Dhanmondi Old Eidgah

In every single part of Bangladesh there are some Archaeological & Historical remains, which has enriched our cultural history. Lack of awareness and proper knowledge in common people results in gradual ruining of many Historical & Archaeological sites in our country.

One of the great example of deteriorations of an Archaeological site in Narsingdi district is ‘Single domed Mosque and Tomb of Shah Mansur’ located at Kumradi, Shibpur upazila.

It was built in eighteenth century by a Muslim saint named Shah Mansur. In course of time, the existence of the mosque is totally replaced by a new built Madrasa. But, still now the remaining of ‘Tomb of Shan Mansur’ is existing, although it is hard to assume how the original structure was.

Architectural Property and Layout:

Tomb of Shah Mansur, A massive structure which is architecturally rich and decorated with different kinds of design. It is in rectangular shape and built in very unique way. In the western wall of this building there are five arch shaped entrance, among them middle one is open and decorated with multi foil design. Others are Closed arch & also contains the same design like the opened one. The southern side of the tomb is severely disturbed, broken and ruined. Main entrance of the tomb is totally vanished, but still we can observe some three archways very close to the grave of Shah Mansur. It seems like there are two grave inside the building. We assume that other grave might be Shah Mansur’s wife.

There is another unique structure situated in the southern side of the tomb. It is just a square shaped Minar containing open space inside of it, in the roof top it contains a bulbous shaped dome. It has four arch shaped ways in four brick wall.

In the most eastern part of this tomb there is a large pond. Which is probably same years old as the tomb is.

Myth related to this Structure:

There are several myths interrelated with this feature. People say that Shah Mansur used to pet a tiger inside of square shaped structure which is situated in the eastern side of the tomb. Although, It’s a myth but it contains some evidences which might prove it true. Inside of this square shaped structure there are two iron’s ring attached with brick wall.

And it is also said, Once there were some big fishes in the pond. Local people believe that, those fish were actually cursed human being and for this reason they buried those death fish in a grave yard near to Pond.

Present Condition and Immediate Conservation Issue:

Present condition of the features situated in this complex is in very sensitive condition. One domed Mosque built by Shah Mansur is vanished and a new Madrasa replacing it. The tomb of Shah Mansur is near to destruction. The whole brick building contains several banyan tree and different species of trees.
The unique square shaped Minar is also near to ruin. Beside this structure there is bathroom built very recently for Madrasa students.

Immediate steps should be taken to conserve and preserve these features from its deterioration.

Kismat-Maria Mosque (কিসমত-মারিয়া মসজিদ) is the academic name, where local people knows this as Durgapur mosque (দুর্গাপুর মসজিদ). The mosque is located at the Maria (মারিয়া) village, adjacent to village Kismat (কিসমত), that's why it is called Kismat-Maria Masjid.

It is totally unknown about any sort of historical information. No inscription available at the doorway or anywhere. Even the government doesn't have any document or info regarding this. To add insult to the injury, the local people cannot remember anything about this mosque either. It’s a total mystery.

It is certain that the mosque was built several hundred years back. It is having three domes at the top. Four ornate pillars at the four sides of the mosque. Eastern side of the mosque is having three entrances. The mosque is built over a 2-3 feet of high base. The domes of the mosque is similar to the Kartalab Khan's Mosque at Old Dhaka.

The mosque has a small house type of building at the southern side. This is another great archaeological object from our Bangladesh.

Tomb of Khan Jahan stands on a high artificial mound, as mainly known as the Dargah complex of Khan Jahan. The complex consists of the square tomb building of Khan Jahan himself; a case of Muhammad Tahir, his diwan; a single-domed mosque and the so-called kitchen. It measures as 13.7 meters height and 9.1 meters width. The four exterior angles of the building are maintained with solid circular towers. There are four walls which have a thickness of 2.4 meter, have stone casings up to the height of about 0.9 meter for preventing the building from ground moisture. The ground moisture is common in the humid climate of south Bengal. It is located on the northern bank of the so-called Thakur dighi and is surrounded by an outer wall of 67.1 meter from east to west and 64.7 meter from north to south.

It was a rectangular structure of 12.2m by 8.5m with circular towers on the exterior angles. What the building was actually intended for, is unknown. A local tradition relates that in the last years of his life Khan Jahan dwelt in the building, where he now buried, and used the adjacent building as his kitchen. About a century ago, the building was known to have been used for the same purpose by two Faqirs, who then looked after the mosque and the tomb.

কথিত ঠাকুরদীঘির উত্তর তীরে খান জাহানের দরগা অবস্থিত। এই দরগাটি পূর্ব থেকে পশ্চিমে ৬৭.১ মিটার এবং উত্তর থেকে দক্ষিনে ৬৪.৭ মিটার দীর্ঘ দেয়াল দিয়ে ঘেরা। খান জাহানের দরগা কমপ্লেক্সটি উঁচু মাটির ঢিবির উপর অবস্থিত। এই কমপ্লেক্সে অবস্থিত একটি বর্গক্ষেত্র আকারের ভবনে খান জাহানের সমাধি, তাঁর দেওয়ান মুহাম্মাদ তাহিরের সমাধি, একটি এক গম্বুজবিশিষ্ট মসজিদ এবং একটি কথিত রান্নাঘর রয়েছে। খান জাহানের সমাধিটির প্রতিটি দিকের মাপ বাইরে থেকে ১৩.৭ মিটার এবং ভেতর থেকে ৯.১ মিটার। ইট দিয়ে নির্মিত এই ভবনটি দরগা কমপ্লেক্সের প্রাণকেন্দ্র। ভবনটির চার কোণায় চারটি গোলাকার টাওয়ার রয়েছে। এছাড়া ভবনটির চার দেয়ালের প্রতিটির পুরুত্ব ২.৪ মিটার এবং মাটির আদ্রতা থেকে রক্ষা করতে দেয়ালের ০.৯ মিটার উচ্চতা পর্যন্ত পাথরের আবরন ব্যবহার করা হয়েছে। দক্ষিনবঙ্গের আদ্র আবহাওয়ায় মাটির আদ্রতা একটি সাধারণ ব্যাপার।

কি উদ্দেশ্যে ভবনটি নির্মিত হয়েছিল সেটি জানা যায়নি। স্থানীয়দের কাছ থেকে জানা যায় জীবনের শেষ সময়ে খান জাহান আলী এই ভবনে বাস করতেন এবং পাশের ভবনটিকে রান্নাঘর হিসেবে ব্যবহার করতেন। মৃত্যুর পর খান জাহান আলীকে এই ভবনেই সমাহিত করা হয়। জানা যায় প্রায় শত বছর পূর্বে মসজিদ এবং দরগার দেখাশোনার কাজে নিয়োজিত দুজন ফকির একই উদ্দেশ্যে এই ভবনটিকে ব্যবহার করতেন।

Lalmai Chandi Temple, also called Chandimata Mandir is an ancient Hindu temple located on the summit of the Lalmai hill in Barura Upazila of Comilla District, Bangladesh. The temple is dedicated to the Goddess Kali. There is a temple dedicated to the God Shiva nearby.

Most of the tourist spots are somewhere around the other side of Shalbon Bihar of Comilla but this small temple is quite separate from those places. This is at the southern end of the Lalmai Hill. That’s why mostly the devoted people go here & very few tourists visit it. This temple is located at the top of a hillock and you have to climb there by stairs. The stairs are covered with evergreen trees so at be careful when you are climbing up and down.

At any stage, you can have a break by SUPPORTING your body on the railing of the stairs. You can see a long distance from there as you have already climbed a few. The temple premise mainly has two temples. Each of those is having two small compartments which are joined together (considered as single one). Left side temple is the Shiv Mandir and the right side temple is Chondi Mandir.