Mainamati, Art of History

Mainamati, an isolated low, dimpled range of hills, dotted with more than 50 ancient Buddhist settlements of the 8th to 12th century A.D. known as Mainamati-Lalmai range are extended through the center of the district of Comilla

Salban Vihara, almost in the middle of the Mainamati Lalmai hill range consists of 115 cells, built around a spacious courtyard with cruciform temple in the centre facing its only gateway complex to the north resembling that, of the Paharpur Monastery.

Kutila Mura situated on a flattened hillock, about 5 km. north of Salban Vihara inside the Comilla Cantonment is a picturesque Buddhist establishment. Here three stupas are found side by side representing the Buddhist 'Trinity' or three jewels i.e. the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.

Charpatra Mura is an isolated small oblong shrine situated about 2.5-km. northwest of Kutila Mura stupas. The orily approach to the shrine is from the east through a gateway which leads to a spacious hall.

The Mainamati site Museum has a rich and varied collection of copper plates, gold and silver coins and 86 bronze objects. Over 150 bronze statues have been recovered mostly from the monastic cells, bronze stupas, stone sculptures and hundreds of terracotta plaques each measuring on an average of 9" high and 8" to 12" wide.

Mainamati is only 114 kilometer from Dhaka City and is just a day's Trip by road on way to Chittagong.

HOW TO GO

Just two-three hours journey from Dhaka, you can easily go to Comilla - Mainamati from Saidabadh bus station, where several bus companies leave Dhaka for comilla. Namely buses companies are Winer, Peoples, Asha, Tresha. After reaching Kandinpar Circle, you can get a tempo to Kotbari. And then pick up rickshaw for Mainamati.

You can also go by train, but it's time consuming.