Digging that began in 1973 uncovered two square monasteries, each a ring of monks' cells around a courtyard, and a cross-shaped temple. Several hundred finds came out of the ground, including terracotta plaques, clay seals and small bronze figures. It is often identified with Po-shi-po, a monastery the Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang described when he visited the region in the 7th century. Few visitors come this far, so the brick outlines are usually quiet.
- Best time
- November to February
- Give it
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free; a CNG from Mahasthan about ৳200–300 return
How to get to Vasu Vihara
About 6 km west of Mahasthangarh in Shibganj upazila. Hire a CNG auto-rickshaw or battery van from Mahasthan bazar, around 20 minutes each way.
Bogura town is about 200 km from Dhaka, around 5 hours by road. Every way to get there is in the Bogura guide.
More to see in Bogura
Photo: Zaheed Sarwer Khan, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Mahasthangarh মহাস্থানগড়
The walled citadel of Pundranagara, the oldest city yet found in Bangladesh, on the west bank of the Karatoya.
- Best time
- November to February
- Give it
- Half a day
- Cost
- Ramparts free; museum ticket about ৳20–30 for Bangladeshis, more for foreigners; CNG from town about ৳300–400 return
Photo: Azim Khan Ronnie, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Gokul Medh (Behula's bridal chamber) গোকুল মেধ
A stepped brick mound south of Mahasthan that local legend calls the bridal chamber of Behula and Lakhindar.
- Best time
- November to February
- Give it
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free; a CNG auto-rickshaw from town costs about ৳250–350 return with waiting
Photo: Biddut Khoshnobish, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Kherua Mosque খেরুয়া মসজিদ
A three-domed brick mosque from 1582 outside Sherpur, built in the first years of Mughal rule in Bengal and still used for prayer.
- Best time
- November to February
- Give it
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free; bus from Bogura about ৳50, rickshaw about ৳30
Photo: Nahid.rajbd, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Nawab Palace (Mohammad Ali Palace Museum) মোহাম্মদ আলী প্যালেস মিউজিয়াম
The Bogura Nawab family's town house beside the Karatoya, now a museum and park in the middle of the town.
- Best time
- November to February
- Give it
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Small entry fee; rickshaw from Satmatha about ৳30