Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[name] => Nava Ratna Temple
[post_id] => 17760
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/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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[1] => Array
(
[name] => {:en}Kobi Chondraboti Shib Mandir{:}{:bn}কবি চন্দ্রাবতী শিব মন্দির{:}
[post_id] => 5071
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/kobi-chondraboti-shib-mandir/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Kobi-Chondraboti-Shib-Mondir-225x300.jpg
[post_content] => {:en}
Poet Chandrabati (চন্দ্রাবতী) is considered to be the first Female poet in Bengali literature. She was born in 1550. Her father's name was Bangshidas Bhattacharya (বংশীদাস ভট্টাচার্য) who is considered as one of the composers of Monosha mongol (মনসা মঙ্গল). She along with her father composed the Monosha Debir Bhashan (মনসা দেবীর ভাসান) during 1575. Poet Chondraboti (কবি চন্দ্রাবতী) started narrating the Ramayana (রামায়ন) from the Sita's (সীতা) point of view by criticizing Rama (রাম). But unfortunately, she couldn't finish her work.
There are two Shib Mandir (শিব মন্দির) available near the village Chandrabati (চন্দ্রাবতী) that is around 6 kilometer apart from the Kishoreganj (কিশোরগঞ্জ) town. One of those are shorter in size. These temples are related with many stories of Chandrabati (চন্দ্রাবতী) and her life. It is believed that the temples were built during the 16th century, contemporary to the poet's birth.
It was around 3:00 at the afternoon when I have reached there. So I was the only traveler or tourist there that time. There are few sitting places available near the temple. Authority built those for the visitors. Probably during the holidays or at afternoon lot of visitors use to gather here.
{:}{:bn}
কবি চন্দ্রাবতীকে বাংলা সাহিত্যর প্রথম মুসলিম কবি হিসেবে বিবেচনা করা হয়ে থাকে। তিনি জন্মেছিলেন ১৫৫০ সালে। কবি চন্দ্রাবতীর বাবার নাম বংশীদাস ভট্টাচার্য যাকে মনে করা হয়ে থাকে মনসা মঙ্গলের অন্যতম রচয়িতা। ১৫৭৫ সালে কবি চন্দ্রাবতী তাঁর বাবাকে সাথে নিয়ে মনসা দেবীর ভাসান রচনা করেন। কবি চন্দ্রাবতী রামের সমালোচনার মাধ্যমে সীতার দৃষ্টিকোন থেকে রামায়ন বর্ণনা করা শুরু করেছিলেন কিন্তু দুর্ভাগ্যবশত তিনি এই কাজটি শেষ করতে পারেননি।
কিশোরগঞ্জ শহর থেকে ৬ কিলোমিটার দূরে চন্দ্রাবতী গ্রামে দুটি শিবমন্দির রয়েছে। এই দুটি মন্দিরের মধ্যে একটি অপেক্ষাকৃত ছোট। কবি চন্দ্রাবতী এবং তাঁর জীবনের অনেক ঘটনার সাথে এই মন্দিরগুলোর সম্পৃক্ততা রয়েছে। ধারনা করা হয়ে থাকে যে এই মন্দিরগুলো ১৬শ শতকে নির্মাণ করা হয়েছিল যেসময়টিতে কবি জন্ম নিয়েছিলেন। মন্দিরগুলোর কাছে দর্শনার্থীদের জন্য বসার ব্যবস্থা রয়েছে। বিকালবেলা অথবা ছুটির দিনে এখানে অনেক মানুষের সমাগম হয়ে থাকে।
ছবির জন্য ক্লিক করুন: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/92398981
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/92398990
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/92399001
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[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।{:}
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[3] => 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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