Buddhas
Naogaon and with it, the main sanctum inside condition of the static, an east-west axial and/or probably the Ratnatraya
also opens up to the east direction; but the passageway does not
maintain a centralized clockwise rotation

Somapura The vihara is accessed from the
mahavihara, north; and with it, the central temple
Naogaon also opens up to the north, but it
simultaneously accommodates all
the cardinal directions
The mahavihara complex accommodates The mahavihara complex represents the Dhyani
a juxtaposed condition of the static, all Buddhas, while its southern, eastern and
the four axial directions, and at the same western sanctums accommodate the Ratnatraya;
time, a centralized clockwise rotation signifying the Dharmachakra at the same time
Salban Vihara, Mainamati, Cumilla (Samatata)

8th Century, king Shri Bhavadeva

Somapura Mahavihara, Naogaon
Nalanda Mahavihara, Bihar
1. Taufiq Elahi, K. (2018). Study of the Buddhist Viharas during pala dynasty in Bengal.
2. Doza, S. B. (2019). Riverine Fortress city of" Mahasthan" in deltaic Bengal: in search for the traditional settlement
pattern of ancient cities. E-Journal of Portuguese History, 17(2).
3. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327797189_Shalban_ViharaComillaMaynamatiBanglades
4. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1502/
5. https://travelgenes.com/nalanda-university-ruins-worlds-most-ancient-university/
6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gau%E1%B8%8Da_(city)