The most attractive tourist spot in Comilla is Mainamati. Mainamati (Physical setup) an isolated low, 18 km long and 2 km wide spur of a dimpled range of hills, dotted with more than 50 ancient Buddhist settlements of the 8th to 12th century AD, and known as the Mainamati-Lalmai range extended through the centre of the district of comilla. It lies between latitudes 23°20´N and 23°30´N and longitudes 91°05´E and 91°10´E. It is 8 km west of Comilla town. The Dhaka-Chittagong and the Comilla-Sylhet highways run along the northern part, while the southern portion of the hills can be reached by the Comilla-Chandpur road which runs parallel to its eastern side.
It is famous as an important centre of Buddhist culture; the buildings excavated here were made completely of baked bricks. There are more than 50 scattered Buddhist sites, but the three most important are Salban Vihara, Kotila Mura and Charpatra Mura. Salban Vihara was a well-planned, 170 sq metre monastery facing a temple in the centre of the courtyard. There is a museum which includes terracotta Plaques, bronze statues, a bronze casket, coins, jewellery and votive stupas embossed with Buddhist inscriptions. Kotila Mura comprises three large stupas representing Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, the `Three Jewels of Buddhism'. The most important discovery at Charpatra Mura were the four royal copper-plate decrees, three belonging to Chandra rulers, the other to Sri Viradhara Deva, a later Hindu king. Note that some of the major ruins are within a military cantonment and cannot be visited without permission from military officers. Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD) also situated there which is also a nice place.
It is famous as an important centre of Buddhist culture; the buildings excavated here were made completely of baked bricks. There are more than 50 scattered Buddhist sites, but the three most important are Salban Vihara, Kotila Mura and Charpatra Mura. Salban Vihara was a well-planned, 170 sq metre monastery facing a temple in the centre of the courtyard. There is a museum which includes terracotta Plaques, bronze statues, a bronze casket, coins, jewellery and votive stupas embossed with Buddhist inscriptions. Kotila Mura comprises three large stupas representing Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, the `Three Jewels of Buddhism'. The most important discovery at Charpatra Mura were the four royal copper-plate decrees, three belonging to Chandra rulers, the other to Sri Viradhara Deva, a later Hindu king. Note that some of the major ruins are within a military cantonment and cannot be visited without permission from military officers. Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD) also situated there which is also a nice place.
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