King Shri Bhavadeva of the Buddhist Deva dynasty established this immense brick monastery in the late 8th century amid the sal tree forests of the Lalmai ridge. The square complex measures roughly 168 metres on each side, enclosing 115 residential cells for monks that look inward to a central stepped stupa temple decorated with terracotta plaques. An on-site archaeological museum displays copper plates, gold coins, bronze sculptures, and seals unearthed during excavations.
- Best time
- November to February
- Give it
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Entry roughly ৳30 for Bangladeshis, museum entry ৳10; CNG auto-rickshaw from town about ৳100–150 each way
How to get to Shalban Vihara
At Mainamati, about 8 km west of Cumilla town. CNG auto-rickshaws and shared tempos run regularly from Kandirpar to Shalban Vihara gate in about 20–25 minutes.
Cumilla town is about 96 km from Dhaka, around 2.5 hours by road. Every way to get there is in the Cumilla guide.
The archaeology museum is closed on Sundays and open only in the afternoon on Mondays; ticket counters close thirty minutes before dusk.
More to see in Cumilla
Photo: Shariful Islam Masum, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Mainamati War Cemetery ময়নামতী ওয়ার সিমেট্রি
A Commonwealth war cemetery established after World War II, containing 713 military graves from the Burma and Assam campaigns.
- Best time
- November to March
- Give it
- About an hour
- Cost
- Entry free; CNG from Kandirpar roughly ৳80–120
Photo: Ferdous, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Dharmasagar Dighi ধর্মসাগর দিঘী
A historic 15th-century royal water reservoir excavated in 1458 by King Dharma Manikya of Tripura in the centre of Cumilla town.
- Best time
- October to March
- Give it
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Entry free; cycle rickshaw from central town about ৳20–30; paddle boat ride roughly ৳100 per hour
Photo: Kamrul Hasan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Itakhola Mura ইটাখোলা মুড়া
An excavated 8th-century Buddhist monastery and stupa complex set on a quiet forested hillock on the Mainamati ridge.
- Best time
- November to February
- Give it
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Entry roughly ৳20; CNG from Cumilla town about ৳100 each way