Brief
Locally this site is known as “Rupban Mura”. After excavation, the sign of a shrine, a monastery and an octagonal votive stupa were found. Among the antiquities, one Gupta imitation gold coin, 04 coins of debased metal, 3 silver coins and a bulky sand stone, Buddha image of post gupta period are mention worthy. On the basis of all the evidences found here, the original monastery and shrine may be dated prior to the 8th Century A.D.
Rupban Mura an important archaeological site of Mainamati lying on a hillock just between the modern BARD and BDR establishments in the Kotbari area on the south of the Comilla-Kalirbazar road. Excavations have revealed here the remains of a remarkable semi-cruciform shrine of medium size (28.2m east – west, 28m north – south), together with a number of subsidiary structures, including an octagonal stupa and another one on a square base. A boundary wall within the oblong stupa courtyard encloses all these. Its regular entrance is on the east, facing the monastery entrance. Deep diggings have revealed three main periods of building and repairs and rebuilding, the earliest corresponding to c.6th-7th centuries AD. Very few remains of the latest period (10th-11th century AD) survive now in this very heavily disturbed site.
The Cruciform Shrine Originally built as a solid stupa on a square base, it was subsequently converted into a semi-cruciform shrine in the second period (8th century AD). It has a peculiarity not noticed elsewhere. Instead of a single chapel built in each of the long arm of the cross, a group of three long narrow chapels was built in the eastern (front) side of the shrine.
In the middle chapel the colossal stone Buddha, now exhibited in Mainamati Museum, was discovered. The same peculiarity is noticed in the adjacent Itakhola Mura grand stupa, also on the eastern side facing the entrance. Fragments of bronze images found in other chapels suggest installation of such images there.
The Monastery The small 34.1m square monastery of the site was built separately, 31m.The South-east of the cruciform stupa. It has a prominent gateway complex (12.5m x 6.9m) projecting outwards in the middle of the northern wing. Built in the usual square plan, it originally had a total of 24 cells in four wings, subsequently reduced to 18 in the second period. The southern wing, occupying an area of 11.7m, was abandoned, due certainly too irreparable damages, and a row of new cells was built in its front, thus making the shape of the monastery oblong (34.1m x 24.8m). Corbelled niches and brick-built bedsteads can be noticed in the 2nd period cells. A broad corbelled drain was built in the courtyard to drain out rainwater. Significant discoveries from the site include, besides the colossal stone Buddha, five debased gold coins of Balabhatta, the Khadga ruler.
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[name] => Bhai Girish Chandra Sen's Old House
[post_id] => 23726
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/bhai-girish-chandra-sens-old-house/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Old-House-of-Bhai-Girish-Chandra-Sen-9-200x300.jpg
[post_content] => Girish Chandra Sen also known as Bhai Girish Chandra Sen ( ভাই গিরিশ চন্দ্র সেন), a Brahmo Samaj missionary, was the first person to complete the translation of the Qur'an into Bengali in 1886. It was his finest contribution to Bengali literature. Born in the village of Panchdona of Narsingdi in 1835 in the famed Dewan Baidya clan, he learnt Persian and Sanskrit in early life and started working as a copywriter in the court of the deputy magistrate in Mymensingh. He also taught for a short while at the Mymensingh Zilla School before engaging wholeheartedly in journalism and literary activities. He was attracted to the Brahmo Samaj under the influence of Keshub Chunder Sen and Bijoy Krishna Goswami and joined it as a missionary in 1871. He traveled through India and Burma to propagate his new faith.
The plasters on the walls of this two floor house have almost completely fallen off, baring the brick work, which is covered in a thick moss. The ceilings on both the floors have entirely caved in. Trees have grown all over the walls, thereby creating large cracks. The wood work from doors and windows is completely stolen. To overcome those destruction and deterioration of this old House owned by this famous Scholar, Government has taken necessary steps to renovate the building immediately.
In the year of 1869, Keshub Sen chose four persons amongst his missionaries and ordained them as professors of four old religions of the world. Girish Chandra was selected to study Islam. The others selected to study different religions were Gour Govinda Ray for Hinduism, Protap Chandra Mazoomdar for Christianity, and Aghore Nath Gupta for Buddhism.
This was a time, when even translating religious scripts from Islam was considered as desecration of the sanctity of the scripts. The Holy Qur’an was considered too sacred for translation, as such most of the Muslim scholars refrained from even trying.
A firm believer in the basic unity of all religions, Girish immersed himself in his studies and later went to Lucknow in 1876 to study Arabic, Islamic literature and the Islamic religious texts. He was involved in intense studies for about five years. His keen interest in different religions and his liberal outlook earned him the respect of followers of other religions.
On completion of his studies, he returned to Kolkata and engaged in translation of Islamic scriptures. After hard labor of six years from 1881-1886, he produced an annotated Bengali version of the Qur’an via Persian.
Girish Chandra wrote and published a total of 42 books in Bengali. His books were greatly appreciated by the Muslim community which referred to him as 'Bhai Girish Chandra'. The Muslim society, in his days, respected him enormously and gave him the title of a Maulavi.
Girish Chandra Sen spoke fluently in Bengali, Urdu & Persian. A simple soft-spoken person, he endeared himself to all those who came in contact with him. His autobiography, 'Atmajivani' (আত্মজীবনী), was published in 1906. He passed away in 1910.
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[name] => {:en}Pailgaon Zamindar Bari{:}{:bn}পাইলগাঁও জমিদারবাড়ী{:}
[post_id] => 22961
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/pailgaon-zamindar-bari/
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[post_content] => {:en}
Pailgaon Zamindar Bari is one of the remarkable old structures of Jagannathpur in Sunamganj. This 300 years old palace was established on 5.5 acres of land.
The last person of this Zamindar family was Brajendra Narayan Chowdhury. He was a famous politician at that time and a member of the congress of Sylhet too at that time.
The place is situated near the bank of Kushiara river in Sunamganj District. It is at Pailgaon Union under Jagannathpur Upazila.
History of this place: Thousand years ago, decedents of Pal Dynasty lived here. As time goes, "Das" family took their place. Pir Mohammad Badsha (Muslim Rulers) gave them the title - "Chowdhury". Ram and Sreeram were two descendants of this bloodline. One of their descendants Madhab Ram gained much popularity in his locality at that time. He did a lot of social welfare.
Their descendants Brojnath had two sons. Their named were Roshomoy Chowdhury and Sukhumoy Chowdhury. The place is locally known by the name after of Zamindar Roshomoy Chowdhury. The last ruler of the family was famous Brajendra Narayan Chowdhury.
{:}{:bn}প্রাচীন পুরাকীর্তির অন্যতম নিদর্শন সুনামগঞ্জের জগন্নাথপুর উপজেলার পাইলগাঁও জমিদারবাড়ী। প্রায় সাড়ে ৫ একর ভূমির ওপর প্রতিষ্ঠিত তিন শত বছরেরও বেশী পুরানো এ জমিদার বাড়ীটি এ অঞ্চলের ইতিহাস-ঐতিহ্যের নিদর্শন ।এ জমিদার পরিবারের শেষ জমিদার ব্রজেন্দ্র নারায়ণ চৌধু রী ছিলেন প্র খ্যাত শিক্ষাবিদ ও রাজনীতিবিদ। তিনি ছিলেন সিলেট বিভাগের কংগ্রেস সভাপতি এবং আসাম আইন পরিষদের সদস্য। সিলেট বিভাগের সুনামগঞ্জ জেলায় জগন্নাথপুর উপজেলার অধীন ৯ নম্বার পাইলগাও ইউনিয়নের পাইলগাও গ্রামে ঐতিহ্যবাহি এ জমিদারীর অবস্থান। জমিদার বাড়ী দক্ষিণ দিকে সিলেটের কুশিয়ারা নদী বহমান। প্রখ্যাত ঐতিহাসিক অচ্যূতচরণ চৌধুরী পাইলগাও জমিদার বংশের রসময় বা রাসমোহন চৌধুরী হতে প্রাপ্ত সূত্রেলিখেছেন যে; পাইলগাওয়ে বহুপূর্বকালে পাল বংশীয় লোক বসবাস করত। এ গোষ্টিয় পদ্মলোচন নামক ব্যক্তির এক কন্যার নাম ছিল রোহিণী। কোন এক কারণে রাঢ দেশের মঙ্গলকোট হতে আগত গৌতম গোত্রীয় কানাইলাল ধর রোহিণীকে বিবাহ করত গৃহ-জামাতা হয়ে এখানেই বসবাস শুরুকরেন। কানাইলাল ধরের আট পুরুষ পরে বালক দাস নামের এক ব্যক্তির উদ্ভব হয়। এ বালক দাস থেকে এ বংশ বিস্তৃত হয়। বালক দাসের কয়েক পুরুষ পর উমানন্দ ধর ওরফে বিনোদ রায় দিল-ীর মোহাম্মদ শাহ বাদশা কর্তৃ ক চৌধুরী সনদ প্রাপ্তহন। বিনোদ রায়ের মাধব রাম ও শ্রীরাম নামে দুই পুত্রের জন্মহয়। তার মধ্যেমাধব রামজনহিতকর কর্মপালনে নিজ গ্রাম পাইলগাঁও এ এক বিরাট দীঘি খনন করে সুনাম অর্জন করেন। তার দেয়া উক্তদীঘি আজও ঐ অঞ্চলে মাধব রামের তালাব হিসেবে পরিচিতহচ্ছে। মাধব রামের দুই পুত্র মদনরাম ও মোহনরাম । উক্ত মোহনরামের ঘরে দুর্লভরাম, রামজীবন, হুলাসরাম ও যোগজীবন নামে চার পুত্রের জন্ম হয়। এই চার ভাই দশসনা বন্দোবস্তের সময় কিসমত আতুয়াজানের ১থেকে ৪ নং তালুকের যতাক্রমে বন্দোবস্তগ্রহন করে তালুকদার নাম ধারণ করে। এদের মধ্যে হুলাসরাম বানিয়াচং রাজ্যের দেওয়ানি কার্যালয়ে উচ্চ পদের কর্মচারীনিযুক্ত হন। হুলাসরাম চৌধুরী বানিয়াচং রাজ্যের রাজা দেওযান উমেদ রাজারঅনুগ্রহে আতুয়াজান পরগণায় কিছু ভূমি দান প্রাপ্তহন। হুলাসরামের প্রাপ্তভূমির কিছু কিছু চাষযোগ্যও কিছু ভূমি চাষ অযোগ্যছিল। পরবর্তিতে হুলাসরাম চাষ অযোগ্য ভূমিগুলোকে চাষযোগ্যকরে তুললে এগুলোই এক বিরাট জমিদারীতে পরিণত হয়ে উঠে। হুলাস রামের ভাতুষ্পুত্রবিজয়নারায়ণের একমাত্রপুত্রব্র জনাথ চৌধুরীজমিদারি বর্ধিত করে এক প্রভাবশালী জমিদারে পরিণত হন। ব্রজনাথ চৌধুরীর দুইপুত্ররসময় ও সুখময় চৌধুরী। রসময় চৌধুরীর পুত্র ব্রজেন্দ্রনারায়নই ছিলেন এবংশের শেষ জমিদার।{:}
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[name] => Jora Kali Temple of Muktagacha
[post_id] => 22247
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/jora-kali-temple-muktagacha/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/P_20151014_134059_1_p-169x300.jpg
[post_content] => Sri Sri Anondomoyi (শ্রী শ্রী আনন্দময়ী) Kali temple is located at the nucleus of Muktagacha Upazila. This temple is dedicated to Nirmola Debi (নির্মলা দেবী), Mother of Maharaja Shoshikanto Acharya (শশীকান্ত আচার্য). A traveler may get confused by the name of this temple as it comes with different words in websites and it's place. In websites, it is known as Sri Sri Anondomoyi (শ্রী শ্রী আনন্দময়ী) Kali temple where as in place, it’s named as Sri Sri Shiva Moheshwar (শ্রী শ্রী শিব মহেশ্বর) Temple and locally it is known as Jora kali Temple of Muktagacha.
Whatsoever the name is, ORB Team came to know from different places and later visited this attraction physically to reveal it's history. It was established in the year 1820 by the patronize of Shoshikanto Acharya (one of the great Zamindars of Muktagacha). Basically this two adjacent temple is a great example of mirror structure in Bengal. It has three arch shaped doorways at the front side. From the surface level, it is almost 1o meter high with so many decoration in its wall. The structural design of this temple is look like the other Moth (মঠ) structure in Bengal.
There is a large pond in the temple premises and it was dug at the time of establishment. Maharaja Shoshikanto Acharya donated his many assets for the daily expenses of worshipping in the temple. Among those lands significant areas are in Muktagacha Upazila, Gabtoli and Khamar Bazar area. Though none of those assets now owned by the temple.
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[3] => Array
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[name] => King Harish Chandra Mound Palace
[post_id] => 10403
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/king-harish-chandra-mound-palace/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Raja-Harish-Chandra-Mound-Palace-1-300x169.jpg
[post_content] =>
Buddhist monastic remains have been found at least in three places in Savar. One of which is locally known as King Harish Chandra mound Palace in Majidpur (মজিদপুর) village to the east of the Savar Market bus-stop.
King Harish Chandra Mound Palace is a protected monument by the Department of Archaeology in Bangladesh. It Was protected on 22nd of November 1920, under ancient monument preservation act 1904 and acquired by the Government of Bangladesh in 23 December, 1925.
Excavation conducted here previously in 1925-26, traces of four structures along with some lintels of terracotta, Buddha images, and an inscribed Vishnu image were found. The evidence as a whole pointed to 7th-8th century AD. Excavations in the Rajbadi mound in 1989-90 revealed a square-shaped stupa enclosed by a wide wall. A silver 'Harikela' coin, a gold coin and a number of Buddhist bronze figures have been unearthed here. A date around 7th-8th century AD has been suggested for the remains.
Regular Archaeological excavation were conducted during several seasons from 1988 to 1997. As a result of those excavation It revealed a Stupa measuring 28m×28 on the north of the mound and an oblong monastic cells on the south of the mound. It appears two building and rebuilding phase on the both of exposed remains.
By Archaeological excavations Further to its east at Rajasan, another area had been discovered containing Buddhist remains.
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