Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[name] => Handial Jagannath Temple
[post_id] => 9243
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/bn/places/handial-jogonnath-temple/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/handial-jogonnath-mondir-21-300x225.jpg
[post_content] =>
Handial Jagannath Temple (হান্ডিয়াল জগন্নাথ মন্দির) is an old temple located at Handial (হান্ডিয়াল) village of Chatmohor Upazila of Pabna district. As it is located at the Handial village, it is known as Handial Mandir too.
It is a single door small sized temple which was built using bricks. This temple gets narrower as it is progressing upwards. Only the front wall of the temple has some terracotta. The temple is placed over a high plinth.
From the inscription, it is found that the temple was reconstructed by someone named Bhobani Proshad during 1590. But scholars are assuming that the temple was built even another 100 years before from that time.
The whole temple premise is under a boundary. Another two newly temples are being constructed at the both side of the old temple. There is a small chariot (রথ) available inside the premise. Also, a Mondop (মন্ডপ) is available for the upcoming Hindu festival Durga Puja (দূর্গা পূজা).
)
[1] => Array
(
[name] => Sonarong Jora Moth
[post_id] => 8450
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/bn/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.
)
[2] => Array
(
[name] => Nava Ratna Temple
[post_id] => 17760
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/bn/places/nava-ratna-temple/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/nava-ratna-temple-7-232x300.jpg
[post_content] =>
The 300-year old Teota Zamindar Palace (তেওতা জমিদার বাড়ী) at the village Teota under Shibalaya Upazila in Manikganj District still stands with pride & dignity becoming a living testimony to the history of that time. Travelers and explorers can't resist the temptation of having a look at the captivating old palace when they pass through the area. There is a temple just adjacent to this old palace named 'Nava-Ratna Temple' (নব-রত্ন মন্দির). For the readers concern, it is to inform that there are very few 'Nava-Ratna' Temples in Bengal.
According to the stone inscription found in Nava-Ratna Temple inside of the Teota Palace, this palace was constructed during the years between 1702 to 1703. As per this account, the age of the building is more than 300 years. Hemshangkar Estate consists of the buildings located on the north side of the main buildings of Teota Zamindar Palace and establishments on the southern side of Zamindar Palace form Joyshangkar Estate. There is a hidden chamber called ‘black pit’ in the underground of the southern building. Four storied Nava-Ratna Temple stands in front of the south building. It is 75 feet high. There are four more temples near the south building. The Zaminder Palace in Teota is established on 7.38 acres of land. Some portions of the building have collapsed.
Features and Origins
The navaratna style of temple architecture (Sanskrit: नवरत्न, meaning "nine gems") incorporates two main levels, each with four spired corner pavilions, and a central pavilion above, for a total of nine spires. The style arose in Bengal during the eighteenth century as an elaboration of the pancharatna (পঞ্চ রত্ন) style that had five pavilions (four at the corners and one above).
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[3] => Array
(
[name] => Fegnasar Moth
[post_id] => 9300
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/bn/places/fegnasar-moth/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/fegnasar-moth-2-300x169.jpg
[post_content] =>
On Dhaka-Betka (Sirajdikhan) highway after passing Sirajdikhan and crossing the river Isamoti, a Hindu Moth is seen on the left side. This moth is called the Fegnasar Moth which is actually a Shiva Temple.
It is 150 feet in height, making it visible from the highway. There is a Shiva Linga inside the moth. Devotees pray here almost regularly. Like other Hindu Moths it has magnificent wall structure. The total place and surrounding is decorated with flower garden specially Joba(Chinese Rose). According to ritual, tulsi plant and jasmine tree is also cultivated.
Specialty of this place is, the Moth was established about 200 years ago. Obviously at that time the road structure was not likewise today. The moth is situated inside a large crop field. It is actually like an island surrounded by rice field. So that if you want to come here, you have to walf from the highway through an off-road trail inside the crop field. In rainy season, the way becomes very muddy and slippery. But you will still enjoy a lot!
Please do not refer this place to people as "Fegnasar Shiva Mandir" because there is another Shiva temple in this locality in this name. Just ask for the "Moth".
)
)
