Founded by the Pala Emperor Dharmapala in the late 8th century CE, Vikramshila University was one of the two most important centers of Buddhist learning in India during the Pala Empire, alongside Nalanda. Located near Bhagalpur, it was the premier center of Vajrayana Buddhism.
1. The Central Stupa
The university featured a massive central stupa surrounded by brick monastic cells. The stupa is decorated with beautiful terracotta plaques depicting Buddhist deities, animals, and social scenes of the Pala period.
2. Atisha Dipankara
The university hosted over a hundred teachers and thousands of students, producing famous scholars like Atisha Dipankara, who traveled to Tibet to reform Tibetan Buddhism. He remains a highly revered figure in Tibetan history.
3. The Excavation Museum
The excavation site includes a museum exhibiting rare stone sculptures, terracotta plaques, and ancient coins. In this post, we look at the historical significance of Vikramshila and how to reach Bhagalpur.
