PATNA: Already known globally for its Buddhist study centres like the famous Nalanda University, Udantpuri (Biharsharif, HQs of Nalanda) and Vikramshila University in Bhagalpur, Bihar can now boasts of another university at Telhara in Nalanda district. Telhara is a small village in Hilsa subdivision, barely 29 km west of Nalanda district headquarters.
Preliminary excavation at the site has led to the discovery of pottery and images belonging to Gupta period (5CE) to the later Pala period (9-10 CE).
“Digging has also revealed that a 34-metre-long floor lined by a number of cells. The vast floor is dotted with a number of platforms with images of Buddha installed on them,†says Atul K Verma, head of the ASI excavation team at Telhara.
Verma, an excavation and exploration officer in the Bihar state directorate of archaeology, told TOI that the excavation work at nearly 350-feet-high Bulandi mound at Telhara has revealed evidence of three-storyed concrete structure as mentioned by a Chinese travellor Xuan Zang in his travel account.
“A four-feet high blue basalt image of Buddha in ‘abhay mudra’ and another in ‘dharma chakra mudra’ have also been found in horizontal position on the floor. It appears to have been a prayer hall, mentioned by the Chinese travellor,†Verma said.
Evidence of prayer halls and residential cells for monks in the monastery have now been found in course of the recent diggings. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar had launched the excavation work at Telhara on December 26 last year during his ‘Pravas Yatra’.
Telhara, monastic site of Theravada tradition, was first discovered in 1872 by the then Nalanda DM A M Broadley which was commented on with some details later during 1875-78 by Alexander Cunnigham.
A small image of Buddha in red sandstone reveals that this monastery was in existence during the Gupta period. A stone plaque with eight lines inscription and a black colour terracotta seal have also been found on the floor. The plaque and the terracotta seal may reveal the time and other details of this structure, say experts.
Telhara village came under Turkish rule in the 13th century. Subsequently, it became an important Muslim settlement. The place is also mentioned in the Ain-i-Akbari as ‘Tiladah’ and is shown as one of the largest parganas in the region.
State culture secretary Vivek K Singh said fresh excavation work would start from October to find out more insights about this site. “In view of the importance of this site, we will declare it as state protected site soon. We are also in the process of fencing the entire site,†he said.
Terming the site as ‘phenomenal’, Singh Said: “We will take it to its logical end. Cunnigham’s desire to excavate the site would now be fulfilled by us,†Singh said.