A major restoration project at a forgotten Buddhist site in Bihar's Nawada district has led to the discovery of a series of hidden terracotta panels within a 12th-century Pala-era monastery. The panels, which had been covered by a layer of protective lime plaster for centuries, depict the Mahaparinirvana of the Buddha with an unprecedented level of artistic detail. The find confirms the site's importance as a center of late-Vajrayana Buddhism before its decline.
Conservators using specialized laser cleaning techniques have managed to recover the original ochre and blue mineral pigments on the terracotta surfaces. The restoration team is also working to stabilize the structural foundations of the main prayer hall, which exhibits advanced brick-laying techniques typical of the late Pala period. This discovery is expected to rewrite the local history of monastic patronage in the region.