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Ballal Dhipi
An ASI Listed Monument
	Ballal Dhipi ruins
	Shown within West Bengal Ballal Dhipi (India)
Location	Bamanpukur, Nadia district
Region	West Bengal, India
Coordinates	23°27′01″N 88°24′05″E / 23.4503°N 88.4014°E
Type	Buddhist Vihara
History
Founded	10-12th century or a little earlier

Ballal Dhipi is a historic archeological site on the eastern flood plain of the Hooghly in Nadia, West Bengal, a few kilometres east of Nabadwip. The remains date back to the 12th century AD and earlier. A 30-ft structure of solid terracotta bricks is spread over an area of 1,300 sq ft. with a floor made of lime and sand. It is named after Ballala Sena (1160-1179) of the Sena dynasty.

Archaeologists have found traces of a temple complex. Historians differ on the origin of the structure. It may be the ruin of a Buddhist stupa or vihar, possibly built between the 11th and 13th centuries. It has similarities with Vikramshila Vihar, in Bihar and Shompur Vihar, in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. It may also be a part of the capital of the Sena dynasty.

Geography

8km
5miles

B

A

N

G

L

A

D

E

S

H

Jalangi River

River

Bhagirathi

Bethuadahari
Wildlife Sanctuary

T

Palashi

H

Mayapur

H

Juranpur

R

Bethuadahri

R

Nakashipara

R

Debagram

R

Kaliganj

R

Maheshganj

R

Ghurni

R

Dhubulia

R

Bishnupur

R

Asannagar

R

Ruipukur

R

Gede
check point

R

Majhdia

R

Krishnaganj

R

Bangaljhi

R

Nabadwip

M

Krishnanagar

M

Kshidirpur

CT

Jagadanandapur

CT

Matiari

CT

Mira

CT

Char Brahmanagar

CT

Char Maijdia

CT

Majdia

CT

Gadigachha

CT

Bablari
Dewanganj

CT

Tiorkhali

CT

Bamanpukur

CT

Harindanga

CT

Paschimbhatjangla

CT

Baruihuda

CT

Sonda

CT

Chapra

CT

Cities and towns in Krishnanagr Sadar subdivision of Nadia district
M: municipal town/ city, CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, H: place of historical/ religious interest, T: place of tourist interest.
Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly

Location

Ballal Dhipi is located at Bamunpukur, near Mayapur and Nabadwip, 23°27′01″N 88°24′05″E / 23.4503°N 88.4014°E / 23.4503; 88.4014.

Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.

Excavations

The Kolkata Circle of the Archaeological Survey of India excavated the mound, during 1982-1988, and "exposed huge brick structures and various antiquities datable to c. 10th to 12th cent. AD. The brick structure include shrines on sides and a massive construction within an enclosure." The antiquities indicate the possibility of Buddhist affiliation. The structural complex covers nearly 13,000 m². Experts opine the "stupa(vihara) of eighth/ ninth century was perhaps a seat of learning and pilgrimage up to the end of the 11th century." It is about 25 km from Krishnanagar.^[1]^[2]

The ASI has divided the site into two parts – the mound and the remains of a fort. Both the sites are identified as an ASI listed monument.^[3]^[4]