The Sundarbans

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

General Information

AREA 

Nearly 2400 sq. miles or 6000 sq. km.

FOREST LIMITS

North-Bagerhat, Khulna and Sathkira districts : South-Bay of Bengal; East-Baleswar (or Haringhata) river, Perojpur, Barisal district, and West-Raimangal and Hariabhanga rivers which partially form Bangladesh boundary with West Bengal in India.

MAIN ATTRACTIONS

Wildlife photography including photography of the famous Royal Bengal Tiger, wildlife viewing, boating inside the forest will call recordings, nature study, meeting fishermen, wood-cutters and honey-collectors, peace and tranquility in the wilderness, seeing the world's largest mangrove forest and the riverine beauty.

FAMOUS SPOTS

Hiron Point (Nilkamal) for tiger, deer, monkey, crocodiles, birds and natural beauty.

Katka for deer, tiger, crocodiles, varieties of birds and monkey, morning and evening symphony of wild fowls. Vast expanse of grassy meadows running from Katka to Kachikhali (Tiger Point) provide opportunities for wild tracking.

Tin Kona Island for tiger and deer.

Dublar Char (Island) for fishermen. It is a beautiful island where herds of spotted deer are often seen to graze.

The Lalmai-Mainamati Group of monuments

Some fifty archaeological sites have been identified on an area of elevated land 18km long and 4,5km wide, representing a major religious and political centre without parallel in the sub -continent. It appears to have been the religious centre from which Buddhism was spread to South East Asia.


It is known as the Chair of Missing Dynasties. About 8 km to the western of Comilla city, located 114 km south of Dhaka, can be found a variety of low mountains known as the Mainamati-Lalmai variety, which was an comprehensive hub of Buddhist lifestyle. On the runs or these mountains lie spread a value of details about the beginning Buddhist world (7th-12th Millennium AD)

Mainamati is an separated low, lumpy variety of mountains. filled with more than 50 historical Buddhist negotiations of the 8th to Twelfth millennium AD known as Mainamati-Lalmai variety are prolonged through the hub of the section of Comilla.

Salban Vihara, almost in the center of the Mainamati-Lalmai mountain variety includes 115 tissues. designed around a huge courtyard with cruciform forehead in the hub experiencing its only entrance complicated to the northern similar to that of the Paharpur Monastery.

Kotila Mura located on a compressed hillock. about 5 km. northern of Salban Vihara in the Comilla Cantonment place is stunning Buddhist organization. Here three stupas are discovered part by part comprising the Buddhist "Trinity" or three jewelry i.e. the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.

Charpatra Mura is an separated little rectangular shrine located about 2.5 km. north-west of Kotila Mura stupas. The only strategy to the shrine is from the Eastern through a entrance which causes a huge lounge.

The Mainamati website Art gallery has a wealthy and different selection of birdwatcher clothing, silver and money and 86 brown things. Over 150 brown art forms have been retrieved mostly from the monastic tissues, brown stupas, rock art forms and thousands of terra-cotta plaques each calculating on a typical of 9" great and 8" to 12" large.

Mainamati is only 105 km from Dhaka town and is just a daily journey by street on the way to Chittagong.

Mainamati an separated variety of low mountains in the southern edges of deltaic Bangladesh, about 8 km to the western of Comilla city is a very acquainted name in our social record, where historical excavations have unveiled very considerable components. A milestone of our historical record, it symbolizes a little huge of quasi-lateritic old alluvium. The variety, set in the wide area of the rich reduced Meghna sink, expands for about 17 km north-south from Mainamati city on the Gumti Stream to Chandi Mura near the Lalmai train place.

In its greatest components, the variety is about 4.5 km across and its maximum mountains obtain a size of about 45 meters. These highlands were once heavily forest with an large quantity of outrageous lifestyle, but contemporary improvements have rudely disrupted its peaceful and heavenly establishing.

he double brands - Lalmai- Mainamati - of the position have considerable weblink with the past: Lalmai or the the southeast part of aspect is similar with Lalambi-vana of the Chandra epigraphs, while the south aspect recaptures the name of the renowned Chandra king 'Maynamati', described in regional ballads and folk-songs. The historical discovers have now founded beyond any question that the social and governmental hub of historical Vanga-Samatata (southeast Bengal) was situated here. The wonder and value of that amazing previous is undoubtedly reveal in the numerous ancient monuments, piles and excavated continues to be, effectively compounded by an amazing range of run discovers from the position. Mainamati these days is, however, better known for its Buddhist continues to be revealed by excavations. Here, indeed, can be found the biggest system of historical Buddhist continues to be in Bangladesh.


The Development During the course of restoring the old axial street through these mountains in 1875, employees unintentionally found the remains of what at that time was believed to be 'a little stone fort'. It was actually a Buddhist monastery. Some 72 decades previously (1803), from the same position, was found the first Mainamati relic, the copperplate of Ranavankamalla Harikaladeva, old 1220 AD, which details a details of the investment of Pattikera as 'adorned with fortifications and monasteries'. The name now endures in the contemporary Patikara pargana of the vicinity.

The Mainamati remains were found during the Second Community War. While establishing up an enhance get away, the army came across historical continues to be at a variety of factors in the variety. In the rushed study that followed, 18 websites were recognized and secured by the govt. In more frequent and methodical internet surveys performed between 1955 and 1957, when the whole variety was secure by individual profession, more than 50 websites were situated. Most of those websites lie in the south 50 percent of the variety, now within the Cantonment. Archaeological excavations began in Jan 1955. In several stages of excavation of the 50 odd websites nine have so far been revealed. Though the excavations have not yet been accomplished and have been restricted in many aspects, the outcomes so far acquired and the details acquired offer a audio historical base for the renovation of the lifestyle and record of the beginning interval of this previously unknown area.


Most important among the excavated sites is shalvan vihara, which can be found about the center of the variety in the area of the present day Bangladesh Academia for Non-urban Progression (BARD) at Kotbari. Excavations have revealed a huge paharpur type Buddhist monastery and a money of content things datable from the 7th to Twelfth decades AD. The findings from the website involve eight engraved copperplates, about 400 gold and money, many clay-based and prepared clay-based closes and sealings, a lot of sculptural types in rock, brown and clay-based found in situ or otherwise. The huge monastery together with its main shrine was designed by Shri Bhavadeva, it all leader of the beginning deva empire of devaparvata, sometime towards the end of the 7th or beginning 8th millennium AD.

At kutila mura, the best pile in the east aspect of the variety near ananda vihara, were found the most eye-catching typical monuments in Mainamati The excavated typical monuments involve three key stupas and a variety of additional chapels and chaitya-halls designed around them, all of which were encased by a large edge wall. Exciting and complex architectural types and eye-catching designs have been safeguarded at the website. Excavations have not yet been accomplished here; the monastery in the south end and two huge stupas in two pizza of the website stay to be removed yet. The excavated proof indicates 7th millennium AD as the date of the beginning of these typical monuments. The website stayed filled until the Thirteenth millennium AD as indicated by an Abbasid money retrieved from an in the of the website.

charpatra mura is a fascinating little website, located in the south aspect of the variety in about the hub of the Cantonment area, where was found the continues to be of a little Hindu forehead old in the Chandra period (10th-11th millennium AD). It is one of the first known illustrations of Hindu forehead structure in Bangladesh. Four copperplates were found in this monument and hence the name Charpatra (four plates) Mura.

Among the many unexcavated sites, discuss may be made of the Bairagir Mura, a medium-sized great pile immediately to the european of Kutila Mura in the Cantonment. Brickbats, potsherds and parts of rock pictures found spread on the exterior highly indicate its historical significance. The website has been horribly broken by the development of two large water septic tanks on its top for drinking water to the Cantonment. A variety of things were found during development work; only two (dated in the Chandra period) have found their place into the regional art gallery - the reduced aspect of an engraved heavy rock picture status on a lotus throne, and the brown life-size head of a Bodhisattva picture.

The development of a heavy brown gong, large clothed rock rectangle prevents (presumably main bases), one copperplate, and one rock cavity enducing oral plaque identities, and a variety of brown and clay art forms clearly indicate the value of the Rupban Kanya Mura, located in the center of the Kotbari area. But the website has now been levelled to provide the celebration ground and car ports of the Cantonment.

The Kotbari Mound revealed clear records of a Shalvan Vihara type monastery with a cruciform shrine in the hub. A huge mosque and its connected graveyard have taken over the website.
Pakka Mura is an essential unexcavated website (274m by 91m, 15m high) on the european side of the variety, about a kilometer and a half free airline of the Kotbari remains. The need for the website can be found in its following expansion to its reduced base on the european, presumably after the stream had dry or modified its course. A aspect of the silted up riverbed was modified into a large water container called Tara Dighi, the further main aspect of which has now been modified into two modern septic tanks. While developing the larger container, about two miles in dimension, two exciting black rock pictures of Visnu, one life-size and the other a bit lesser, displaying older Sena-Deva features, were found. Among other associated discovers most significant is a copperplate wording of Dasharathadeva (13th century), son and heir of Damodaradeva of the later Deva empire.

The comprehensive great pile on the european side of the variety, about 2.5 km to the north west of the most southern website of Chandi Mura, in the area known as Rupban Mura, had noticeable architectural continues to be in the shape of a round dome at the top of the pile. Treatment of stones by regional population has already triggered devastation of the revealed architectural continues to be. The website has the potential of producing essential continues to be.

At the excessive the southeast part of end of the variety, about 1.6 km to the north west of Lalmai train place, is a popular pile (457m by 183m, 18m high), in the area called Chandi Mura. The website comes its name from the double wats of Chandi built on the peak of the pile, some 250 in the past by a Maharaja of Tripura. The historical personality of the website is undisturbed; the pile probably contains the continues to be of a huge forehead. The top of the pile was horribly broken, first by the development of the Chandi wats, and later by modern designs performed by individuals associated with the wats. However, the historical continues to be at the 'abnormal' amounts may still be unchanged.

Among other unexcavated websites, discuss may be made of Mainamati Mound 2, Abbas Ali Mura, Station Commander's Property, Hatigara Mound, Ujirpur Mound, Ghila Mura and Balaghazir Mura. All these websites have produced proof of continues to be of historical significance. Most of these websites are now in bad shape due to obstinate or unwillful carelessness of the individuals using the piles or their local community.

Antiquities The Mainamati excavations have produced an extremely rich collect of useful antiquities such as 12 copperplate funds and reduced image-inscriptions, over 400 precious steel money, numerous clay-based and clay-based closes and sealings, some Neolithic rock axes and chisels, a huge collection of rock, brown, stucco and clay-based art forms, rock and clay-based pellets, silver, silver and brown decorations, attractive clay-based and structural pieces, steel and clay-based containers, dishes, attractive accents and items, oil lighting fixtures and a variety of other things of daily use. The majority of these things comes from Shalvan Vihara, the most consistently excavated website. Together, they lead considerably to our knowledge of historical Vanga-Samatata, protecting a period of about seven century from the 6th to Thirteenth decades AD.

About a number of floor and refined narrow-butted hand-axes and chisels, mainly of traditional wooden, have been retrieved from the excavations. Latest search have discovered a few Neolithic negotiations in southeast the Mainamati variety. The gathered kinds must have initially come from there. They display obvious appreciation with the Neolithic sectors of Western Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.

Mainamati excavations have, thus, tossed a overflow of light on almost every element of the life and lifestyle of the south eastern element of Bengal. It has offered information regarding the public, financial and governmental scenario of the area and has led to the development of the amazing beginning Deva empire and of Balabhatta, the creator of Devaparvata. It has resolved a number of traditional and regional concerns, for example, concerning the level and range of Samatata, the place of Devaparvata, Pattikera and Lalambi-vana, and the scenario of Harikela. More important, with the analysis and analysis of clay and the explanation and series relationship of the ceramic kinds and other typical things, Mainamati has now offered set a feasible base for further analysis and analysis in the area. Mainamati discovers have no question enhanced the skyline of our knowing of our previous.

Butrint

Butrint is an archaeological site that provides valuable evidence of ancient and medieval civilizations on the territory of modern Albania.

The site, on a hill next to a lake connecting to the sea by a canal, has been inhabited since prehistoric times. A Greek colony was founded there in the late 7th century BC, when the city (called Buthros) was surrounded by fortifications.

Roman occupation prompted the development of the city and, during the Christian era, it became the seat of a bishopric. Many religious structures were built by the Christians. From the time the Slavs came to the Balkans (7th century) until the founding of the Epirus despotate (after the taking of Constantinople by the Crusades in 1204), the city underwent great trials.

The city’s last era of prosperity was under Byzantine administration (Epirus). After a short period of occupation by the Venetians (late 14th century), the city under Ottoman administration was threatened by the marshes that formed around the lake, and was abandoned by the population.

Berat and Gjirokastra

The Historic Centres of Berat and Gjirokastra are both well-preserved Ottoman towns, decorated with outstanding examples of kule: Balkan-Ottoman style tower houses. Both towns have been inhabited continuously since ancient times.

Berat has been particularly marked by the peaceful coexistence of Ottoman Islam with a large Christian minority.
The designated area includes Berat castle, mosques, churches and the Gorica bridge.

Gjirokastra was built around a 13th century citadel. From the 14th to the 19th century it developed into a regional center. Residential quarters, the bazaar, churches and mosques were built vertically and in stone

The amphitheater of Durres

It is the largest and most important Balkan amphitheater built in the early I sc. which contains remarkable functional and constructive architectural values, the unique discovered in Albania. Systematic excavations began in 1966 and currently Available while e been updated half the monument.

 The amphitheater is located in the city center, the cavea is based on the western slope of the hill and the opposite party is elève on flat ground. The amphitheater is presented in the form of an ellipse diameter 136 m. The height of the cavea starting from the base, is 20 m. Capacity was 15,000 steps á 20,000 spectators.

These steps were covered with white tiles. Gladiators fighting on the arena. On the constructive side, the cavea of ​​the amphitheater was based on a system of stone arches surrounding the entire object. The size and the technical realization of this amphitheater shows a development of the city of Durres during the first centuries of our era.

 After having suffered social and economic changes after the sc IV amphitheater of Durres has ceased to function as such. In one of his galleries were built in X sc. a Byzantine chapel whose walls were decorated with mosaics representing different figures

The tombs of Lower Selca

Lower Selca is a village in the area Mokra in the region of Pogradec. During archaeological excavations in the years 1964-1972 affectuées in a hill near the village, we found a city Illyrian.

This habitat has been developed during the period of Bronze High and continued to be such without interruption, even during the Iron periodede. At VI-V sc. BC the city was developed as a proto-urban center on the road that ran along the river Shkumbini. The IV sc. it was transformed into a center surrounded by fortified wall made of squared stones. It occupied an area of ​​30000m2.

During the IV-V BC. JC Selca was an important center of production, trade exchanges and administrative center of the Illyrian region of Desareti. In III sc. were engraved in the rock four monumental tombs of princes, as original creations of the Ionic order. In one of these tombs were reused at the end of II sc. we discovered a rich inventory of weapons, vessels of bronze and terracotta, gold jewelry as well as emblems depicting scenes mitologiques combat. The construction of the Egnatia highway in I sc. led to the downfall of the city. During the IV sc. Selca, as a military and administrative center, was fortified again by stone walls bound with mortar. The Illyrian city of Lower Selca was demolished to circles VI sc.

Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid Region

Situated on the shores of Lake Ohrid, the town of Pogradec is a city with an ancient history and numerous cultural, geological and natural values. Based on archaeological findings (ceramics) an Illyrian settlement existed on the hill in north-west of the city in the 5th century BC and was then fortified in the 4th century BC. The Pogradec people were first called Illyrians (the ancient tribe of Desaret and maybe Enklelej), then Arbër, and finally Albanians. The fortified settlement has had a 1400-year-existence which ended in 7th-8th century with the Slavic invasion and then after the Bulgarian occupation in 9th-12th century the life within the fortification walls was abandoned and a new city was formed in the field area under the castle hill. The new city was named "Podga Grada" (Pogradec) meaning under the city. The city of Pogradec and its historic-cultural region are located in a natural setting of exceptional beauty, while its historical centre represents an example of 19th-20th century Albanian vernacular architecture. Even though with a small area, its old typical streets and houses bear the values of Albanian vernacular architecture and urban setting, revealing the particular atmosphere of this period. The existence in this region of the ruins of the paleochristian church of Lin together with its exceptionally beautiful floor mosaics reveals the presence of Christianity as well as the importance of this area in the period. Traces of the Roman road Via Egnatia found in the region of Pogradec near the shores of Lake Ohrid are evidence of this important passage route in this part of Albania.
Justification of Outstanding Universal Value



The paleochristian church of Lin is one of the most important monuments of 6th century in Albania which conserves nearly untouched the overall plan and the floor mosaics. The periodic conservative works, have contributed in the conservation of the original wall contours and of about 120 m2 floor mosaics. Together with the baptistery of Butrint (World Heritage) these are the two unique central plan churches conserved in Albania. These two churches are known also for the outstanding artistic values of the floor mosaics.
Criteria:
(iii) The archaeological findings in the castle area of the city of Pogradec as well as the presence of the monumental tombs of Lower Selca in the region are evidence of the ancient Illyrian civilization. The actual town planning and housing in the historical centre of Pogradec are evidence of the 19th - 20th century town life.
(iv) From the architectural point of view the 6th century triconch church of Lin village is a rare example of central plan churches in Albania while its well preserved, highly colored floor mosaics bear outstanding artistic value.
(vii) Lake Ohrid lays in southwest of Balkan, shared between Albania and FYROM. It is the oldest lake in Europe and one of the oldest in the world. His origin is tectonic, and it's suggested to be created 4-10 million years ago. It  is situated on 41 degree northern latitude and 20 - 21 degrees eastern longitude, and its altitude is 695 meters above sea level. It covers an area of 358.2 square kilometers, two thirds of which belong to FYROM, and one thirds to Albania. The shoreline is 87.5 kilometers long - the maximum length being 30.8 kilometers, and its maximum width is 14.8 kilometers. The average depth is 164 meters, and the maximum depth 289 meters. On the Albanian side The Lake is surrounded by mountain ranges of Mokra 1589 m. and Jablanica 1945 m The surrounding mountains are karstic. There are more than 40 rivers and streams that flow in to the lake Ohrid. The bedrock structure of the watershed area includes rock masses of various types, compositions and age, going all back to the Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras. In the Albanian Side of Lake Ohrid there are several nature monuments such as caves, springs, special geological features etc.
(ix) Lake Ohrid ecosystem is considered as a nature center for conservation of biodiversity and landscape. It is a habitat for conservation of several endemic species of fauna and flora. Because of its very old age, geographic position, surroundings from mountains and hills, and its condition still oligotrophic, Ohrid lake continues to have a great collection of plants and animals which are unique in the world. It includes numerous of relict forms;"alive fossils" and a lot of other endemic species that are found only in this lake. The Lake Ohrid fish fauna include 17 native species, of which 10 are endemic (two of which belongs to Salmonide family). Ten from the fish species have a commercial value. But also a lot of snails (85%), worms, and sponges are endemic species.
Littoral zone is characterized from considerable communities of the plant and animal species. The red belts at this part of the lake have a big ecological importance as biotopes for a lot of other organisms, places for fish reproduction, and bird nesting place. Related to bird nesting over 60,000 birds have been observed in lake Ohrid.
Based on the  biological and natural values the Albanian part of the lake Ohrid has been proclaimed as Protected Areas under the category V of IUCN.
Satements of authenticity and/or integrity

Due to the great cultural and historic values, the city area which dates back to the 19th - 20th century is in process to be proclaimed Historical Center. The original elements in the façade and interiors are evident but needs an overall restoration.
Regarding to the state of conservation of the paleochristian church of Lin, the periodic conservation works, have contributed in the conservation of the original wall contours and the floor mosaics.
Comparison with other similar properties

The triconch church of the village of Lin presents similarities with the baptistery of Butrint regarding the construction typology. Both these churches are the only central plan churches conserved in Albania. They are known also for the outstanding artistic values of the floor mosaics.
From the typological point of view the triconch church in the village of Lin can be compared with the tetraconch church in the city of Ohrid. Similarities can be seen in the location of the baptistery in the southern area. Given the similarity of their plans, their location, and the stylistic similarity of the floor mosaics as well as the mosaics schemes, it can be assumed that may have been constructed by the same workshops for the construction of floor mosaics operating in the area of Lake Ohrid.