Arc Sites Page: 01.

Archaeological Sites

AUOTHOURA DIH
Chandor
Bhagwanpur
30KM North West from Begusarai district headquarters
Mound - 100m x 150m x 1m
Red ware , NBP, Black Ware, Black slipped, Black polished pottery
Water Jar, Dish, Cookware, Bowl, vessels.

AGAPUR TAKIYA
Mansurchak
38 KM North West from Begusarai district headquarters
Mound
Cultivation/ Residential Building on the mound
300m x 100m x 1m
Red Ware, Red slipped ware, Dish, Cooking Vessel.

MEHDAULI
Bhagwanpur
27 KM North West from Begusarai district headquarters
Mound
Cultivation/post office
65m x 100m x 1m
Red Ware, Water jar, Cookware, open mouth vessel, storage vessel etc.

BHAWANIPUR DIH
Mansurchak
42 KM North West from Begusarai district headquarters
Mound - Temple
Cultivation/Residential building
200m x 300m x 1m
Red Ware, Dish, Bowl, Cookware, Pane, Jar, Heavy vessel for grain storage etc Tub (large open mouthed vessel).

CHITRAGUPTA TEMPLE
Bari pokhar, Kachahari Road
1/2 KM South from Begusarai Railway Station.
Temple
4.25m x 2.65m x 10m
Sculpture - Black stone (Late Pala/Rajputa), 37 cm x 65 cm
Four Handed - Left hand-upper-Book Lower-Ink Pot
Right hand-upper - Katar, Lower-Pen/Lekhani

RADHESHYAM  MANDIR
Ulao          
Begusarai
Situated about 6 km westward from Begusarai district headquarters.
Made by Shyam Kumari (Ulao estate) in 1857.
The temple is a superb piece of Indo- Western architecture. The main temple is based on the platform of 1m  height .An open ground of 34 m x 27 m is in the middle of the entrance and the main temple.
A superb piece of painting can be seen on the walls .It seems to narrate some classical stories of the region.
28m x 18m x 20m
paintings- influenced  by Rajasthani Art

Type of materials-plastered inner walls of the temple, ceiling is also decorated.
Color- multicolor, yellow, green, blue and dark red dominating.
Theme-narrating the mythological stories popular in the region A brief script in devnagari is also painted to narrate the stories. Every where the terms related to Mithila can be seen.
Advance stage of decay can be seen every where.

BIRPUR SUN TEMPLE
Birpur
14 KM North from Begusarai district headquarters.
Temple
Sculpture-stone, black, Pala
77cm x 143cm

Pointed stele, sparsely decorated having three figures-two of flying ganadherves on both sides on the top and the face of a tiger in middle of those celestial being, two hands holding two stalk of full flown lotus. Sun is standing on a big lotus throne bearing the relief of seven horses of the Devine chariot.
The sparse decoration and the pointed Stele are one of the remarkable features of this sculpture. Crown and waist girdle are the ornaments the deity is decorated with. The flank of the stele is carved with some twisted line symbolizing the emergence of sun flames. The Deity is blanked by several divine attendants like Usha Pratysha, Dandi, Pingala, Samjana, and Mahasveta.

BARI BALIA MOUND
Balia
16 KM East from Begusarai district headquarters.
Mound
The eastern part of the mound is almost intact while the western part is inhabitationl and coverd by grave yard at present
1200khatas
Black ware, Red ware, Muslim associated ware, black (inner) and grayish red (outer)ware, Water jar, Cooking Vessel, Storage vessel
Mica dusting on few pot shreds (surface treatment) collared and lipped vessels.

This mound must be a habitational site at the time of Shah Alauddin Bukhari in 900 hizri. The old mosque is situated on this mound as well. It is a large mound comprised of almost 1200 khatas. 690 hizri is supposed to be the time of Alauddinkhilzi troops resting 4-5 kms east from this site during some expedition. Again the place is supposed to be the mosque of Sikandar Lodi also. Finding of black ware and glazed ware is remarkable. A heart shaped metallic decorative piece having bronzish shining is particularly sight-catching. It was in the section, 10 cm deep and taken out only in pieces even after best efforts.

MASJIDE SULTANIYA
Lakhminiya
Balia
18 Km East from Begusarai district headquarters.
Mosque
Represents the Moghul India When Aurangazeb was the Shahanshah. In use.
Almost maintained but needs to be protected with scientific measures.
Natural Damp. Lack of Scientific maintenance.
The present mosque is said to be built almost 300 years ago. Local sources connect it with Shah Sultan.The condition of the mosque is almost good.
Minars of this mosque represent the eight edged Firoz minar (Gaur) architecture while the top of the minar in round – edged Madarsa (Bidar) type.
Bricks and stone
20m x 8m x 8 m
Hall in front of sanctuary – 20m x 5m
Mehrab – 2m wide x 3m high
Astle – 3.6 m wide

This mosque is said to be built according to the wishes of Sheikh Sultan who settled here coming from an unknown place. As, he was a Wali (disciple) of Hazrat Sheikh Ahmad Sarhindi, the Sufi tradition entered this region. At the time of the construction of the mosque, Aurangzeb is said to be the Shahanshah of India. Since then, the mosque has been a center of regular prayer for the followers. A Popular myth widely spread among the local residents about the construction of this mosque says that it was built by a businessman (Saudagar) Ghanshyam. According to the tradition prevailing, Ghanshyam was crossing from Balia through the Ganges with his heavy load. The ship he was riding on, is said to be trapped and jammed in the river, Even after the best efforts, none was able to move the ship. At last the businessman got of the ship and managed to reach the mound on the northern flank. Here, he was in the service of Sheikh Sultan, The Sufi saint blessed him and the blessing blossomed as the coming out of the ship from the trap. Later, the businessman earned a fabulous wealth and tried to donate to the saint but the saint had nothing to do with earthly possessions. Considering Ghanshyam’s earnest request, the saint became ready to accept his wealth in the form of mosque. It is then, a mosque was built here by Ghanshyam. According to the traditions, the saint married his daughter to the businessman who had converted himself in Islam and was later known as Ghanshyam Abdullah. The Towers of Masjide Sultaniya are the evidence of this tradition.

BARI BALIA MASJID & DARGAH
Balia
16 Kms East from Begusarai district headquarters.
More then 500 years have spent since it was constructed.

Abandoned but the place is used as Mazar. Only a part of sanctuary wall can be seen in its mined position, a Mazar has been made just before the old structure. A new maszid has been constructed in the campus. This is said to be one of the oldest masjid in this region. One of the most important Sufi saint visiting eastern region of India Ishah Alauddin Bukhari (1451-1526) is believed to come here in 1493 AD. Every year ‘Ursa’ is being celebrated here. Gandhi jee had visited the Dargah in 1915.

Use of red stone and decorated bricks can be seen in the remaining wall. It is believed to be the copy of famous Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah Masjid .

HARSAI STUPA (HERSON)
(86˚10’40”/25˚36’20”)
Harsai
Manjhaul
20 Kms North from Begusarai district headquarters.
Stupa
Archaeological Site
Only one smaller Stupa of southern part seems to be intact due to thick vegetation cover. The main stupa has been cut almost to half.
Diameter – 110 m

It consist of four stupas having the largest in the centre and there equidistant smaller in three directions, one each in the west, north and south. The completely clay built stupa use to have a hard outer most surface built by bricks-dust etc. (surkhi)This Bajralepit’ stupa consists of a three strate architectures. ‘Mahavansh’ has reference of such stupas. The finding of such remarkable stupa is significant for the history of the region. It must be seen in the contexet of Buddha’s visit to Anguttarap as referred in the “Majjhim Nikaya”.

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