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Art and Architecture of the Mahavihara
The architectural style of the stupa and the themes of terracotta plaques of Vikramshila Mahavihara are comparable to the contemporary Somapura Mahavihara, Paharpur (Bangladesh). However, Vikramshila monastery is larger and has fort like projections on its outer wall. The exposed monastic settlement is a quadrangle measuring 330m square on plain with double terraced chaitya in the centre. The whole chaitya rising to a height of 16.25m had only one entrance through a pathway measuring 75x11m, and the complex fanned out in the east and west from this direction. The main stupa in the centre of the square monastery, a brick structure laid in mud mortar has on each of the four cardinal directions, a protruding chamber which earlier displayed colossal images of the seated Buddha, of which three were found in situ with the one on northern side possibly replaced by a stone image after mutilation or damage to the earlier clay image. All chambers had a pillared antechamber and a separate pillared mandapa in front. The walls of both the terraces are decorated with mouldings and terracotta plaques which testify the high excellence of terracotta art flourishing in the region during Pala period (8th to 12th Century A.D.) having evolved since the Gupta times as exemplified by the likes at Bhitargaon (Kanpur), Nalanda, Gaya,and many others.