Mainimati Ruins

Introducing Mainimati Ruins

Hidden away for years in the low Mainimati–Lalmai ridge of hills are the remains of the bygone Buddhist splendour of Mainimati. Between the 6th and 13th centuries, Mainimati was famous as an important centre of Buddhist culture and today the scattered ruins count as some of the most breathtaking in Bangladesh. The three most important of the 50-odd Buddhist sites are Salban Vihara, Kotila Mura and Charpatra Mura.

A large section of Mainimati is a military cantonment. It was while the army was clearingthe area with bulldozers that the archaeological site in the Kotbari area was discovered. Some of the major ruins are within the cantonment, and cannot be visited without permission from military officers. For this reason, most visitors see only the museum and the ruins outside the cantonment.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009