Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[name] => Jagannath Dev Mandir
[post_id] => 1380
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/jagannath-dev-mandir/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Jogonnath-Temple-comilla-1-300x225.jpg
[post_content] =>
Jagannath Dev Mandir is one of the ancient temples in Comilla district. King of Tripura built it. It was named 'Moharaja Radha Kishor Manikuo Bahadur' during the 16th century. The gods Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra were worshiped here. Initially, the statue of gods were at Tripura temple but later it was been shifted here. Wikipedia mentioned this as Saptratna Mandir, where as the travel book writer Mustafiz Mamun has introduced this as Sotero Rotno Mandir (সতের রত্নের মন্দির). There might be a state of confusion regarding the name, but this temple is unique considering the other temples from Bangladesh.
The deities of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra were originally installed in a temple in Tripura from where they were subsequently shifted to this temple. The terracotta brick work of the temple is in the typical Bengal style of temple architecture. Jagannath Temple is one of the oldest temples of Comilla district. It is located two km East from Comilla town, on East Bibirbazar Road, Comilla. (5km east from Comilla dist.)
This four storied, conical shaped temple is a brick built structure, constructed on a concrete octagonal base-stone. This is the only octagonal based and shaped temple of Bangladesh, and one of its type. External wall of every floor looks like octagons and were ascended like inverted Cone. It is a single spire Temple. I believe there were so many artistic terracotta all over this Mandir , from Top to bottom. I find some of the traditional Bengal design on the outside wall of third floor- a terracotta of flower, leaves and petals. Department of Archaeology renovated outside portions of Ground and first floor. Terracotta of these two floors was ruined.
There is a rumor about this ordinary looking spiritual place. Some believes there are two more floors underground, which is filled by sedimentation from Gumti River over the years. I feel this is a weak and bogus point.
This 16th Century edifice is almost 60 feet tall. There is a tank to the West of Temple premises. That Tank could be as old as the temple. The tank is also sketched in 1863 drawing [a British Library Collecton].
)
[1] => Array
(
[name] => Dighinala Bon Bihar
[post_id] => 22310
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/dighinala-bon-bihar/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Dighinala-Bon-Bihar-01-300x225.jpg
[post_content] => Dighinala Bon Bihar, a very beautiful serene place is located on the way to Sajek valley. It is just before entering the Dighinala town (if you are coming from Khagrachhari).
This is a place for the Buddhist people. The Buddhist religion is one of the world's most peaceful religion. People are always calm and quiet, and so does their religious places. This place is free from any crowds. Inside there, most of the people talks in a low voice (or you should say modest).
After entering inside the main premise through the gate, you can find two temples there. One is having a large statue of the Buddha. And the other one is having two statues (local people say this as the statue of Bhante of Rangamati Bihar (ভান্তে, রাঙামাটি বিহার), and who died recently). In between the two temples, there is a small field like place available which is shaded by a medium sized tree.
)
[2] => Array
(
[name] => Shyamsiddhir Moth
[post_id] => 8507
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/shyamsiddhir-moth/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/SDM-11-252x300.jpg
[post_content] =>
A huge number of moth (মঠ) has been found all over the places in Munshiganj District. Shyamsiddhir Moth is one of the old moth, which is located in Shyamsiddhi village, to the west of Sreenagar Bazar under Sreenagar upazila in Munshiganj district. A Bangla inscription fixed over the doorway in the south side implies that it was constructed by one Shambhunath Majumder in 1243 BS/ Shakabda 1758 (1836 AD). The math is named after by its location.
The building is square in plan, measuring 6m externally, and the walls are 1m thick. This brick built math stands on a 1.20m high platform, and is about 20m high. The moth is divided into three stages. The lower square part is the main shrine. On its south side there is an entrance with pointed arch, flanked by a rectangular panel on its either side; while each of the other three sides contains three rectangular panels in plaster, of which the central one is bigger than the flanking ones. Over the lintel level, all four sides are relieved with two semi-circular arches - one above the other - set within a rectangular frame under a large semi-circular arch. A sun emblem in plaster is depicted in the small arches.
The entire surface of the walls were originally plastered, but now have fallen at places. The shrine is covered by a dome, over which the base of the tapering shikhara (spire) is transformed into an octagonal shape at its second stage. Internally, the dome is supported on half-domed squinches and multi-cusped corner arches, while the side walls are relived with ornamented arched panels. Above these arched panels and corner arches medallions are depicted. The interior of the dome is ornamented with two bands of floral motives at the base.
At the octagonal second stage there are eight pilasters on the eight corners. The large rectangular area in each side is decorated with large window panels with closed shutters. Above the window panel runs panels containing a group of serpent hoods and floral leaf pattern alternately around the eight sides. Above each of the eight sides there is a curved chala decoration, from which the uppermost stage of the math rises in a tapering mass. The shikhara was once crowned with kalasa finial, but is now missing, although the iron trishul (trident) is still standing.
It is a typical single shikhara type of math with a series of repeated curved vertical mouldings, similar to the sonarang twin temples.
)
[3] => Array
(
[name] => Radha Gobindo Temple
[post_id] => 8789
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/radha-gobindo-temple/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/IMG_20150520_122959193_HDR1-300x169.jpg
[post_content] => Radha Gobindo temple (রাধা গোবিন্দ মন্দির) is one of the most ancient temples in Munshiganj. Local people are barely familiar with the name of this temple. Even the temple's land owner doesn't know the actual name of this temple. So, we had to make people understand the nature of this temple to find it out.
After finding the temple, we came to know that this temple is familiar with the name Binoy Shadhur Mandir (মন্দির) rather 'Radha Gobindo' temple.
It's to be mentioned that Binoy Shadhu is taking care of this temple for long 80 years. He said, he was 120 years old. He along with his Shadhu named 'Mongola Rani Das' discovered this temple.
It was very hard to find out the real time period of this temple. Interviewing local people and Binoy shadhu, we could assume that it might be a thousand year old temple, which is very near to destruction. A big banyan tree has grown through the middle of this temple.
Every Bengali year, people arrange a fair in the month of Chaitro (চৈত্র). Basically, Chaitro Shonkrantir Mela (চৈত্র সংক্রান্তির মেলা) is a common festival in Bangladesh. In this event, Binoy Shadhu used to show some magic which has a long time Spiritual recognition to the normal people around there.
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)
