Tirtha Atlas

The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.

1126 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
Ancient · Buddhist · Bangladesh

Mahasthangarh

Bogra, Rajshahi · 24.9611°, 89.3428°

Ancient city and Buddhist monastic site (Vasu Vihara)Maurya; later Gupta
Sacred since
300 BCE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
not later than 3rd c. BCE (Maurya)
Maurya; later Gupta

History & significance

A fortified ancient city near Bogra identified with Pundranagara, capital of the Pundra kingdom, occupied from not later than the 3rd century BCE until its fortified area fell out of use in the 8th century CE. Excavations in and around the citadel, including the Buddhist monastery of Vasu Vihara, have exposed remains of the Mauryan, Gupta and later periods.

Sthala katha — the legend

Local tradition tells of the saint Shah Sultan Balkhi Mahisawar, who arrived riding a fish and defeated King Parasuram after having the Jiat Kunda pool, whose water revived the king's fallen soldiers, contaminated so that it lost its power.

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Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Maurya; later Gupta