Bangladesh Buddhist Cultural Academy
May all beings be happy.
A Buddhist centre for worship, learning, social welfare and heritage research beside the 8th-century Salban Vihara in Mainamati, Cumilla.
- YMBA founded
- 1991
- acres beside Salban Vihara
- 2.28
- children at the orphanage
- 120
- monasteries in Ven. Shilabhadra's care
- 21
Beside the ancient Salban Vihara
The Bangladesh Buddhist Cultural Academy (BBCA) is a master project of the Young Men’s Buddhist Association (YMBA), Cumilla. It is a non-political, non-profit institution for religion, education, culture, socio-economic development and archaeological research.
The Academy stands beside the historic Salban Vihara monastery (8th century) at Kotbari, Mainamati, in the district of Cumilla. We are always ready to welcome researchers, scholars and tourists from home and abroad.
Our work today
Our running projects serve monks and novices, pilgrims and visitors, and children in need.
World Peace Pagoda Analayo
The first and only Thai-style Great Pagoda in Bangladesh, inaugurated in 2017.
View project
New Salban Vihara and Prayer Hall
Our monastery, named after and built in the spirit of the ancient Salban Vihara next door.
Novice and Monks' Training and Meditation Centre
Training in Vinaya discipline, the Tripitaka and meditation for newly ordained novices and monks.
Salban Vihara Orphanage
Food, shelter, schooling and care for 120 orphaned and destitute children.
Salban Vihara Guest House
Rooms for researchers, scholars and tourists inside a secure, police-protected campus.
The heritage of Mainamati-Lalmai
Kings of the Kharga, Deva, Chandra and Pala dynasties ruled this land from the 7th to the 13th century, leaving monasteries across the hills.
Explore the heritage“During the 7th to 8th centuries, when the light of wisdom was shining in the monasteries of Bengal, Europe was in the dark.”
Visionary and Chief Adviser
Most Venerable 10th Sangharaj Jyotipal Mahathero
1914-2002
Scholar, humanitarian and a key international organiser during the Liberation War, he dreamt of a World Peace Pagoda at Mainamati. That dream now stands at New Salban Vihara.
Read his life story
Help us build what comes next
Plot 2 is set aside for a students' hostel, an English-medium school, a health clinic and an archaeological research centre.
- Acharya Pandit Shilabhadra Hostel
- Co-Educational English Medium School
- Health Clinic
- Administrative Building and Archaeological Research Centre
Visit the Academy
We welcome researchers, scholars and tourists from home and abroad.
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Reach Cumilla by bus or train from anywhere in Bangladesh, then travel on to Kotbari, Mainamati.
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Air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned rooms at the guest house, inside a secure, police-protected campus.
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The Salban Vihara ruins are next door, and the Mainamati Museum is close by.