Imp. Arc Sites Page: 01.

Important Archaeological And Tourist Sites

• 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.

Temple - 28m x 18m x 20m
A superb piece of painting can be seen on the walls .It seems to narrate some classical stories of the region. Theme-narrating  the mythological stories of Ramayan, Mahabharat, Swarg- Narak and decoration of flower &  fruits are beautifully painted on the inside wall of the Temple. A brief script in Devanagari is also painted to narrate the stories. Every where the terms related to Mithila can be seen .
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.
Advance stage of decay can be seen every where.

• BIRPUR
  Birpur
  14 KM North from Begusarai district headquarters.
  Birpur is the block headquarter of Begusarai district having a number of archaeological sites in a small periphera. Birpur, Baraipura, Naula, Bheeth, Chanan. Sahuri etc. are remarkable archaeological sites in this periphera. The sculptures at Birpur represent the matured pala and Rajputa features. The Shaiva sculpture of Raivant, Basaha and Shiva-Linga, the Brahmin sculpture of Surya and the Buddhist sculpture of Tara- all almost contemporary – display the secular nature of the region and its true religious legacy. Obviously it has the true potency of being developed as a perfect tourist complex.

  Sun 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 flanked by several divine attendants like Usha, Pratyusha, Dandi, Pingala, Samjana, and Mahashveta.

  Basaha Asthan Mound and Temple
  Baraipura
  14 Km North from Begusarai district headquarters

  The mound has a remarkable landscape having two ponds one each toward its northern and western ends. The north-west could be its peak from where one can experience the gradual sloping. The eastern part of the mound has deep cut throughout meant for leveling the agricultural land. Remains of an old dig well can be seen in this part.

  Mound – 140m x 112m x 4 m
  Red ware, Oranges ware, (Pots herds) only
  Water jar, cooking vessel, Plate, Bowl, thick storage vessel.

  There used to be a small hut like temple almost 5 m from the present structure around 125 – 150 years ago. During the construction of the present western fencing of the newly built temple in or around 1990, the remains of a structure was found almost 1 m deep in the foundation which was ultimately covered by the villagers. It is possible that the structure would be the remains of the old temple complex icons of which were later found from the tank, west to the temple. The mound might be associated with a group of temples. The sculpture of Vishnu, Sun, Basaha, Chamunda and Shiva Ling, found from or around this mound suggest that it had been a worship centre of Brahmin, Shiva and shakta followers

  Temple
  The old temple is said to be built almost 125-150 years ago. A new temple has been constructed In the year 1990 around 5 meter ahead.

  Etching and scratching while offering prayer.
  A brick built temple has been made 5 m ahead of the old one. The present temple bears the size 7.6 X 7.6 m. The significance of this temple is the black stone Surya and Basaha put and being offered regular prayer in the Garvagriha of size almost 3m X 3m.
  Bricks, cemented
  7.6 m x 7.6 m x 75 m
  Sculptures – Stone, black, Pala
  Sun – width – 52 cm, height 107 cm
  Basaha – 107 cm length 42 cm width, 70 cm height
  The sun is highly decorated. Two handed sun is accompanied by Usha and Pratyusha in the bottom. The lord is holding Lotus in his both hands.
  Offering of sindur has left its impacts particularly on the sun.

• Birpur Mound
  (83˚05’40”/25˚31’00”)
  Birpur
  12 Km North from Begusarai district headquarters
  Mound

It is a big mound. The top is intact to some extent. Agriculture practices has been done through out the years. The middle part of the mound is inhabited with market and habitation.
NBP, Black ware, Red ware, Oranges ware, Black upper and Red (Inner) ware.
Water jar, cooking vessel, storage vessel, Plates.

It is one of the richest mounds of the district. The excavation of this site conducted in 2004 by A.I.H. and Archaeological department of G.D. College, Begusarai, with the permission granted by A.S.I., brought in light the existence of six cultural sequences. The archaeological remains collected from this site seem backing up the possibilities of this place being a famous trading centre right from Kushanas to Turk Afgan.

• NAULA GARH
  (86° 04’ 00”/25° 33’ 15”)
  Naula
  Birpur
  Begusarai
  20 Km. North, North – East from Begusarai district headquarters.
  Mound
  The mound is almost intact. The expansion and landscape is remarkable. The road interscts the mound in two parts. The remains of fortifications had been explored several times by A.I.H.Culture and  Archaeology department of G. D. College, Begusarai. The Northern mound is remarkable for its landscape with natural and man – made water channels.
  Pottery –    N.B.P., Black slipped, Burnt (Plain & Polished), Red ware (Plain & Polished), Internal Black & External Red type.
  Vessels – Heavy type storage vessel, water jar, Dish, cookware, small and large Plate, bowl, Deep
  Pan, Flat pan etc.

It is situated only 3½ Kms. westward of the block headquarters Birpur. This enormous mound expands in almost 1½ Km. long area, right from Bhit in the East to Fansiari Tola in Makhwa panchayat in the west. Balan in the East and Bainti in the south creates a remarkable topology for the mound. Both the rivers join in the east almost 1 Km. from the centre. In fact, the mound is divided in different parts:

1. The central fortified area of 360 acres, 1400 acres and 800 acres.
2. Sodhri mound measuring 400m x 100m to the north of the Gudh (fort) and
3. The mound of Dih and Bhit to the east of the fortified area.

The A.I.H. culture and Archaeology Dept. Of G. D. College, Begusarai under supervision of prof. R. K. chowdhary  had explored and surveyed this huge area in 1950-52.
A local resident Shri Ramnath Singh  donated the antique collection from this mound to the museum of G. D. College, Begusarai. A black stone broken sculptures with inscription of Vigraha Pala III has been displayed in the K.P.J.A. Museum of the A.I.H. Archaeology Deptt., G. D. College, Begusarai. The concerned inscription is narrated in G. D. College, Buletin – 2.

Naulagarh is remarkable for its multi-cultural sequence. A number of coins have been reported to be explored by local people during agricultural practices. The expansion and some evidence of dockyard strongly suggests this place to be the Apan Nigam mentioned in the Buddhist literature. The 200m x 100m old tank which is connected by river Bainti in the west with a 50m. wide deep chanel, seems to be made for transportation purpose. It is possible that the eastern side of the tank would have been a platform for loading – unloading of goods. According to the local traditions, this particular tank used to be a secret path of the royal family to go out side but the topology and the findings till now does not supports this hypothesis

• 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
  1200kathas
  Black ware, Red ware, Muslim associated ware, black (inner) and greyish 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.

• 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.

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