The Sundarbans Bangladesh

The Sundarbans Bangladesh

Short Report

The Sundarbans mangrove forest, one of the largest of these forests in the world (140,000 ha), is located on the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers in the Bay of Bengal. It is adjacent to the border of India's Sundarbans World Heritage site registered in 1987. The site is intersected by a complex network of tidal waterways, mudflats and small islands of salt-tolerant mangrove forests, and is an excellent example of the current ecological processes. The area is known for its large variety of fauna, including 260 bird species, the Bengali tiger and other endangered species such as the estuarine crocodile and the Indian python.

Wide Report

The Sundarbans consists of three wildlife sanctuaries (Sundarbans West, east and south) are disjunct deltaic margins islands just west of the large outflow of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna river, close to the border with India. The sanctuaries intersected by a complex network of tidal waterways, mudflat hiking and the small islands of salt tolerant mangrove forests. The area is awash with brackish water during high tide which mix with fresh water from the rivers. The larger channels often a mile or two wide and generally in a north-south direction. Rivers are usually long and right, a consequence of the strong tidal forces and the easily affected clay and silt deposits from. But apart from Baleswar River inland waterway transport little fresh water if they are cut off from the Ganges, the outflow of that has shifted from the east gradually Hooghly-Bhagirathi channels in India since the 17th century. They are open remain largely by the diurnal tidal flow. Alluvial deposits are geologically very recent and deep. The soil is a clay loam with alternating layers clay, sludge and sand. The surface is clay except seawards of the islands in the coastal areas, where sandy beaches. The monsoon rains, floods, delta formation, and tidal influence in the Sundarbans combine for a dynamic landscape that constantly changes. Sand collection at the estuary and form banks and characters, which blown in the dunes by the strong south-westerly monsoon winds. Finer silts are washed in the Bay of Bengal where they mudflat hiking in the shadows of the dunes. These are overlain with sand of the dunes and salt marshes in centers.

Because of the dominance of salty conditions, the forest flora in the western Sundarbans is not as varied as in the east. Forest areas are dominated by a few species usually Sundri and Gewu and patches of Nypa palm and some other of the 27 species that are found in the Sundarbans mangrove swamps. The property is the only remaining habitat in the lower Bengal Basin for a variety of faunal species. The presence of 49 mammals have been documented. These are not less than five spectacular species rhinoceros Javan region, water buffalo, swamp deer, gaur and probably hog deer are locally extirpated since the beginning of the 21st century.

The Sundarbans of Bangladesh and India one of the largest populations of Royal Bengal Tiger with an estimated 350 people. Other mammals are spotted deer, wild boar, three types of wild cat and Ganges River dolphin, that can occur in some of the larger rivers. Of the three species of otter, smooth coated otter is domesticated by fishermen and used to fish in their nets. Approximately 53 reptile species and eight amphibian species are included in this mugger crocodile is now extinct, probably as a result of previous overfishing, although it still occurs in at least one area. Estuarine crocodile still survives but his songs are strongly depleted by hunt and capture of skins. Four species of marine turtles are listed in the area. The varied and colorful birds to see along the waterways is one of the Sundarbans' biggest attractions. There are approximately 315 species of waterfowl, raptors and forest birds, including nine types of kingfisher and the beautiful white-in sea eagle.

Historical Data

All three wildlife sanctuaries are established in 1977 under the Bangladesh Wildlife (Preservation) (Amendment) Act, 1974, after set veterinary surveillance zones forest reserves in 1878. The total area of wildlife sanctuaries was extended in 1996. The entire Sundarbans reserved forest, set in the context of the Indian Forest Act, 1878.

Source:whc/unesco

Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur Bangladesh

Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur - Bangladesh

Short Report

Proof of the emergence of Mahayana Buddhism in Bengal from the 7th century Somapura Mahavira, or the Large Monastery, was a well-known intellectual center, until the 12th century. The layout perfectly adapted to its religious function, this monastery-city is a unique artistic achievement. With the simple, harmonious lines and the abundance of carved wood decoration, the influenced Buddhist architecture as far as Cambodia.

Wide Report

Paharpur is a small village 5 km to the west of Jamalganj in the Rajshahi District where the remains of the largest and most famous monastery south of the Himalayas are excavated. The Paharpur Vihara, known under Somapura Mahavira, was built by the Pala Emperor Dharmapala (AD 770-810).  The monastery is quadrangular farmhouse in form, with a colossal temple of a cross-shaped map in the middle of the courtyard and the comprehensive gateway complex in the north. There are 45 cells in the north and 44 in each of the three other side, and the total number of 177 monastic cells along the housing walls on four sides. This layout and the decoration of carved stone and terracotta plaques, give the building its religious function, which is influenced by Buddhist architecture in Cambodia and Java (Indonesia).

This 7th-century archaeological find covers an area of approximately 11 ha. The entire facility, which is housed in a quadrangular farmhouse court measure more than 275 m, externally on each side, high density-walls approximately 5 m thick and 3-5 m high. Proof of the emergence of Mahayana Buddhism in Bengal from the 7th century Somapura Mahavira (Large Monastery) was a well-known intellectual center, until the 12th century. The layout perfectly adapted to its religious function, this monastery-city is a unique artistic achievement. With the simple, harmonious lines and the abundance of carved wood decoration, the influenced Buddhist architecture as far as Cambodia.

A small site-museum built in 1956-57 houses the representative collection of objects recovered from the area. The excavated finds are also preserved in the Varendra Research Museum in Rajshahi. The antiquities of the Museum include terracotta plaques, images of various gods and goddesses, pottery, coins, inscriptions, decorative bricks, and other smaller clay objects.

Source:whc/unesco

Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat in Bangladesh

Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat in - Bangladesh

Short Report

Located in the outskirts of Bagerhat, during the meeting of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers, this old city, formerly known as Khalifatabad, was founded by the Turkish general Ulugh Khan e Jahan Square in the 15th century. The urban infrastructure reveals considerable technical skill and an exceptionally large number of mosques and early Islamic monuments, many built of brick, can be seen.

Wonderful  Universal Importance

The historic Mosque City Bagerhat is an important proof of the medieval city in the south-western part of the current Bagerhat district which is located in the south-west of Bangladesh, on the meeting point of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers. The old city, formerly known as Khalifatabad, urban sprawls over on the southern shore of the old river Bhairab and flourished in the 15th century BC. The beautiful city, which extended for 50 km2, contains some of the most important buildings of the early period of the development of Islamic architecture of Bengal. They have 360 mosques, public buildings, the mausoleums, bridges, roads, water tanks and other public buildings of baked stone.

This old city made within a few years, and covered by the jungle after the death of the founder in 1459, is remarkable because certain unusual characteristics. The density of the Islamic religious monuments is explained by the and piety of Khan e Jahan Square, which is apparent in the engraved message on the tomb. The absence of defenses is due to the possibilities of retreat in the dense mangrove swamps of the Sunderbans. The quality of the infrastructure, the supply and discharge of water, the cisterns and reservoirs, the roads and bridges - all show a perfect control of the techniques of planning and the will to spatial planning.

The monuments, which are partially disconnected from the vegetation, can be divided in two important areas 6.5 km from each other: in the West, around the mosque of Shait-Gumbad and in the East, around the mausoleum of Khan e Jahan Square.

Wide Report

The historic city of Khalifatabad is an excellent example of an architectural ensemble that illustrates a significant stage in human history. Located in the outskirts of Bagerhat, at the meeting point of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers, this old city founded by the Turkish general Ulugh Khan e Jahan Square in the 15th century. In this local capital of 50 km2 along the river Bhairab, 360 mosques, public buildings, the mausoleums, bridges, roads, water tanks and other public buildings were built of baked stone. E Jahan Square Shait Gumbad Mosque and Khan's Mausoleum are just two examples of these historic buildings. Today this old town, made within a few years swallowed up by the jungle after the death of the founder in 1459, is remarkable because certain unusual characteristics. The density of the Islamic religious monuments is explained by the and piety of Khan e Jahan Square, which is apparent in the engraved message on the tomb. The absence of defenses is due to the possibilities of retreat in the impenetrable swamps of the Sunderbans. The quality of the infrastructure, the supply and discharge of water, the cisterns and reservoirs, the roads and bridges - all show a perfect control of the techniques of planning and the will to spatial planning.

Today, the monuments, which are partially disconnected from the vegetation, can be divided into two major areas: in the west around the Mosque of Shait Gumbad and to the east around the Mausoleum of Khan e Jahan Square. More than 50 monuments have been cataloged. These include the Mosque of Shait Gumbad is known for the large prayer room, divided into seven longitudinal naves; the mosques of Singar, Bibi Begni and Chunakkola; the mosques of Reza Hadjzadeh Very Least Khoda, Zindavir and Ranvijoypur. All these monuments are under threat, because of the extremely high salinity of the soil and the atmosphere, which particularly vulnerable because brick architecture dominates.

Source:whc/unesco