Situated in village Mahasthan of Bogra district, the extensive site represents the wreckage of an ancient city (cir. 4th cent. BC to 14th cent. AD) called Pundranagara. It is roughly oblong (1.523 km by 1.371 km) in shape encircled by high rampart with cavity wall core at places and is entrenched on all sides save the east where the river Karatoya were flowing in ancient time. Inside the fort, however, still lie the remnants of temples, stupas, mosques, tombs and residential complexes at random. Moreover, a good volume of movable antiquities has also been salvaged from its ruins. They include silver punch marked coins, silver coated copper cast coins barring inscription, rouletted ware, NBPW, black slipped ware, black and red ware, beads of semiprecious stones, terracotta plaques and toys, sculptures, objects of daily use and so on. But by far the most important one is a Brahmi Inscriptional slab datable to the 3rd cent. BC. Around the fort for about 8km excepting the east, there are many old mounds and reservoirs. There has a small site museum and a rest house near its northeast corner. A mission of French Experts has been working in the site since 1993 in order to reveal its whole unknown past as per an agreement with the Government of Bangladesh.

One can start the journey for Mahasthan from Bogra town by any kind of motorized vehicle. Its nearest Airport is located at Sayedpur.

The Following sites are under Mahashangarh -


1. Govind dhap temple

2. Jioyt Kunda

3. Lakhinderer Medh