Mahasthangarh
মহাস্থানগড়
The walled ruins of ancient Pundranagar, a city whose story goes back more than two thousand years.
At a glance
- Where
- Bogura district, Rajshahi division
- From Dhaka
- 195 km to Bogura by road, 5–7 hours by bus or car
- Entry / cost
- Small ticket fee for the museum (approx.)
- Best time
- winter (Dec–Jan), spring (Feb–Mar) and late autumn (Oct–Nov)
- Time needed
- About 4 h
Times and costs are estimates from our planner and the prices we collected. Check before you go.
Mahasthangarh is a raised, rectangular citadel beside the Karatoya River, enclosed by brick ramparts that still run for several kilometres. Excavations have revealed layers from the Maurya period through the Gupta, Pala and later eras, making it one of the oldest known urban sites in Bengal. You can walk along the walls, see temple and monastery foundations, and visit the site museum nearby. The shrine of Shah Sultan Balkhi Mahisawar on the mound draws a steady stream of pilgrims.
How to get there
About 13 km north of Bogura town on the Bogura–Rangpur highway; buses and CNGs stop at Mahasthan bazar.
Good to know
Wear good shoes for walking the ramparts and carry water. The museum has a weekly closing day.
Ready-made trips that include it
Where to stay in Bogura
Common questions
Where is Mahasthangarh?
Mahasthangarh is in Bogura district, Rajshahi division, Bangladesh. Bogura is about 195 km from Dhaka by road.
How do you get to Mahasthangarh from Dhaka?
First get to Bogura, roughly 5–7 hours from Dhaka by bus or car. Then: About 13 km north of Bogura town on the Bogura–Rangpur highway; buses and CNGs stop at Mahasthan bazar.
How much does it cost to visit Mahasthangarh?
Small ticket fee for the museum (approx.).
When is the best time to visit Mahasthangarh?
The best time is winter (Dec–Jan), spring (Feb–Mar) and late autumn (Oct–Nov). Allow about 4 h for the visit.
More from Bogura
District guide →
Place Gokul Medh (Behula's Bashor Ghor)
গোকুল মেধ (বেহুলার বাসর ঘর)A tall, terraced brick mound linked by local legend to Behula and Lakhindar.
Place Kherua Mosque
খেরুয়া মসজিদA small, sturdy three-domed mosque from the late 1500s, standing in a quiet grassy compound.
Hidden place ▶ Video Vasu Bihar (Bhasu Bihar)
ভাসু বিহারQuiet excavated foundations of Buddhist monasteries a few kilometres from Mahasthangarh.
Food Bogura Doi
বগুড়ার দইThick, caramel-sweet yogurt set in clay pots, the most famous doi in Bangladesh.
Nearby
Hidden place ▶ Video Govinda Bhita
Bogura · গোবিন্দ ভিটাAn excavated temple mound on a bend of the Karatoya, just outside the walls of Mahasthangarh.
Food Mahasthan Kotkoti
Bogura · মহাস্থানের কটকটিCrunchy fried sweets sold by the bag around Mahasthangarh.
Place Gokul Medh (Behula's Bashor Ghor)
Bogura · গোকুল মেধ (বেহুলার বাসর ঘর)A tall, terraced brick mound linked by local legend to Behula and Lakhindar.
Hidden place ▶ Video Vasu Bihar (Bhasu Bihar)
Bogura · ভাসু বিহারQuiet excavated foundations of Buddhist monasteries a few kilometres from Mahasthangarh.