Lakshindarer Gokul Medh
Type: History & Culture
Contributed By: Nayeem
Brief
The name Lakshindarer Gokul Medh is taken from famous folk tale Laksinder and Behula. It was excavated in 1934-1936 and it exposed the antique of a temple. It has a high podium and it can hold 172 rectangular blind cell of different types. Terracotta plaques and other objects were found while digging during the Pala period (6th-7th) century.
The mound derived its name from the popular romantic folk tale entitled Behula and Lakshindar. Connected with the same story is found another smaller mound, locally known as ‘Netai Dhopanir Pat’, situated to the close east of the Medh.
The mound is situated on the west of village Gokul which is about 2km to the southwest of Mahasthangarh. It was excavated in 1934-36 and has revealed the derelict relics of a temple. The remarkable feature of this temple is its high plinth accommodating 172 rectangular blind cells of various dimensions. They rise in tiers and packed solidly with earth, so as to form a lofty massive podium, crowned originally either by a shrine or a stupa, now lost.
This novel device, functionally comparable to our modern piling system, liberally used in Bengal during five centuries preceding the Muslim conquest, was found particularly suitable for the alluvial soil of Bengal by the builders to erect their sacred buildings to an imposing height much above the flood level. However, the cellular construction is not confined to Bengal only but parallel examples occur far to the west at Ahichhatra in the Bereilly district of U.P.
Terracotta plaques and other associated objects unearthed during the excavation, which are ascribed to the late Gupta period (6th-7th century A.D.), indicate that originally this stupendous ruin at the Medh constituted an imposing terraced sub-structure of a roughly cruciform plan surmounted with a central shrine of complex outline, dedicated probably to the Buddhist Faith. Over the sub-structure is an octagonal plinth which, as mentioned, may originally have carried a stupa, but now completely gone. This stupa was replaced by a square shrine ( 8.17m square outside) and porch during the Sena period (11th-12th century A.D.).
A grand staircase on the west gave access to the shrine, but the doorway of the shrine and porch was later blocked and the floor level raised to an unknown height. The excavation inside the shrine revealed a small intrusive cell containing human skeleton-probably of an anchorite-and underlying that was found a circular brick-paved pit of 3.86m in diameter. A stone-slab of 51.2cm × 46.1cm was discovered at the center of the shrine which bore 12 shallow holes with a larger hole in the center containing a tiny gold left, about an inch square. However, nothing note worthy was discovered underneath the stone-slab.
How to go
Referred how to reach Bogra from Dhaka, click here. Lakshindarer Gokul Medh is 3km away from Mahasthangarh. So from Mahasthan a traveler can go there by taking rickshaw or cng auto rickshaw.
How To Reach: Bogra District
1. T.R Travels: Fast Trip-7.00 am/Last Trip-11.30 pm in every 30 minutes. Gabtoli -01191-494865, Mohakhali- 01191-494866
2. Shamoli Paribahan: 1st trip-6:00 am to Last trip-1:00 am Every 1 hour. Asadgate 02-9123471, Kalabagan 01711130862, Saydabad 01712-596940,
3. S.R travels: First trip – 7:30 am, last trip – 11:30 pm.After every 30 minutes. Gabtoli-02-8011226, Uttara-01552315318
4. Hanif Enterprise: Dhaka Bus Stand Phone: 051-60940, 60803, 01911-560882
Train No Name Off Day From Departure To Arrival
713 Karotoa Express No Bogra 5:09:00 PM Burimari 8:30:00 PM
714 Karotoa Express No Bogra 11:34:00 PM Santahar 12:30:00 AM
751 Lalmoni Express Friday Bogra 5:18:00 AM Lalmanirhat 8:20:00 AM
752 Lalmoni Express Friday Bogra 1:38:00 PM Dhaka 9:10:00 PM
767 Dolanchapa express No Bogra 2:25:00 PM Dinajpur 8:30:00 PM
768 Dolanchapa express No Bogra 11:23:00 AM Santahar 12:20:00 PM
771 Rangpur Express Sunday Bogra 3:45:00 PM Rangpur 7:00:00 PM
772 Rangpur Express Sunday Bogra 11:08:00 PM Dhaka 06.15 AM
Where to Stay
Accommodation facilities in Bogra are pretty good and one can find four star hotels in this part of Bangladesh. Here are some names of the renowned accommodation service available here:
1. Hotel Naz Garden– Shilimpur 051-62468
2. Hotel Akbaria– kazi Nazrul Islam Sorok 0171-617-9982
3. Parjatan Motel– Bonani Mor 051-66753Here are some details about hotel, click here
Name of Hotels in Bogra City:
1. Hotel Al Amin, Nawabbari Road
2. Motel North Way, Sherpur Road
3. Hotel Royal Palace, Uposhohor
4. Parjatan Motel, Banani, Bogra
5. Hotel Akbaria, Thana Road
6. Hotel Sunview, Sherpur Road
7. Hotel Safeway, Santahar Road
8. Hotel Raj Moni, Bogra Raza Bazar
9. Hotel Honey Day,Boro Mosjid Lane
10. Hotel Aziz, Kobi Nazrul Islam Road
Things to do
Observe the mountain and beautiful scenes of nature.
Takes pictures for photographic collection.
Eating Facilities
There are no eating facilities here. A traveler to suffice his/her hunger has to search for or restaurants or fast food shops nearby. A tourist may also carry personal food.
