Mankali's Kund is one of the signs of ancient civilization in Shibganj upazila of Bogra district . In the early 1960s, the then Directorate of Archeology of Pakistan registered this structure on the high mound of Mahasthangarh as an archaeological site.
On entering the Mankali Kund Mound, located on the eastern bank of Mahasthangarh's Maja Pond, the first thing one notices is a signboard with information about the mound, with a small water tank next to it. This water body is called “Kunda or Kupa”. The reservoir and the mound together are named Mankali Kund. It is believed that King Mansingh and his brother Tansingh first built a temple at this place, later the zamindars of Ghoraghat built a mosque here. Again, seeing the Jain idols found at this same place, many archaeologists believe that the mound was once the abode of Jain religious gurus.
Excavations were started here from 1965 to 1966 under the supervision of the Directorate of Archaeology. Among the artefacts unearthed from Kunddhapa of Mankali are the remains of a mosque measuring 26.21 x 14.54 meters from the Sultanate period, the remains of a temple built during the Pala period and several minor archaeological objects. Besides, other artifacts include fragments of northern black-glazed pottery, burnt clay plaques of the Sunga period, Jain idols, bronze Ganesha and some carved brick fragments.
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