EPISODE · Jul 12, 2026 · 8 MIN
Bengal's Forgotten Caves: Buddhist Murals in the Jungle
from The Hidden History of Bengal: Kingdoms, Empires, and Revolution — Fexingo History · host Fexingo
In this episode of Hidden History of Bengal, Lucas and Luna venture into the dense forests of the Chittagong Hill Tracts to explore the newly-rediscovered Buddhist cave murals of the 8th-9th centuries. They discuss the Pala-era hermitages carved into sandstone cliffs, the influence of Gupta and Ajanta styles, the role of the Chandra kings of Harikela in patronizing these remote sanctuaries, and the controversial restoration efforts by the Bangladeshi archaeology department. They also touch on the fading pigments, the threat from illegal logging, and what these murals reveal about Bengal's trans-Asian Buddhist networks connecting Tibet, Burma, and Southeast Asia. A rare glimpse into a fragile, hidden art heritage that survives against the odds. #Bengal #BuddhistCaveMurals #ChittagongHillTracts #Harikela #ChandraDynasty #PalaArt #AjantaStyle #GuptaInfluence #TibetanBuddhism #Myanmar #BangladeshHeritage #RestorationControversy #IllegalLogging #FadingPigments #BuddhistHermitage #8thCentury #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
What this episode covers
In this episode of Hidden History of Bengal, Lucas and Luna venture into the dense forests of the Chittagong Hill Tracts to explore the newly-rediscovered Buddhist cave murals of the 8th-9th centuries. They discuss the Pala-era hermitages carved into sandstone cliffs, the influence of Gupta and Ajanta styles, the role of the Chandra kings of Harikela in patronizing these remote sanctuaries, and the controversial restoration efforts by the Bangladeshi archaeology department. They also touch on the fading pigments, the threat from illegal logging, and what these murals reveal about Bengal's trans-Asian Buddhist networks connecting Tibet, Burma, and Southeast Asia. A rare glimpse into a fragile, hidden art heritage that survives against the odds. #Bengal #BuddhistCaveMurals #ChittagongHillTracts #Harikela #ChandraDynasty #PalaArt #AjantaStyle #GuptaInfluence #TibetanBuddhism #Myanmar #BangladeshHeritage #RestorationControversy #IllegalLogging #FadingPigments #BuddhistHermitage #8thCentury #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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Bengal's Forgotten Caves: Buddhist Murals in the Jungle
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