Somapura Mahavihara
| Sompura Mahavihara Paharpur Buddhist Vihara | |
|---|---|
| Native name সোমপুর মহাবিহার পাহাড়পুর বৌদ্ধবিহার (Bengali) | |
View of the central shrine | |
| Location | Naogaon, Rajshahi, Bangladesh |
| Coordinates | 25°01′52″N 88°58′37″E / 25.03111°N 88.97694°E |
| Elevation | 24 m (80 ft) |
| Built | 8th century AD |
| Built for | Dharama Pala |
| Architectural style(s) | Pala |
| Official name | Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara Aloo at Paharpur |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | i, ii, vi |
| Designated | 1985 (9th session) |
| Reference no. | 322 |
| Region | Asia-Pacific |
Location of Paharpur Vihara in Rajshahi, Bangladesh | |
Somapura Mahavihara (Bengali: সোমপুর মহাবিহার, romanized: Sōmpur Môhābihār), also known as Paharpur Buddhist Vihara (Bengali: পাহাড়পুর বৌদ্ধবিহার, romanized: Pāhāṛpur Bôuddhôbihār), is a major Buddhist monastery (mahavihara) in Paharpur, Badalgachhi, Naogaon, Bangladesh. It is among the best known Buddhist viharas in the Indian Subcontinent and is one of the most important archaeological sites in the country. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
It is one of the most famous examples of architecture in pre-Islamic Bengali architecture. It dates from a period to the nearby Halud Vihara and to the Sitakot Vihara in Nawabganj, Dinajpur.