Varatkhali Kastho Mandir

Type: Temple

Contributed By: Nayeem

Brief

Varatkhali Kastho Mandir (ভরতখালী কাষ্ঠ মন্দির) is one of the most common Tirthasthan of Hindu community. It was built around two hundred years ago by Ramonikanto Ray Zamindar (রমনীকান্ত রায় জমিদার). There is a folktale that a pieces of timber had been found in Ghagot (ঘাঘট) river. Someone had collected the timber and when he hit it with an axe, the timber was bleeding out. That night, Zamindar Ramonikanto had dreamed someone saying, “I have come to your ghat, worship me with Eligible reception” (আমি তোর ঘাটে এসেছি,আমাকে যোগ্য সমাদর করে পূজা কর).

By the next day, the Zamindar ordered a craftsman(কারিগর) to make the timber into a sculpture as a Mandir. At the bottom of the sclupture, a Banian tree had been created. That is why it is called Kastho Mandir. Every year in the month of Boishakh, a beautiful crowded fair is held here.

How to go

First you have to go to Gaibandha. Then just take a CNG to go to Varatkhali Kastho Mandir. From Gaibandha to Varatkhali you have to pay just 60 taka.

Dhaka and Gaibandha is linked by road. You can take a bus from Dhaka to reach Gaibandha district. Some of the bus services have been listed below for your assistance.

1. S R Travels,
Counters:
Gabtoli, contact: 02-8011226,
Kollanpur, contact: 02-8013793, 01711-394801,
Abdullahpur, contact: 0171944023,
Uttara, contact: 01552315318

2. Shah Fathe Ali,
Moakhali, Contact: 01193-221 085,
Uttara, Contact: 01193-221 084

3. Alhamra Travels,
Gabtoli, Contact: 88-02-9005612, 01721-802 031

4. Alhamra Paribahan,
Gabtoli, phone : 02-9005612, mobile : 01721802031

5. SR Travels
Gabtoli, contact: 02-8011226

There is one intercity train available that has one stoppage station at Gaibandha. Necessary information of the train service has been given below for your assistance:

1. Lalmoni Express:
Train operates every day except Fridays.
It may take 8 hours 17 minutes to reach the destination.

Where to Stay

There are some notable hotels In Gaibandha. Some of the hotel services have been listed below for your assistance:

1. Hotel Al-Saiful
Shahid Suhrawardy Road,
Moddhopara, Gaibandha.
Mobile: 01962-615415, 01764-990822, Phone: 0541-62090

2. Hotel R-Rahman
Shaheed Anwar Hossen Sarak, Gaibandha
Phone: 0541-61481, Mobile: 01713-270283, 01715464748

3. Hotel Rajmahal,
DB road, bus stand, Gaibandha
Mobile: 01737805563

Things to do

1. If you will visit the place, you may gather knowledge about the architectural properties of two hundreds years old Mandir.
2. You may have gather experience about the local tradition of worship.

Eating Facilities

To know food facilities of Gaibandha click here

Map

Array ( [0] => Array ( [name] => Fegnasar Shiva Temple [post_id] => 9298 [post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/fegnasar-shiva-temple/ [thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Fegnasar-shib-1-169x300.jpg [post_content] =>

Fegnasar Shiva Temple (ফেগুনসার শিব মন্দির) was built in the reign (1159-1185 AD) of great King Bollal Shena. Another conception said, it might be built between 1725-1758 AD during the reign of King Raj Bollov. In course of time, it was on the way to destruction. Then, Moharaja Raj Bollov took some initiative to reconstruct that. It can not be assured who particularly built that temple. King Ballav was a great devotee of Shiva.

This temple is in rectangular shape at base,measuring 15 feet length,10 feet width and about 25 feet high from the ground. Very common constructing material like bricks, cement and limes being used to build that temple. At the last day of full moon night in every Bengali month of Falgun, there is a large festival of worshiping being held here.

There are so many stories being populated among common people about the builder of that Temple. Inside the temple, there is a large "Shiva Lingha" (শিব লিঙ্গ) (Phallus) placed. According to the local people, this is the largest phallus brought from South India (not true at all,because largest one is located at Faridpur District). Just about 100 meter away, there is a branch of Dhaleswari river flowing.

This place is sometimes locally mentioned as Raypura Mondir

) [1] => Array ( [name] => {:en}Kodla Math Temple{:}{:bn}কোদলা মাঠ মন্দির{:} [post_id] => 4583 [post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/kodla-math-temple/ [thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Ayudha-Math-Pagoda-zbasher1-300x225.jpg [post_content] => {:en}

Kodla Math Temple was built by a Brahman in the 17th century, but is not standing the test of time very well. It's near a village named Ayodhya, about 10 km or so north of Bagerhat. This is a Hindu Moth (though it doesn't look like a regular Hindu temple) locally known as Kodla Moth as it is located at the village Kodola. It has another name, which is Ojodhdhar Moth. May be the correct spelling can be Ayodhyar Moth. It is a tall structure that has a square shaped base. Approximate height of the Moth is slightly above the 18 meters.

It has three gates at the three sides. Outer wall is totally covered with the burnt soils (or bricks) and designed as horizontal parallel lines. Each of such horizontal lines are having a foot distance in between and those are found from top to the bottom of the structure. I have found 2/3 very small terracotta on the outer side of the walls. One was probably a shape of an elephant.

It is totally unknown these days about the builder of this Moth. It had a nearly destroyed inscription around it whose meaning is still unsolved these days. Scholar people are guessing this as an edifice of 16th or 17th century.

{:}{:bn}বাগেরহাট জেলা থেকে প্রায় ১০ কিলোমিটার পূর্বে বারুইপাড়া উপজেলার অযোদ্ধা মাঠ সড়কের কাছে কোদলা মাঠ মন্দির অবস্থিত। এই হিন্দু মন্দিরটি দেখতে আসার জন্য খুব একটা আকর্ষণীয় না হলেও এই পথে যাওয়ার সময় আপনি এখানে এসে কিছুটা সময় কাটাতে পারেন। ১৭শ শতাব্দীতে জনৈক ব্রাহ্মণ এই মন্দিরটি নির্মাণ করলেও সময়ের সাথে সাথে এই মন্দিরটির জরাজীর্ণ অবস্থা হয়েছে।{:} ) [2] => Array ( [name] => Jora Mandir [post_id] => 1987 [post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/zora-mandir/ [thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/jora-mandir21-240x300.jpg [post_content] =>

At Golapganj village about six kilometer distance of Dinajpur District head quarter there has an old temple name "Twin temple" locally known as "Jora Mandir". It records that the Jora Mandir was established by Raja Ramnath (1722-1752) in 1676 Shaka era (1754 AD). Now it almost in ruins cause of no care. If you go there you will find 2 Mandir (Temple). Distance between two Temple 100 meters. One of the two is a 25 ratna twelve-sided structure, while the other is a 5 ratna quadrangular temple. The vicinity area of the temples are acquired by the local people, and they have built their own houses around the temple. The area of the Mandir are acquired by the local people, and they have establish their own houses side the temple. Thereby causing serious damage to the structures. Both temple are beautiful.

) [3] => Array ( [name] => {:en}Shivbari Temple and Zamindar Bari{:}{:bn}শিববাড়ি মন্দিরও ঠাকুরবাড়ি{:} [post_id] => 4530 [post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/shivbari-temple-and-zamindar-bari/ [thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Shivbari-temple-and-Jamindar-Bari-300x250.jpg [post_content] => {:en}

Shivbari Temple, around a hundred years old, is one of the top historical places in Barisal Division. Every year, in this temple, on 14th of Falguni month, massive celebrations go on for three days with different puja programs and fairs. At the first day of this festival, people conduct a congregated worship in accordance to the Hindu religion.

On the next two days, the colorful carnivals continue by following religious customs and traditions. Although it is primarily a ritual practiced by the Hindu people, both Hindus and Muslims participate in the Fair. There is a Zamindar Bari just near to this temple.

{:}{:bn}

প্রায় শতবর্ষ পুরাতন শিববাড়ি মন্দির বরিশালের ঐতিহাসিক স্থানগুলোর মধ্যে অন্যতম। প্রতি বছর বাংলা ফাল্গুন মাসের ১৪ তারিখ এই মন্দিরে তিনদিন ব্যাপি পূজা ও মেলার বিশাল আয়োজন করা হয়। এই উৎসবের প্রথমদিন হিন্দুধর্ম অনুযায়ী গনপ্রার্থনার আয়োজন করা হয় এবং পরের দুইদিন ধর্মীয় প্রথা অনুযায়ী বিভিন্ন উৎসব চলতে থাকে। হিন্দুধর্মের উৎসব হলেও মুসলিমরাও এই অংশ নিয়ে থাকেন।

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