History of Mohasthangarh

Mahasthangarh is one of the earliest urban archaeological sites so far discovered in Bangladesh. The village Mahasthan in Shibganjthana of Bogura District contains the remains of an ancient city which was called Pundranagara or Paundravardhanapura in the territory of Pundravardhana.  We know that a limestone slab bearing six lines in Prakrit in Brahmi script, discovered in 1931, dates Mahasthangarh to at least the 3rd century BC. The fortified area was in use until the 18th century. Still it has some mysterious things to research.

front site of MohasthanGar

Origin  Historical background and birthplace 
Mahasthan implies a place that has superb holiness and garh implies fortification. Mahasthan was first referenced in a Sanskrit content of the thirteenth century entitled Vallalcharita. It is likewise referenced in an unknown content Karatoya mahatmya, by chance set in 12th– thirteenth century. A similar content likewise makes reference to two additional names to mean a similar place – Pundrakshetra, place where there is the Pundras, and Pundranagara, city of the Pundras. In 1685, a managerial announcement referenced the place as Mastangarh, a blend of Sanskrit and Persian importance braced place of a propitious personage. Ensuing disclosures have affirmed that the before name was Pundranagara or Paundravardhanapura, and that the present name of Mahasthangarh is of later origin.

Topography 
Mahasthangarh, the antiquated capital of Pundravardhana is found 11 km (6.8 mi) north of Bogura on the Bogura-Rangpur parkway, with a feeder street (running along the eastern side of the defenses of the fortification for 1.5 km) prompting Jahajghata and site museum. Busses are accessible for Bogrua from Dhaka and take 4½ hours for the adventure by means of Bangabandhu Jamuna Bridge over the Jamuna River. Transports are accessible from Bogrua to Mahasthangarh. Rickshaws are accessible for nearby development. Employed transport is accessible at Dhaka/Bogura. Settlement is accessible at Bogura. When going in an employed vehicle, one can come back to Dhaka that day, except if someone has an arrangement to visit Somapura Mahavihara at Paharpur in the area of Naogaon and different places, or take part in a nitty gritty examination.

It is trusted that the area for the city in the zone was settled on the grounds that it is one of the most noteworthy regions in Bangladesh. The land in the area is just about 36 meters (118 ft) above ocean level, while Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is around 6 meters (20 ft) above ocean level. Another purpose behind picking this place was the position and size of the Karatoya, which as of late as in the thirteenth century was multiple times more extensive than Ganges.

Mahasthangarh remains on the red soil of the Barind Tract which is somewhat lifted inside the generally alluvium territory. The height of 15 to 25 meters over the encompassing zones makes it a generally surge free physiographic unit.

Revelation & Disclosure
There are many details available from the experts, those who came here at that time and got a nice description from them.
A few identities added to the revelation and recognizable proof of the remains at Mahasthangarh. Francis Buchanan Hamilton was the first to find and visit Mahasthangarh in 1808, C.J.O'Donnell, E.V.Westmacott, and Beveridge pursued. Alexander Cunningham was the first to distinguish the place as the capital of Pundravardhana. He visited the site in 1879.
A few identities added to the revelation and recognizable proof of the remains at Mahasthangarh. Francis Buchanan Hamilton was the first to find and visit Mahasthangarh in 1808, C.J.O'Donnell, E.V.Westmacott, and Beveridge pursued. Alexander Cunningham was the first to distinguish the place as the capital of Pundravardhana. He visited the site in 1879.