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{{Short description|Archaeological site in Boxanagar, Tripura}}
{{Infobox ancient site
| name = Boxanagar Ruins
| image = 6)The ruins of Buddhist Temple at Boxanagar,near Sonamura, 40 kms west to the capital city Agartala,Tripura.jpg
| caption = Ruins at Boxanagar
| map_type = India#India Tripura#South Asia
| map_caption = Boxanagar Ruins
| relief = yes
| coordinates = {{Coord|23|36|58.9|N|91|09|56.3|E|region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| location = Boxanagar, [[Sonamura subdivision]], [[Sipahijala district]], [[Tripura]], [[India]]
| type = Stupa, chaityagṛha, monastery
| material = Burnt bricks, mud mortar, terracotta
| built = Between 6th and 9th centuries CE
| condition = Preserved
| management = [[Archaeological Survey of India]]
| architectural_styles = [[Buddhist architecture|Buddhist]]
| designation1 = Monument of National Importance
| designation1_free1name = Official name
| designation1_free1value = Ancient Remains, Boxanagar
| designation1_free2name = Reference no.
| designation1_free2value = N-TR-2
| designation1_free3name = State
| designation1_free3value = [[Tripura]]
}}

The '''Boxanagar Ruins''' are a [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] [[archaeological site]] in [[Boxanagar]], [[Tripura]], [[India]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Archaeological Survey of India(ASI), Guwahati Circle, Assam |url=https://www.asiguwahaticircle.gov.in/Ancient%20remains%20boxanagar.html |access-date=2026-01-16 |website=www.asiguwahaticircle.gov.in}}</ref> It is designated a [[Monuments of National Importance|Monument of National Importance]] by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Archaeological Survey of India(ASI), Guwahati Circle, Assam |url=https://www.asiguwahaticircle.gov.in/tripura.html |access-date=2026-01-16 |website=www.asiguwahaticircle.gov.in}}</ref>

== Location ==
The Boxanagar archaeological site is located at Boxanagar, a village<ref>{{Cite web |title=Boxanagar Village Population - Boxanagar - West Tripura, Tripura |url=https://www.census2011.co.in/data/village/272086-boxanagar-tripura.html |access-date=2026-01-16 |website=www.census2011.co.in}}</ref> in northwest [[Sonamura subdivision]], [[Sipahijala district]] in western Tripura. Boxanagar has an average elevation of 21 m (69 ft).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Boxanagar topographic map, elevation, terrain |url=https://en-sg.topographic-map.com/map-fd6kzs/Boxanagar/?center=21.7182,93.0954&zoom=7 |access-date=2026-01-25 |website=Topographic maps |language=en}}</ref> The ruins are situated on the fringes of the [[Bangladesh–India border|Indo-Bangladesh border]], and sit at a distance of approximately 40 km (25 mi) from [[Agartala]], the state's [[Capital city|capital]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2018-12-09 |title=When an 8th century stupa was found under a Tripura Eidgah |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/tripura/when-an-8th-century-stupa-was-found-under-a-tripura-eidgah-5485543/ |access-date=2026-01-16 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Tripura Tourism |url=https://tripuratourism.gov.in/single-tour.php?id=16 |access-date=2026-01-16 |website=tripuratourism.gov.in}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=Dey |first=Subrata |title=Boxanagar: An Ancient Buddhist Archaeological Site of Tripura |url=https://www.heritageuniversityofkerala.com/JournalPDF/Volume11.1/38.pdf |journal=Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=729-737}}</ref> The nearest airport is [[Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport]] and the nearest railway station is [[Agartala railway station]] in Agartala.<ref name=":0" />

== History ==
The Boxanagar Ruins, a largely Buddhist complex, are believed by archaeologists to be Tripura's most ancient Buddhist archaeological site.<ref name=":2" /> According to them, the Buddhist civilization of Boxanagar first emerged during the [[Khadga dynasty]], a Buddhist dynasty which ruled the areas of [[Vanga kingdom|Vanga]] and [[Samatata]] in ancient Bengal from 625 CE to 716 CE. Historians believe that Buddhist culture and influence flourished in Boxanagar between the 6th (7th according to some accounts<ref name=":2" />) and 12th centuries CE, a period marked by rich history, learning, and the arts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-23 |title=Tripura's hidden treasure: Reawakening a lost Buddhist legacy |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/art-culture/tripuras-hidden-treasure-reawakening-a-lost-buddhist-legacy-101682235663696.html |access-date=2026-01-23 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last=Dasgupta |first=Mandira |last2=Bhowmik |first2=Rajesh |title=The Archaeological Sites of Tripura: A Study of the Excavated Sites of Pilak, Boxanagar, Unakoti, Devtamura and the Temples of Udaipur |url=https://www.heritageuniversityofkerala.com/JournalPDF/Volume8.2/43.pdf |journal=Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology |volume=8 |issue=2 |pages=712-729}}</ref><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=Boxanagar Buddhist Ruins — Maps, Directions & History |url=https://www.anvayamaps.com/places/boxanagar-buddhist-ruins |access-date=2026-01-25 |website=www.anvayamaps.com |language=en}}</ref>

The Boxanagar archaeological site is believed by archaeologists to have been erected sometime between the 6th and 9th centuries CE.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Boxanagar Archaeological Site Poised for Tourist Boom with Govt. Investments |url=https://tripuratimes.com/ttimes/boxanagar-archaeological-site-poised-for-tourist-boom-with-govt-investments-16625.html |access-date=2026-01-25 |website=Boxanagar Archaeological Site Poised for Tourist Boom with Govt. Investments |language=English}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Archaeological Survey of India(ASI), Guwahati Circle, Assam |url=https://www.asiguwahaticircle.gov.in/treadmore1.html |access-date=2026-01-25 |website=www.asiguwahaticircle.gov.in}}</ref><ref name=":7" /><ref name=":5" /> Some historians consider the discoveries in Boxanagar to be an indication of the peaceful coexistence of Hindu-Buddhist culture.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-03-13 |title=Tripura: ASI Selects 4 New Excavation Sites, Chabimura to be Included in ASI Protected Zones |url=https://www.indiatodayne.in/breaking-news/story/tripura-asi-selects-4-new-excavation-sites-chabimura-be-included-asi-protected-zones-406821-2020-03-13 |access-date=2026-01-25 |website=India Today NE |language=hi}}</ref><ref name=":9" /><ref name=":3" />

The excavation history of the Boxanagar Ruins dates back to 2002 when a local landowner, in the process of digging a section of his ancestral plot, encountered a cluster of burnt bricks.<ref name=":1" /> Following up on the discovery, the [[Archaeological Survey of India|Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)]] officially commenced excavation about a year later, in 2003.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Datta |first=Sekhar |title=Tripura relics spark rethink on history |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/tripura-relics-spark-rethink-on-history/cid/522807 |access-date=2026-01-16 |website=[[The Telegraph (India)|The Telegraph]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Tripura relics spark rethink on history|url=https://www.historynewsnetwork.org/article/tripura-relics-spark-rethink-on-history|website=HNN|date=2010-05-30|access-date=2026-01-25|language=en}}</ref>{{Efn|The exact year or date official archaeological excavation commenced at Boxanagar is uncertain; different sources give varying possible years, with some suggesting start dates as early as the 1990s.}} The excavation was conducted in a number of phases;<ref name=":3" /> as of January 2026, it remains partially incomplete.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":9">{{Cite web|title=Waiting to be explored|url=https://www.nezine.com/info/MXlTL201OG1BS2dxU1BmdW1kVEJadz09/waiting-to-be-explored.html|website=nezine.com|access-date=2026-01-25|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Description ==
The excavation in Boxanagar unearthed a large brick [[stupa]], a [[Chaitya|chaityagṛha]] (prayer hall), a [[monastery]], votive stupas, and other burnt-brick structures and substructures.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":2" /> Upon discovery, locals initially ascribed the findings to an ancient temple dedicated to [[Manasa|Manasa Devi]], the Hindu goddess of snakes.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Manasa Devi, Manasā Devī, Manasadevi, Mānasādevī: 7 definitions|url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/manasa-devi|website=www.wisdomlib.org|date=2012-06-29|access-date=2026-01-23|language=en|last=www.wisdomlib.org}}</ref> However, the Buddhist buildings and the eventual discovery of three sculptures of [[the Buddha]] indicate the ruins had been a Buddhist religious site.<ref name=":2" />

The Boxanagar Ruins span an area of approximately 3 acres (1.21 ha), and are situated on a raised portion of land. The brick stupa, the fundamental element of the site, is square-shaped and measures 237.16 m2 (2,553 sq ft). During the excavation, the [[:de:Harmika|harmika]], a fence-like [[Buddhist architecture|Buddhist architectural]] structure<ref>{{Cite web |title=harmika {{!}} Art History Glossary |url=https://arthistoryglossary.org/?glossary=harmika |access-date=2026-01-25 |language=en-US}}</ref> believed to have been set atop the stupa, was discovered collapsed. Within the stupa were found a number of smaller clay votive stupas and sealings with inscriptions in the [[Kutila script|Kutlia script]]. At the basement of the stupa lie eight mouldings, arranged in descending order.

To the east of the stupa lies the chaityagṛha, a traditional Buddhist prayer hall.<ref>{{Cite web |title=chaitya hall {{!}} Art History Glossary |url=https://arthistoryglossary.org/?glossary=chaitya-hall |access-date=2026-01-25 |language=en-US}}</ref> It is rectangular in shape and measures 18.50 m × 11.90 m. The chaityagṛha is almost completely damaged; only the side walls remain. To the right of the chaityagṛha lies the monastery, which is also rectangular-shaped, and measures 31.80 × 17.80 m. It comprises a central corridor and ten [[Monastic cell|cells]]. Archaeological analysis reveals that the monastery was constructed in three stages. A number of seals dating to {{circa}} 6th century CE were found in the monastery, the inscriptions on which remain undeciphered.<ref name=":5" />

Each of the stupa, the chaityagṛha, and the monastery is oriented east–west. In 2009-10, another mound was excavated in the area, revealing a burnt-brick structure with [[Ratha (architecture)|''triratha'']] projections and a square-shaped chamber. Apart from these, three [[bronze]] images of the Buddha, moulded bricks, and [[Silver coin|silver coins]] were unearthed during excavation.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Archaeological Survey of India(ASI), Guwahati Circle, Assam |url=https://www.asiguwahaticircle.gov.in/excavation4.html |access-date=2026-01-25 |website=www.asiguwahaticircle.gov.in}}</ref><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":8" />

== Gallery ==
{{Gallery
| title =
| align =
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| File:4)The ruins of Buddhist Temple at Boxanagar,near Sonamura, 40 kms west to the capital city Agartala,Tripura.jpg
|The brick stupa at Boxanagar (?)
| File:3)The ruins of Buddhist Temple at Boxanagar,near Sonamura, 40 kms west to the capital city Agartala,Tripura-2.jpg
|The monastery
| File:The Ruins of excavation site of Bqxanagar Archaeological site lying 40 kms west to the capital city of agartala,Tripura state,India.jpg
|The chaityagṛha
| File:6)The ruins of Buddhist Temple at Boxanagar,near Sonamura, 40 kms west to the capital city Agartala,Tripura.jpg
|Boxanagar ruins
| File:1)The ruins of Buddhist Temple at Boxanagar,near Sonamura, 40 kms west to the capital city Agartala,Tripura.jpg
|Boxanagar ruins
| File:2)The ruins of Buddhist Temple at Boxanagar,near Sonamura, 40 kms west to the capital city Agartala,Tripura-1.jpg
|Boxanagar ruins
}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Stupas in India]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Tripura]]
[[Category:Buddhist buildings and structures in India]]
[[Category:Buddhist holy sites in India]]

Boxanagar Ruins - Revision history

BenWunderly: started the entry w/ refs