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Archaeological Sites

SUJA MATH
Begusarai
4 KM East from Begusarai district headquarters.
Math
Caretaker – Mahanth Shankar Das
14th Century

This is said to be one of the oldest math running in this region. Mahanth Krishna Das Payohari ji Maharaj is said to be the founder. The Naokothi estate denoted ample land to it and offered its descendent to the service of the above mentioned prist as the boy was supposed to be the blessing of this math. Later Saha Suja granted a copper plate to Mahanth Naga Baba Parshu Ram ji Maharaj

According to the villagers there used to be some Astadhatu sculpture in this Thakurbari but at present nothing remarkable except the rich tradition can be seen here.
20m x 5m x 3.5m Main Building of Thakurbari.

NONPUR MOUND – BARAIPURA
Birpur
14 KM North from Begusarai district headquarters.
Balan stream towards North of the embankment join the mound.
Alluvial soil (Sand mixed)
Mound

At present the mound is a dense inhabitational site. The topmost of this mound which lies in its north-west part is the residence (ancestral) of few Nonfar/Nonia caste people.
100m x 150m x 5m
Red polished, Black polished, Red (outer) and Grey (inner) Red ware.
water jar, cooking vessels, Bowl.

VISH-HAR ASTHAN, BARAIPURA (Raivant Sculpture) 
Baraipura
Birpur
14 KM North from Begusarai district headquarters.
Temple
Small temple said to be built almost 100 years ago.
Sculpture showing signs of deterioration.
sculpture–stone, Black, Pala. (W) 50cm x 1m(H)

Riding over highly caparisoned horse, Raivant is shown booted. Right hand of the deity is slightly raised and probably holding a cup. An attendant has been depicted holding a very big shaft of a parasol lifted over the head of Raivant. A dog is running under the belly of the horse.
Upper limbs – Partially destroyed.

Had it been intact a fine piece of sculpture it would have been. The rhythm of the caparisoned horse is remarkable through the craftsmanship is not up to the level displayed in some other sculptures of the region. The movement of the horse is almost touching the perfection. Among the two attendants depicted  in the bottom, the front one has been holding a sword while the other in hind is playing a musical instrument.

ULAO DEEH
Begusarai
06 KM west from Begusarai district headquarters.
Mound
A village / tola is situated here from hundred of years.
The mound is a dense inhabitation site. A mosque has been built on the highest portion of the mound. The famous Ankuri Nath temple is in the east.
Mound - 100 x 100 x 2.5
Red ware, Red polished ware, Burnt.
Water jar, cookware.

SANGHAUL DEEH
(86˚06’10”/25˚25’45”)
Begusarai
Habitational mound, alluvial deposit Agricultural field in the western part.
Mound

Extended between N.H.-31 and railway track. The mound is situated to the south of government polytechnic college. Two black-stone sculpture of Buddha excavated (during construction) from this mound are placed in the K.P. Jaiswal Archaeological museum of G.D. college, Begusarai. Some other badly broken Pala Sculptures are placed in the Kali temple of Sanghaul Deeh. Another such sculpture of Asthanak Buddha excavated in 2004 during a personal construction work and was managed to be kept and displayed in the same above mentioned museum.

Mound - 150m x 100m x 2.5m
Black ware, red ware, Black polished ware, Black (out side), and Red (inside) ware.
Water jar, cookware, Storage Bowl.

It is one of the most important mounds near Begusarai town. The Popular current of river Ganga widely known as Devaki used to floe from the Northern end of this mound. The potshreds explored indicate the oldness of this site. The name it self suggest that it was a centre of Buddhism during Pala period. The finding of Asthanak Buddha and a votive stupa supports this opinion.

GOPAL MANDIR @ Naubat khana, Ulao estate
Sanghaul
Begusarai
4 km west from Begusarai district headquarters.
Mound
1902 made by Mrs Jayanti Kumri
Present – Gopal mandir, Jayanti Sanskrit school

Manager Ram Karan Upadhyaya  made it prepared in 1902 on behalf of the Zamindar Mrs Jayanti Kurmi. A Sanskrit school is running in the southern western Part since 1906. A goshala in the southern eastern, inn (Dharamsala) in the northern east and the temple in the central part were made. The temple is still in use.
The three storied building is in advance stage of decay. An old pond is in the western side of the building. There is a secret stairway from the top floor to the eastern end of the tank.

The temple used to have 31 acres of land campus but now the sign of encroachment can be seen. The site is hardly 20-25m from N.H. 31.

Mound - 50 x 40 x 15m
Ashta Dhatu
20th century
A black Asthadhatu sculpture of Krishna is placed in the garbhagriha of the temple and being offered regular worship.     
Relevant information – A mangoesta tree is in front of the Naubatkhana. The specy is supposed to be rare in this region.

BRAHMA ASTHAN KANKAUL (KANGKOL)
Kankaul
2 KM from Begusarai district headquarters.
Temple – Sculpture
The small temple is a newly built one. The remarkable feature of this site is the Blackstone sculptures being placed here. The sculptures are supposed to be found from kankaul deeh.
Sculpture – Black, Pala.
Vishnu– 29 cm (W) 70 cm (H)
Four handed Vishnu, Stele full of decoration.
Intact and offered worship regularly.

There are three pieces of black stone sculpture placed at this site. The low relief Vishnu sculpture is full of decoration. Garuda has been depicted in the pedestal. Lakshmi and Saraswati are in the two flanks.

NARSINGHPUR SOGRAHA DEEH
Sograha Barauni
Barauni
16 km from Begusarai district headquarters.
Mound
Covered with urban residential structures.

This huge mound has been altered due to a number of urban development schemes. The southern part of this mound is bound by the railway track while the north by old Awadh- Tirhut road and in the west is the Deen Dayal Road, Barauni. The whole mound is divided in to two wards of Shokhara spread in about 100 Bighas. Height - 3 m
Black ware, Red ware, Red polished ware, Inner red outer black ware, inner grey outer red ware.   
Water jar, cooking vessels and bowl.

The topology and the extension of the mound is remarkable. At present the river Ganga lies to the south of this site (almost 5 KM.) A current popularly known as Devaki used to emerge from Ganga and flow just east of this mound. The Awadh Tirhut Road used to pass from almost Northern foot of the mound. The height and the extension of the mound indicate the continuity of inhabitation. The potshard indicates the oldness of this site.

BAGRAHA DEEH
Sograha
1 Km. north to Sograha Deeh.
Barauni
Mound
Almost flattened due to power sub station construction and cultivation N.H. - 28 seems to divide this mound. The old stream of Devaki would be flowing from its south. This is towards east from Barauni.
100 x 75 x 2 m.
Red ware, Black ware, Black polished ware, Burnt, Outer red inner black ware.
Bowl, cookware, Jar open mouth vessels.

RAJWARA MOUND
Rajwara
Barauni
15 Km west from Begusarai district headquarters.
Mound
The mound is said to be in two parts the northern part is higher while the southern is lower.
Extended in more then 5 acres (H) 2 m.
Red ware, Red polished ware, Red (Oranges’) ware, Burnt ware.   
Rim of large cookware, water jar.

MARICHI  STONE SCULPTURE RAJWARA GUMTI
Rajwara
Barauni
Worship Place under a tree.
Sculpture – stone.
Width – 45cm, Height – 57cm (up to neck)
Broken from the neck, the sculpture is at present out under a Peepal tree near Rajwara Railway crossing. The sides of the stele as well as the hands of the deity are broken.
There in an inscription in one line.
Seven Varahs (Pigs) seems to drag the chariot of Devi. ‘Rahu’ has been depicted in the lower part of the platform.

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