Array
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[0] => 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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[1] => Array
(
[name] => Joy Kali Temple
[post_id] => 10073
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/joy-kali-temple/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/P_20150610_1817041-169x300.jpg
[post_content] =>
The Joy kali Temple of Dhaka, is situated in a place between Thathari (ঠাটারি) Bazar and Wari. The road was named after this temple itself. Now, literally it is 24 Joy Kali Temple street. Joy Kali Temple is a Hindu temple devoted to Goddess Kali Ma for worshipping. People of Hindu religion of every age come to this temple to worship Goddess Kali. The statue of Goddess Kali is of great significance to the Hindus. The visitors and committee members of this temple gather money for occasions, where sweets are later distributed among them which is called 'Prasad'.
History:
This temple is about 400 years old, established in the Bengali year 1001. During the reign of the Nawabs, Dewan of Nawabs Tulsi Narayan Ghosh and Nabh Narayan Ghosh established this temple with the inspection of Bancharam Saint. At that time they established twenty-one statues of Shiva, Kali, Lakshmi narayan, three Shalgram Chakra, Bandurga etc. A few beautiful monuments like Pancharatna, Nabratna, temple of Shiva, guest house, were built in the house of Joy Kali. Even market named Nawabpur Joy Kali bazar, and a market situated at the south of Kaliganj hut was dedicated to Joy Kali Devi.
Present condition:
The first caretaker of this Joy Kali Devi was Bancharam Saint, the third caretaker was Panachenand, who suffered a decline, so the responsibility to serve the Devi got into the hands of Bhraman Tanyar. Later the landlords of that time seized some of the land of this temple. Starting from that time the temple started to erode, due to lack of maintenance and shortage of money. This temple was damaged during the strike of 1990’s. The temple was renovated later on by Goddess Kali’s followers. Now the temple is much smaller than it was when it was first established. The temple was burgled and valuables looted by thieves in 2010.
Architectural significance:
Inside the boundary of this temple there is basically two temples. One of the temples is of Kali Devi, the other one, which has a dome, is of Shiv. The dome was made out of plaster and is visible from outside. Locals of that area refer to this dome as the Joy Kali Temple. The front of the temple complex is a busy stop for human haulers that go into old Dhaka. The temple has tiles on the walls all around, and the floor is made out of mosaic. There are pictures of Hindu Gods and Goddesses printed on the tiled walls of the temple. The entrance to the temple is welcomed by a logo made of stainless steel saying 'Om'- which is a Hindu divine symbol. In front of the Kali Devi statue is a bell hanging from above, it is a ritual to ring the bell after entering the temple and before leaving.
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[2] => 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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[3] => Array
(
[name] => Navratna Mandir
[post_id] => 3072
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/navratna-mandir/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Navaratna-temple-Ripon-Dhar....1-300x225.jpg
[post_content] =>
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 style that had five pavilions (four at the corners and one above).
Many other temples are located close to it. During the reign of Nawab Murshid Khan(1704-1720) estimated a guy named Nayeb Dewan Ramnath Vaduri built it. The main temple is three storied. It is said that during construction of the temple each brick was fried with ghee. This temple was taken by Archaeology department of Government for reformation.
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