This heritage site in Bosnia and Herzegovina is located in Neretva River Valley between Hum Hill and the Velez Mountain. The present name Mostar, according to scholars, has been derived from ‘mostari’ means the ‘bridge-keepers’; but its root is in ‘mustari’ means ‘the record keeper’. The mustari is also called as a ‘moharira’ means ‘keeper of stamps and seals’ ; it is dynastic recognition of a group of people who enjoyed royal patronage. Both Moharira and Mahala, are identified with a place called Mahala; latter’s use in literature and history is very wide; in music it identifies itself with mlhara raga; its other name is Mayura or the peacock. Names like mora, mura and maya are also historically linked with this name. Name Mutasiva, a king, and contemporary to Asoka seems to be the origin of mostari; his descendants might have been engaged in discharging some important royals services to the state. Ustad is a corrupt name-form of mustari which means an ‘expert’.

The geographical situation of this country also pinpoints the Mt Alborg from which the name of Velez mountain has been derived. River Nereta refers to River Narmada, and Hum Hill typically identifies the Mt Hor or Hiren.

Scholars see Mostar as name of the old Turkish houses and the Old Bridge as Stari most, which is as same as Sri-vanta or mountain of ‘Sri’. Mahala is neighbourly to this Sri Mountain or Sri-kshetra. Both Mt Alborg or Velez and Hum Hill or Mt Hor were similarly situated near it. Bazara as usual refers to a market town, and mahala identifies the number of storeys in a building. The term mimar, seems to be identical with moharana, means the ‘monument builder’.