The final phase of excavations at Moghalmari in the State's Paschim Medinipur district, believed to be among the largest monastic complexes in West Bengal.
Excavations have revealed the plan of the monastery, according to which the area of the structural complex is about 48 square metre.
The monastery has been excavated from a huge mound, which is 20 m above the ground and has a surface area of 80 sq m.
A Pradakshina path, which devotees would take to tour around the complex, has also been discovered along the eastern and southern parts of the monastery. According to the archaeologists, a variety of designs in stucco (lime and gypsum mixed with sand, typical of early Buddhist monastic sites) on the walls of the structures within the complex have been found.
Recent excavations at Moghalmari, a Buddhist monastery complex in West Bengal's Paschim Medinipur district, reveal a historically strong presence of Buddhism in the State which dates as far back as the sixth century AD. This has so far remained largely unnoticed by historians.The monastery complex measures 60 metres by 60 metres, the largest so far discovered in West Bengal.
The plan of monastery on excavation has revealed a central temple complex surrounded by a square courtyard with rows of cells all round. Beyond the cells lies a massive outer wall of which the southern segment has been exposed this year. On this wall panels in decorative bricks and stucco animal figures (lime mixed with marble dust and sand) have been exposed.
