Vikramshila university

The ruins of Vikramshila university, an ancient seat of Buddhist learning located in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district, are set to be conserved, like its older contemporary, Nalanda university, so that current and future generations would get to know about the rich tradition of scholarship in the state.

The Archaeological Survey of India’s Patna circle has decided to launch a mega plan for conservation of the university ruins, located near Antichak village in the Kahalgaon sub-division of Bhagalpur district, about 150km from Patna, officials said.

The excavated ruins of Vikramshila university, set up in the 8th century by the Pala dynasty king Dharmapala, are awaiting conservation. “The ASI is serious about conservation of the entire excavated structure of Vikramshila like of Nalanda university,” ASI Patna’s superintending archaeologist Sanjay K Manjul said. He said conservation of the ruins would help to protect it for future generations.

“We have sent the conservation plan to the director general of ASI for approval. After receiving approval, we will launch the conservation plan,” he said.

According to ASI officials here, conservation of 52 shells or reading room-like structures adjoining the main stupa and a major portion of the excavated structure will be taken up.

The ASI’s conservation plan comes in the wake of the Bihar government’s move to develop Vikramshila’s ruins as a tourist destination like Nalanda, situated around 90km from the state capital.

Vikramshila university, set up by the Pala dynasty (750-1174 A.D) king Dharmapala in the late 8th or early 9th century, was intended to complement the existing world-class universities at Nalanda and Takshila.