Paharpur Buddhism or Sompur Bihar or Sompur Mahavihara

An ancient Buddhist monastery destroyed at present in Paharpur Buddhist Bihar or Sompur Bihar or somapur Mahavihara. The second king of the Palais, Sri Dharmapala Dev (781-821) was making this monastery in the late eighth century or in the ninth century. In 1879, Sir Alexander Cunningham discovered these huge structures.

Paharpur can be called the world's biggest Buddhism. This can be compared to the Nalanda monastery of India. It was the Buddhist's most famous religious teaching center for 300 years. Buddhists from other countries like China, Tibet, Myanmar (then the Brahmins), Malaysia, Indonesia etc. came not only from different places of the subcontinent, but also here to acquire the knowledge of religion. In the tenth century AD, Achish Dipankar Shrivanan was the Acharya of Bihar.

In 1985 UNESCO recognized it as a world heritage site.