The academies of Bangladesh in the 8th century, with 115 dormitories surprisingly uniform in size

Located 90 kilometers away from the capital Dhaka, the Salban Vihara dates back to the mid-8th century during the Deva Dynasty, initiated by Deva IV Sri Bhava Deva, featuring distinct characteristics of the era and remained in use until the 12th century. The 115 meditation cells are distributed around the periphery of the Vihara, each with an unexpectedly consistent area. The core of Salban Vihara is the central shrine, which, despite being the core, is not the center. Six other buildings are also asymmetrically located within the courtyard of the Vihara, built in different periods, with some even undergoing overlay and reconstruction. The Vihara has only one gate, located on its northern side. Although the academy had kitchens and dining halls, some students preferred to cook individually in their own meditation cells, possibly due to poverty, using ingredients brought from home, which was economical. This ancient practice has continued, and today it is still popular in certain rural areas of Bangladesh. During the excavation process, various artifacts were unearthed, including terracotta figurines, seals, gold, and small bronze sculptures, providing solid evidence for the precise dating of Salban Vihara. These artifacts are currently on display at the Tremainamati Museum not far from the archaeological site. The village of Bajrayogini, not far from Dhaka, is the birthplace of the revered Atish Dipankar, who spread Buddhism to Tibet and the eastern regions of India in the 11th century. More than a thousand years after Atish's death, his relics were brought to Bangladesh and placed in his birthplace, symbolizing the enduring bond of friendship between China and Bangladesh.