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1. Bhashubihar and Noropoti Dhap are situated three
miles north west of Mahasthan Garh. Chinese traveler Wan Chuang
called this two places Po-Shi-Po, which is the name of a Bihar
or Moth. Bhashubihar takes its name from Po-Shi-Po Bihar.
The history of this place can be traced back to Gautama Buddha.
Archeologists have discovered statues and articles of daily
use to make that connection. A little west of Bhashubihar
lies the elevated place or Dhap or Garh, known as Noropoti
Dhap. Noropoti is the title of the army chiefs during the
rule of the Guptas. King Shushungo Roy built a fort there,
he also built a tank for the benfit of the subjects, called
“Shushungar Dighi”, which eventually became “Shangshar Dighi”.
2. Kalidoho Shagar is situated two miles west of the
Garh. It is a Dhap surrounded by Khals (canals). This “Khal”
is called “Kalidoho Sagar” and the high Dhipi is called Mansha
Debi or Padma Debir Bari (House of Mansha or Padma Debi).
Kalidoho is a renowned sea, being widely mentioned in the
“Mahabharata”. Mansha/Padma Debi is not a historic figure
but is taken from “Snake” (Mansha) and “Lotus” (Padma) associated
with the sea. People were scared of snakes and would worship
“Mansha” or snake to be safe from them which filled this “Sagar”
or sea. This was not really a sea but called such because
of its depth and size.
3. Gokul Mer is situated one and half miles south
west of Mahasthan. This place lies 45 feet above the flat
land. There are over one hundred triangular rooms. The local
people call it the “Bahular Bashor Ghor” (The Bridal Room
of Bahula). In reality this is not a “Bashor Ghor” (Bridal
Room) but a Buddhist “Bihar” or “Moth”. Mer is from the word
“Medth” which means knowledge, rituals and meditation. In
these rooms, the Buddhist scholars and sages used to practice
meditation and rituals and impart knowledge to the young ones.
The construction of this grand site was started by Dhormo
Pal in the eighth century and was completed by his son Deb
Pal in and around 810-850 AD.
The Aryans started coming to Bangladesh during the rule of
the Guptas. Due to the tremendous persecution by the Guptas,
Buddhism was eliminated from Bangladesh which received some
revival during the Pal dynasty.
4. Champa Nagar is situated one and half miles west
of Gokul Mer. The modern name is “Chan Muha” which is from
“Chad Muha”. The ruins of the palace of “Chad Saudagar” is
situated in an island on the Shongrar Bil” (Bil is huge water
reservoir).
5. Shongrar Bil, is situated on the west of Champa
Nagar. In the olden times this Bil was very deep and huge,
where the princes used to go in leisure/pleasure rides in
boats with dancers. The local word for dancers is “Shongra”,
thus the name.
6. Ojha Dhonontory is named after a snake venom expert
from the court of Gupta emperor Vikramaditta.
7. Ujaninagar is situated in the village of Arulia
which lies three miles south of Gokul Mer. There is an ancient
Khal (huge water reservoir) there.
8. Netai Dhopanir Ghat is a historic site of Pundurunagar,
situated close to Gokul Mer to its north east. The ruins of
the palace, the residents of which used to wash clothes, existed
up till recently.
9. Ziotkundu, is an ancient well near Mahasthan. According
to ancient mythology, the water of this well could heal wounded
people or even resurrected dead soldiers. It is commonly believed
that a piece of cow meat from Balkhi, carried by an eagle
fell on the well, consequently losing its power to heal (or
resurrect) the wounded soldiers. In the olden times people
thought that the dead soldiers are getting new lives. Actually
this water was simply used to nurse, refresh and clean up
the wounded soldiers.
10. Khodar Pathor Vita is a huge rock near the Mazhar
with some design inscribed on the stone. Khodar come from
the word “Khodai” meaning inscription in Bangla. This rock
is part of a wall of an ancient temple. Several rocks were
discovered in the year 1907 AD, one such rock had the picture
of Buddha which makes the archeologists believe that this
was a Buddhist temple in the past.
11. Gobindo Vita can be found on the north of the
Garh on the western bank of the river Korotoa which is the
remnant of a huge temple.
12. Kichok is an ancient palace situated in the southern
side of Mokamtola-Joypurhat highway which is three miles from
the Shibganj Upazila headquarter. Kichok is part of the “Mahabharata”
mythology.
13. Bihar boasts of a century old mosque built by
the Nawabs of Bogra.
14. Anantabala is a village on the eastern bank of
river Korotoa. According to folktales, when Porshuram and
Balkhi were engaged in battle, Porshuram’s sister Sheela devi
threw her bangles (Bala) towards Balkhi, the place where the
Bala landed has been named Ananta Bala.
15. Sheeladebir Ghat is the location where she jumped
into the river. This place has become an annual pilgrimage
for the Hindus.
Other places of historic importance around Mahasthan are Koiborto
Bijoy Stambha, Dhibor Dighi, Bil Hamla and Gomora.
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