Vikramshila

The excavation site of the ruins of Vikramshila that we see today is located 50 km to the east of the Bhagalpur city. The excavations conducted during the years 1960 to 1969 and 1972 to 1982 revealed the square structure of the large monastery. The center of the Square compound is adorned by a Stupa built in bricks and mud mortar. The Stupa in the center of Vikramshila was constructed for worship which looks like a cross on the plan. The height of the stupa is about 15 meters from the ground level and has two terraces one over the other and has concentric circular paths, about 4.5 meters wide on the lower terrace and 3 metres wide on the upper terrace. The main structure of the stupa is over the upper terrace with four antechambers in each direction and at the end of each antechamber, enormous Stucco images of seated Buddha that have been unfortunately broken from the waist up. The Flourishing Terracotta art of the period can be seen on the walls that depict numerous Buddhist and Hindu Deities along with many scenes including human and animal figures indulged in one or the other activities. The Monastery where the Buddhist monks resided, is an enormous structure of square shape of sides measuring about 330 meters. A total of 208 cells with each side of the monastery having 52 cells open up to a central veranda give an insight into the life of the Buddhist monks of that period. The monastery building is connected to a Library building on the Southwest corner by a narrow corridor. The library building was air-conditioned by a system that used the water from a nearby reservoir and air vents to preserve delicate manuscripts.

All the articles unearthed and acquired from the excavation of Vikramshila had been maintained by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) in a Museum on the excavation site. The ASI has been trying to develop the site in a hope to restore a fraction of the former glory of Vikramshila. Vikramshila Mahotsav, a cultural fest is held on the site every year during February. As recognition of Importance, the Indian Railway has named a train running from Delhi to Bhagalpur as Vikramshila Express.