Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[name] => Kantaji Temple
[post_id] => 4671
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/bn/places/kantaji-temple/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/kantaji-temple21-300x186.jpg
[post_content] =>
Kantaji Temple, also known as the Kantanagar Temple, is located in the graceful heart of gorgeous countryside of Dinajpur. This is a stunning block of religious artwork, and is surely one of the most impressive Hindu monuments in Bangladesh.
Built in 1704-1752 A.D. by Pran Nath, a renowned maharaja from Dinajpur, and his adopted son Ram Nath, it is the country’s finest example of brick and terracotta style. Its most remarkable feature, typical of late Mughal-era temples, is its superb surface decoration, with infinite panels of sculpted terracotta plaques.
This 15-sq-meter, three-story edifice was originally crowned with nine ornamental two-story towers, which collapsed during the great earthquake of 1897 and were never replaced. The temple is built on a high platform. This is a Nava-ratna temple. The roof of the ground floor and first floor each contains four sikharas or ratnas at their corners while the roof of second floor in its middle contains the ruins of the central sikhara.
The entire outer surface of the temple is exquisitely established with terracotta plaques which depict flora and fauna, geometric motifs, mythological scenes from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, and the contemporary social scenes and favorite pastime. The idol of Kantaji is kept in the garvagriha of the temple in its ground floor.
The department of Archaeology has been performing the necessary conservation and restoration works of Kantaji Temple since it was declared a protected monument by the Government in 1960. This is a UNESCO world heritage site.
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[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.
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[2] => Array
(
[name] => Lingam
[post_id] => 5320
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/bn/places/shiva-temple%e0%a6%b6%e0%a6%bf%e0%a6%ac-%e0%a6%ae%e0%a6%a8%e0%a7%8d%e0%a6%a6%e0%a6%bf%e0%a6%b0/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/offroadbangladeshlogo2-300x178.png
[post_content] =>
Lingam (Phallic Emblem of Shiva) is the part of Hinduism. This Lingam has got from Vojessor in Naria Upazila. Vojessor Sib Lingo (Lingam) is the 2nd greater lingam in the India Sub-Continent. It was made by valuable stones. It is open for everybody to seeing.
[We couldn't reveal better more information from there, If you know more, Please feel free to share in this Platform]
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[3] => Array
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[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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