Mainamati
Bangladesh · Chattogram · 20 m
Description
Mainamati is a low ridge west of Comilla that carries something over fifty Buddhist sites strung along seventeen kilometres of it, built and rebuilt between the seventh and twelfth centuries when this was a seat of the Deva and Chandra kings. Shalban Vihara is the one that has been most fully dug, a square of a hundred and fifteen monks' cells around a central temple, and its brick walls still carry moulded terracotta. Kotila Mura on the ridge holds three stupas standing for the Buddhist trinity. The site museum has the bronzes and the copper plates. Comilla town and its railway station lie eight kilometres east.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 to 2 days (optimal 1 day)
Travel season
Best time to visit: November – February
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Shalban Vihara and its monks' cells
- Mainamati site museum
- Kotila Mura and its three stupas
- Moulded terracotta on the vihara walls
- Ananda Vihara, the largest of the group
- Charpatra Mura and its four copper plates
- Ridge walk between the excavated mounds
- Mainamati war cemetery at Comilla(Day trip)
- Comilla rasmalai and the sweet shops(Day trip)
Getting there
- Nearest airports:
- DAC
- Train stations:
- Comilla