Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[name] => Sonarong Jora Moth
[post_id] => 8450
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/sonarong-jora-moth/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/SJM-1-300x240.jpg
[post_content] =>
Sonarong (means golden color) is a lovely village at Tongibari Upazila of Munshiganj district. This village belong a beautiful "Moth(মঠ)"(a place for praying by Hindu religious people) which is known as "Sonarong Jora Moth" (সোনারং জোড়া মঠ) ("twin moth"). It is used to call twin moth/temple, because it has two towers side by side. It may be around 150 feet high from the ground. There is a large pond just in front of the Moth. This moth is not functioning now a days. Interviewing local people we came to know that, there are no praying activities take place in this moth. Every side of the moth is covered with trees and that gave a lovely golden and green color's illusional view of the moth.
The larger moth was made for "Shiva"(Hindu God), and made during 1843, and the smaller one for "Kali"(Hindu Goddess), and made during 1886. It was built by a Hindu merchant named "Rupchand" (রূপচাঁদ) From stone inscriptions fixed over the temple’s entrance.
The two towers of the moth are not equal sized. One is much larger than another one. The larger tower has hundreds of holes at the top of it, and each hole is occupied by parrots. Visitors may observe hundreds of parrots from the place, and they are making sweet sound together all the day long. During the breeding season, the top of the moth become green for the numerous numbers of parrots. Both the towers of the moth are ornamented nicely with different types of leafs motif and blind alcoves.
Architectural Features:
Two temples stand side by side on a single masonry platform surrounded by a moat on three sides and an access path on the eastern side.The western temple, loftier than the eastern one, is about 15m high over the square sanctum, and measures 5.35m x 5.35m and has a 1.90m wide veranda. A low hemispherical dome covers the square sanctuary, over which rises an octagonal sikhara(শিখর) crowned by the usual pinnacle with kalasa (কলস) finials. This terminates in a trident fixed with an iron rod. The outer surface of the sikhara is decorated with a semi-circular arched pattern in plaster, which is repeated on all sides. The entire sikhara is dotted with three pigeonholes under each arch pattern. The main sanctuary has two archways, one each on the south and west sides, flanked by arched panels on both sides,and a pattern of three arches on the other two sides. The western entrance consists of a two-centered arch. The top of the archway is decorated with a frieze of blind merlons. In front of the sanctum, the veranda is covered with a flat roof supported on columns, It has three arched openings on the south, one each on its east and west side.
It is one of the important historical & archaeological places in Munshiganj District. Very recently,renovation work is on go,undoubtedly a good initiative to protect this site from further destruction.
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[1] => Array
(
[name] => Kal Bhairab Temple
[post_id] => 1057
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/kal-bhairab-temple/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/800px-Kal_Bhairab_in_Brahmanbaria_Bangladesh1-300x225.jpg
[post_content] =>
Kal Bhairab Temple is a Hindu temple which is dedicated to the God Shiva. The temple is famous for the giant Shivalinga. Shivalinga is a 28-feet tall Shiva statue. No other statue in the world is assumed to be as big as it. Hindu Lord Shiva known as Kal Bhairab is the main attraction here, but Goddess Kali is also been worshiped. The location of statue of Kali is on the right side of the Kal Bhairab and the statue of the Goddess Saraswati on the left. The temple is a major pilgrimage place for Shaivites in Bangladesh.
The temple dates back to the 19th century. It is said that approximately 200 years ago a sculptor named Durgacharan Acharjee saw a dream which motivated and influenced him to make preparations to build the statue from soil. Noor Muhammad, the famous landlord of Sarail donated the land to build this temple.
Before the Brahmanbaria city was established, Medda was the market located beside the famous Titas river. This market is almost 300 years old. Durgacharan first built this statue by the bank of the river with soil. Regular prayers were held by the local fans until 1971.
During the Bangladesh Liberation War the Pakistani soldiers damaged and looted a lot of Hindu temples in Bangladesh. This temple was one of the damaged temples. The soldiers damaged the parts of this statue using dynamite. Later the statue was made again. It took four years to build this statue again but it reached the height of 24 feet. The current statue is made of stone.
Both regular and annual prayers are held here. People from different regions come to visit this temple. This place is also referred as one of the tourist attractions of the Brahmanbaria district. There are management committees to look after the temple. The giant statue of the Shiva is mostly locked for maintenance issues. The Government of Bangladesh looks after the charges for maintenance.
)
[2] => Array
(
[name] => {:en}Puthia Temple{:}{:bn}পুঠিয়া মন্দির{:}
[post_id] => 3008
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/puthia-temple/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/puthia-temple21-300x225.jpg
[post_content] => {:en}
Puthia Temple Complex consists of a cluster of notable old Hindu temples in Puthia Upazila, Rajshahi Division, Bangladesh. Located 23 km to the east of Rajshahi city, it has the largest number of historic temples in Bangladesh. The temples were built by Hindu Zamindars Rajas of the Puthia Raj family who were noted philanthropists of Rajshahi. The temples have been built in terracotta in a variety of styles combining the typical Jor-bangla architecture with other influences. The Rajbari or Palace of the Raja of Puthia and the Dol Mancha are part of the complex. The temples are laid out around a lake with a sprawling lawn.
The Puthia Raj family was established by a holy man named Bhatsacharya, who lived in the 16th century. Raja Man Singh, governor of the Mughal emperor Akbar, confiscated the Jagir of the refractory pathan jagirdar of Rajshahi named Lashker Khan and bestowed the Zamindary on the saintly Bhatsacharya for his learning, but he declined. However, his son Pitambar was granted the Lashkarpur estate permanently. On his death, his son Nilambar received the title of Raja from Emperor Jahangir. The Puthia Royal Family estate was the second largest zamindary and the wealthiest in British Bengal. After India's partition, the then Pakistani government abolished the zamindary system and confiscated all Hindu properties. The Royal Family migrated to India shortly afterwards.
{:}{:bn}
এখানে বেশকিছু প্রাচীন হিন্দু মন্দির আছে। হিন্দু জমিদার রাজারা এবং পুঠিয়া পরিবার মন্দিরগুলো নির্মাণে সম্পৃক্ত ছিল। তেরাকোটায় নির্মিত মন্দিরটিতে বিভিন্ন প্রাণী ও অন্যান্য স্থাপত্য খোদাই করা আছে। মন্দির কমপ্লেক্সে আছে রাজবাড়ি এবং দলমাছা। এছাড়াও এখানে একটি লেক ও বাগান আছে। এছাড়াও এখানে আছেঃ
পঞ্চরত গোবিন্দ মন্দিরঃ ঈশ্বর কৃষ্ণর প্রতি উৎসর্গ করা আঠারোশ শতাব্দীতে নির্মিত পুঠিয়ার একটি মন্দির এটি।
ভুবেনেশ্বর শিব মন্দিরঃ রানি ভবানি এই মন্দিরটি নির্মাণ করেন ১৮২৩ সালে যেটি শিব মন্দিরগুলোর মধ্যে সর্বশ্রেষ্ঠ।
জগন্নাথ মন্দিরঃ হিন্দু ধর্মের ঈশ্বর জগন্নাথের প্রতি উৎসর্গ করা মন্দির এটি।{:}
)
[3] => Array
(
[name] => Vatodara Shiv Mandir
[post_id] => 17660
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/vatodara-shiv-mandir/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Vatodara-Shiv-Mandir2-300x225.jpg
[post_content] =>
Vatodara Shiv Mandir (ভাটোদাড়া শিব মন্দির) is located in Dighapatia near the Dighapatia Rajbari. This temple was established near a 100 years ago, as the local says. Whereas, Vatodara Kalibari, mainly uses for worshipping in various occasions, was built recently. In various occasions like Durga Puja or Kali Puja, people from Hindu religion of this locality greatly celebrate their rituals here. Although, Vatdara Shiv Mandir remains almost dysfunctional and out of care, people of the area largely come and worship in Kalibari.
)
)
