This monastery No. 1, is located on the left-hand side while entering the excavated site. This is the largest one and must visit site.
It was the first site where excavation begins under the Archaeological Survey of India. Besides findings of many important antiques it’s also revealed that it has undergone nine phases of construction in two parts.
Originally it might have been constructed in the 6th-7th century AD and this process of construction continued till last. The small shrine in the courtyard belongs to the Gupta period while the oblong shrine close to it and the two chambers on the northern high wall having corralled entrances and vaulted roof are later additions.
In the southern and eastern sides a number of cells were built by the king of Sumatra during the reigns of Devapala whose reign was from 810 to 850 AD according to the copper plate inscription found at the north-west corner of the entrance.
The monastery consists of several cells, verandahs around an open courtyard, which was separated by a wall. Staircase at the south-west corner marks that it was a double storeyed structure.
The upper part of the monastery has 34 cells containing bed platforms for monks and shelves for keeping books and valuables in the corners of a few cells. It had an entrance towards the west approachable through a massive flight of steps. A water well, surface drains are noteworthy. It also displays the fire marks in niches and on walls.