A BEAUTIFUL BANGLADESH - ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SITES OF MAINAMATI-LALMAI

Bangladesh is a tropical country. Most of the time in a calendar year, temperature remains 18 to 26 degree Celsius. Bangladesh possesses longest sea beach of the world at cox’s Bazar to Teknaf, biggest mangrove forest at Sundarban, one of the biggest artificial lake at Kaptai-Rangamati and near about 100 archaeological sites in various parts of Bangladesh. Only Mainamati-Lalmai area is having 54 archaeological sites alone. Mainamati-Lalmaiis is located 52 KM south-east from capital city of Dhaka, Bangladesh and 6 KM north of Comilla district town. A good road and railway communication is available from Dhaka to Comilla town. Hundreds of tourists both home and abroad come and visit Mainamati-Lalmai archaeological sites every year.

Mainamati-Lalmai ridge is about 18 KM long and about 2 KM width having small hills of about 60 feet high. It has established its importance as a potential archaeological site when copper plate inscription of Ranavankamalla Harikaladeva was discovered as early as 1803. In 1875 a small brick fort was discovered in kotbari Mound. Mr. Francis Buchanan visited the site at the end of 18^th century. Mr. NK Bhattasali visited Mainamati in the year 1917 and reported his findings in his ‘Iconography of Buddhist and Brahmancial Sculptures’ in the Dhaka Museum 1929. Mr. TN Ramachandran carried out an archaeological survey at Mainamati and published a report in BC Law Volume, pt 2, in 1946. Basing on this report a through survey again carried out and total 54 ancient sites were listed which is traced scattered through the entire length of Mainamati-Lalmai ridge of about 18 KM. Out of 54 archaeological sites only 20 sites were declared as protected monument. These sites are mostly containing Buddhist remains from the 8^th to 12^th centuries. Protected monuments are Moinamati Mound 1A, Kotila Mura, Annanda Rajar Bari, Voij Bajar Bari, Etakhola Mura, Rupban Mura, Salban Bihar, Charpattra Mura, Ranir Banglow, Moinamati Mound 1, Mainamoti Mound 1B, Mainamati Mound 2, Moinamati Mound 2A, Boiragir Mura, Rupban Konnar Bari,Kotbari Mura, Hatigara Mura, Ujirpur Mound, Pakka Mura and Chilla Mura. Out of these 20 sites, first 09 sites have been excavated sufficiently.

Mainamati was found to be extremely prolific in yield of rich cultural material but Salban Bihar identified as Bhavadeva Mohavihara on the basis of a sealing, in particular has proved to be a treasure house of inscriptions, coins and terracotta plaques. The inscriptions belong to no less than five dynasties are Guptas, Khadgas, Devas, Chandras and later Devas. The main discoveries were, besides exposing many Buddhist monasteries, temple and stupas, also yielded a rich collection of stone and bronze sculptures of various Gods and Goddesses, many bronze miniatures, relic casket, hundreds of coins of copper/silver and includes few gold coins which depicts Guptas, Devas and Khadgas, royal copper plate grants, many terracotta plaques, jewelery, pots and other miscellaneous items of daily use. The discoveries from Mainamati inscriptions, coins, sculptures, terracotta plaques and others including architecture have changed the concept of social, economical, educational and cultural standard of Mainamati-Laimai area of that time. There is a museum (near Salban Bihar) at Mainamati , Kotbari area, where many excavated items are preserved for all public visitors.