Archaeological attractions of
Bangladesh
01.
Mainamati:
About
eight km to the west of Comilla town and 114 km South-east of Dhaka lies the
low hills known as Mainamati-Lalmai ridge an extensive centre of Buddhist
culture. On the slopes of these hills lie scattered a treasure of information
about the early Buddhist civilization (8th to 12th century). At Salban in the
middle of the ridge, excavations laid bare a large Buddhist Vihara (monastery)
and imposing central shrine.
It has revealed valuable information of the rule of the
Chandra and Deva dynasties which flourished here from the 8th to 12th century
A. D. The whole range of hillocks run for about 18th km. and is studded with
more than 50 sites. A site museum housed the archaeological finds which include
terracotta plaques, bronze statues and casket, coins, jewellery, utensils,
pottery and votive stupas embossed with Buddhist inscription.
02.
Mahasthangarh:
 |
| Mahanthan Garh, Bogra |
.
03. Paharpur
Buddist Vihara:
 |
| Paharpur Buddhist Bihara |
Paharpur is a small
village 5 km west of Jamalganj railway station in the greater Rajshahi district
where the remains of the most important and the largest known monastery, south
of the Himalayas has been excavated. This 8th century A.D. archaeological find
covers approximately an area of 27 acres of land. The entire establishment,
occupying a quadrangular court, measuring more than 900 ft. and from 12 ft to
15 ft in height with elaborate gateway complex on the north, there are 45 cells on the north and 44 in
each of other three sides with a total number of 177 rooms. The architecture of
the pyramidal cruciform temple is profoundly influenced by those of south-east
Asia, especially Myanmar and Java. It had taken its name from a high mound,
which like Pahar or hillock. A site museum houses the representative collection
of objects recovered from the area. The excavated findings have also been
preserved at the Varendra Research Museum at Rajshahi. The antiquities of the
museum include terracotta plaque, images of different gods and goddesses,
potteries, coins, inscriptions, ornamental bricks and other minor clay objects.
It has been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
At Paharpur some
terra-cotta seals bearing the name of the vice chancellor, Sri Somepure, a
member of the second ruler of the Pala dynasty, of the oldest university in
Asia named as "Somapura Buddha Vihara Viswabidyalaya" (Khatun, 1997).
The University used to teach theology, grammar, logic, philosophy, fine arts
and visited by famous scholars. The residential university enrolled students
free of costs and their clothing and food were also free. About one hundred
adjacent villages supplied food and clothing for about 2,000 students living in
177 rooms in a 21 acre fortified complex area. Students from south-east Asian
countries like Korea, Mongolia, China
and Tibet came here to
receive the superior quality of education provided by this University. The
books preserved in the library were made of parchment paper and palm leaves.
But the library was looted and ravaged after the fall of the Pala dynasty (M.
Khatun, 1997).
04. Chandranath Hindu Temple:
It is approximately
37 km far from Chittagong city. This is famous forChandranath Hindu Temple -
one of the oldest temples in the subcontinent.
There is also Buddhist
Temple having a footprint of Lord Buddha. These places particularly the
hilltops are regarded as very sacred by the hindus and buddhist. Shiva
Chaturdashi (14th) festivals is held every year in February when thousands of
pilgrims assemble which lasts for ten days. There is also a hot-water spring 5
km to the north of Sitakunda.
05. Sri Chaitanya Temple:
About 500 years old
famous temple of Sri Chaitanya Dev is located at Dhaka Dakhin nearly 45 km
south-east from Sylhet town. The place is revered for being the ancestral home
of the famous Vaishnava saint. Yearly fair is organized on the fullmoon day of
the bangla month Falgun. Hundreds and thousand of devotees from home and abroad
attend this colorful fair.
06. Sonargaon, Panam City:
Sonargaon is one of the most historical place
and oldest capitals of Bangladesh. “The city of Panam” is another name of
Sonargaon. Among the ancient monuments still intact, are the tomb of Sultan
Ghiasuddin (1399 - 1409 A.D.), the shrines of Panjpirs and Shah Abdul Alla and
a beautiful mosque in Goaldi village. A Folk Art and Crafts Museum has also
been established in Sonargaon. It situated in Narayongoan district on the
Dhaka-Chittagong highway about 29km away from Dhaka.
Picture has taken from outside of the
sonargaon museum.
Ruins of Sonargaon, Isa Khan's
capital Front side of Sonargaon
museum.
A great Statues of
Zainul Abedin, the great artist of Bangladesh
selected Sonargaon to establish Folk Arts and Crafts Museum.
selected Sonargaon to establish Folk Arts and Crafts Museum.
- Sonargaon's `Lok Shilpa
Jadughar', was a part of Isa Khan's capital.
- The Panam City was the
center of the upper-middleclass people of 19th century Sonargaon. It is
now in ruins. Mainly Hindu cloth merchants lived here.
- Musa Khan's Masjid, the Mosque beside the grave of
Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah in Shahidullah Hall of the University of Dhaka is
a marked work and it is said that the Mosque was made by Isa Khan or son
of him, Musa Khan.
- The Fort of Hajiganj was the main tactical fort of
Isa Khan in front of Meghna, Shitalakhya and Brahmaputra. Now at
Narayanganj. It is saved by the authority.
- There is another sister concern
of the fort across the river, few miles away.
Due to the many
threats to preservation (including flooding and vandalism) that this culturally
and historically significant city faces, the World
Monuments Fund
placed it on its 2008 Watch List of the 100 Most Endangered Sites in this
planet.
07.
Lalbagh Fort:
Lalbagh Fort (also known as "Fort
Aurangabad") is an incomplete Mughal palace fortress at the Buriganga
River in the southwestern part of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Construction was commenced
in 1678 by Prince Muhammad Azam during his 15-month long vice-royalty of
Bengal, but before the work could complete, he was recalled by Aurangzeb. His
successor, Shaista Khan, did not complete the work, though he stayed in Dhaka
up to 1688. His daughter bibi pari (Lady Fairy) died here in 1684 and this led
him to consider the fort to be ominous.
Lalbagh
fort and the Tomb of Pari Bibi
The fort was long
considered to be a combination of three buildings: the mosque;the tomb of Bibi
Pari; and the Diwan-i-Aam, comprising two gateways and a portion of the partly
damaged fortification wall.
Recent excavations
carried out by the Department of Archaeology of Bangladesh, however, have
revealed the existence of other structures, and it is now possible to have a
more or less complete picture of the fort.
In the present fort
area of 18 acres (73,000 m²), excavations have revealed the remains of either
26 or 27 structures, with elaborate arrangements for water supply, sewerage,
roof gardens, and fountains. Renovation work by the Archaeology Department has
now put Lalbagh Fort in a much-improved shape, and it has now become an
interesting spot for tourists and visitors.
1814
painting by Charles D'Oyly showing the South wall, beside the Buriganga River.
Now, the river flows at least a mile to the south.
Of the three surviving
gateways, the southern one is the most imposing. Seen from the front, it is a
three-storeyed structure with a front-on, bordered with slender minarets. From
inside, it gives the impression of a two-storeyed structure. The gateway on the
northeast is a much smaller and simpler structure. Structural evidence
indicates that the fort extended to the eastern side, beyond the present
Shaista Khan Road. The third gate, now in the centre of the northern boundary
wall, was left incomplete. The present one is a recent construction.
08. Southern fortification
wall:
The southern
fortification wall, running westward from the South Gateway, stretches up to
the huge bastion in the southwestern corner of the fort. It runs northward for
a distance, and is then lost. The boundary wall on the eastern side, connecting
the southern and northern gateways, is a modern wall, and it is now assumed
that the fort originally embraced areas further east, beyond the present
Shaista Khan Road.
On the northern side
of the southern fortification are placed utility buildings, such as the stable,
the administrative block, and its western part accommodates a beautiful
roof-garden, with arrangements for fountains and a water reservoir. The
residential part is located on the eastern side of the western fortification,
mainly to the south-west of the mosque, where the remains of a sewerage line
have been found. The southern fortification is a twin wall: the outer one is
about 6.10 m high and 1.37 m thick; and the inner one is 13.7 m high with same
thickness.
The two are solid up
to a height of 6.10 m, and there are regular openings in the upper part of the
inner wall. The original fortification wall on the south has five bastions at
regular intervals, and the western wall has two. Among the seven bastions, the
biggest one is near the main southern gate at the back of the stable, which
occupies the area to the west of the gateway. The bastion has an underground
tunnel. Among the five bastions of the southern fortification, the central one
is single-storeyed, while the rest are double-storeyed structures. The central
one contains an underground room with verandahs on three sides, and it can be
approached either from the riverside or from its roof. The double-storeyed
bastion at the southwestern corner of the fort is possibly a Hawakhana, with a
water reservoir on its roof.
Two lines of
terracotta pipes have been found that connect all the establishments of the
fort with the reservoir. An extra-strong terracotta pipe line, made with double
pipes (one inside the other), has been uncovered in the area between the Hammam
and the tomb of Bibi Pari.
Rooftop garden
The area westwards
from the stable, parallel to the southern fortification, once had a beautiful
roof garden with fountain, rose, flower beds (marked with star designs), and a
water reservoir. The buildings underneath contains the administrative blocks,
and the residential part on the western side.
The central area of
the fort is occupied by three buildings:the Diwan-i-Aam and the Hammam on its
east;the mosque on the west; and the tomb of Bibi Pari in between the two (in
one line, but not at equal distance). The mosque is a three-domed mosque, with
a water tank in front (on the eastern side) for ablution.
Exhibit
at the museum inside Lalbagh Fort
A water channel, with
fountains at regular interval, connects the three buildings from east to west,
and two similar channels run from south to north:
one through the middle
of the ground, in between the Diwan-i-Aam and the tomb, forming a square tank,
with fountains at the intersection with the east-west channel; and the other,
from the water reservoir, passing through the bottom of the tomb.
The water channels and
the fountains, a very common feature of Mughal architecture, create an
atmosphere, not unlike those of the north Indian Mughal forts. A big square
water tank (71.63 m each side), placed in front of and to the east of the
Diwan-i-Aam, between the southern and northern gateways, adds to the beauty of
the building.
Diwan-i-Aam
The double-storeyed
Diwan-i-Aam, attached with a single-storeyed Hammam on its west, is an imposing
building. The Hammam complex includes an open platform, a small kitchen, an
oven, water storage area, a masonry brick bath-tub, a toilet, a dressing room
and an extra room. The Hammam portion has an underground room for boiling
water, and a passage for sweepers. A long partition wall runs north-south along
the western facade of the Hammam, dividing the whole fort area into two
divisions.
Tomb
of Bibi Pari
The tomb of Bibi Pari,
located in the center, is the most impressive of the surviving buildings of the
fort. Eight rooms surround a central square room that contains the mortal
remains of Bibi Pari. The central room is covered by a false octagonal-shaped
dome, wrapped by a bronze plate.
The entire inner wall
of the central room is covered with white marble, while the four rooms at the
sides had stone skirting up to a height of one metre. The walls in the rooms at
the four corners are skirted with beautifully-glazed floral tiles. The tiles
have recently been restored; two of the original tiles have been retained. The
room at the south eastern corner contains a small grave, popularly known to be
of that of Shamsad Begum, possibly a relative of Bibi Pari.
The archaeological
excavations have also revealed strata of the Sultanate, as well as of the
pre-Muslim periods, from where terracotta heads and plaques have been found.
Thus, it is now justified to say that though the Mughals founded Dhaka, it was
definitely inhabited long before the Muslims came to Bengal.
09. Sonakanda Fort:
Sonakanda Fort a Mughal river-fort
located on the eastern bank of the shitalakshya at Bandar, almost opposite
hajiganj fort in Narayanganj district. A group of river forts, erected by the
Mughals, guarded the water routes to Dhaka and other places of strategic
importance and the Sonakanda Fort is one of them.
The fort, under the protection of the
Department of Archaeology and Museums, has been restored and repaired several
times. The defensive walls and the massive artillery platform are still in
existence. It is quadrangular in plan, measuring 86.56m57.0m and surrounded by
a 1.06m thick brick-wall, 3.05m in height, with inner and intermediate
bastions. The wall is built solid at the bottom. There is a circular artillery
platform with a staircase on the west side, which leads up to the raised
artillery platform to be entered by a five-foil arched gateway. The artillery
platform, meant for a big calibre cannon aiming at the attackers coming up the
river, is a new feature of the Mughal river forts in Bengal.
The platform has two circles of which the
inner is 15.70m and the outer is 19.35m in diameter respectively. It is 6.09m
in height and surrounded by walls. The corner bastions on both sides of the
western wing are wider than those of the eastern wing, which are 4.26m, while
the two on the western wing are 6.85m in diameter.
The fort has two main parts; one is a
fortified rampart wall of enormous dimension, which has numerous wide and
narrow loopholes. And the other part, the most important one, is a raised outwork
on the western face. Excepting the artillery platform, there is no trace of any
permanent structure within the fortification walls. All round, the walls are
crowned by machicolated merlons, which are on average one metre high.
The fort is provided with a single
entrance gate on the north. The arched gateway is placed within a rectangular
frame and both the sides are decorated with several plastered panels. The lofty
arch of the entrance gateway is of the four-centred variety. There are four
corner bastions. Unlike the bastions of the forts at Hajiganj and Idrakpur the
bastions of this fort are octagonal in plan.
The fort is not dated by any inscription.
Though the construction of this fort is attributed to mir jumla, there is no
evidence for this. On stylistic similarities with other Mughal river-forts in
and around Dhaka it is datable to the mid-17th century.
10.
Ahsan Manjil:
Brief History: It was
the residential palace of the nawabs of DHAKA. It was called the Rang Mahal of
Sheikh Enayetullah, a landlord of Jamalpur. French bought it from his son
Matiullah, and made it their trading centre. Khwaja ALIMULLAH made it his
residence after purchasing it from the French. Nawab Abdul Gani made the
beautiful palace in 1872 and named it after his son Khaja Ahsanullah.
The construction of
the palace started in 1859 and finished in 1872. Andar Mahal and Rang Mahal is
the two sections of the Ahsan Manjil. In 1888, a terrible tornado severely
damaged Ahsan
manzil, mainly the Andar
Mahal was completely damaged. Ahsan Manjil was again damaged in 1897 by a
devastating earthquake. In 1991, it was reconstructed and was turned into a
museum.
Description: It is on
a raised platform of 1 metre. The two-storied palace measures 125.4m by 28.75m.
There are doorways on the ground floor, both on the southern and northern sides
of the palace. A stairway has come down from the southern entrance, expanding
up to the bank of the river through the front garden. The south and north
verandas of both the floors are on semicircular arches. The verandas and rooms
made up of marble. It is divided into two sections- one is called "Rang
Mahal" and another one is "Andar Mahal" on the western side. It
has 31 rooms with 23 galleries displaying portraits, furniture and household
belongings of the Nawabs.
11. Kantaji Temple:
Kantaji Temple is a
late medieval Hindu temple in Dinajpur, Bangladesh. Built by Maharaja Pran
Nath, its construction started in 1722 C.E. and ended in 1752 C.E. [1], during
the reign of his son Maharaja Ramnath. It boasts one of the greatest examples
on Terracotta architecture in Bangladesh and once had nine spires, but all were
destroyed in an earthquake that took place in 1897 . The temple was built in a
nava-ratna (nine-spired) style before the destruction caused by the earthquake
of 1897.
The 52 feet square
temple is centered in an oblong court (240'120) covered by a shed with a roof
of corrugated tin. Its main fabric pivots around a nuclear square cell (10'-3),
reaching a height of about 50' above its 3'-3 high slab of stone, thought to
have been mined from the ancient ruins of Bannagar near Gangarampur in
Dinajpur. Three more square outer shells in graded heights have been added to
it, to variegate the plan as well as to strengthen the central sanctuary on top
of the massive tower.
The curved cornice
from the ground floor, which sharply drops at the corners, rises in the middle
to a height of 25�-0�� from the plinth,
while the first floor cornice rises to 15� and the second floor to 6�-6��. Small square cells are situated at the four corners of
the ground and first floors. They serve the purpose of supporting the weight of
the octagonal corner towers above. On the ground floor. Three multi-cusped
arched entrances on each side are present, which are separated by two ornate
brick pillars. The number of arched doorways in the ground floor in its four
shells is 21; on the first floor it is 27. The second floor, reduced in size,
has only three entrance doors and three windows. A narrow staircase, only 2�-3�� wide, is built into
the western second corridor. It winds up through the dark passage to the first
two stories.
12. Bagha Mosque:
Bagha Mosque, Rajshahi is a religious monument which has become one of
the important tourist attractions in Rajshahi. The Bagha Mosque, Rajshahi is a
brick-built monument which is located at a distance of 25 miles from the city.
Built in 1523, the construction of the mosque was initiated by Nashrat Shah,
former Sultan of Bengal.
The Bagha Mosque compound originally spread across an area of 48.77
square meters. Tourists can enter the compound of the mosque via arched
gateways which are located at the southern and the northern part of the
compound. The gateways comprise of an oblong turret structure which offers a
unique style and reflect on the architectural style of the period when it was
originally built.
The mosque is basically an oblong structure that measures about 23.16 meters
by 12.80 meters. The exterior angles of the Bagha Mosque in Rajshahi are
accentuated by the presence of octagonal towers which are divided into various
sections by moulded bands. The cornice of the Bagha Mosque reflects on the
Bengalis style of architecture that might have been prevalent during the time
of its construction. Apart from it, the mosque also features five arched
openings and three mihrabs which beautify the mosque structure.
The interior of the Bagha Mosque is mainly divided into two main aisles
that are longitudinal in nature along with five bays of four stone pillars. The
doorway arches of the mosque offers a two-storied appearance from the outside.
The mosque suffered immense damage in the 1897 earthquake but mush has been
repaired by the Department of Archaeology, Bangladesh.
The most noteworthy aspect of the Bagha Mosque, Rajshahi is its exquisite
terracotta ornamentation, much of which has disappeared. The few remaining are
mainly in the interior section which has been enriched by the presence of the
rectangular panels.
While touring the site of the terracotta mosque, the tourists can also
explore the surrounding locations which feature other notable attractions like
the shrine of Aulian Hazrat Danishmand and his disciples. Nature lovers
frequenting the mosque site can also venture down to the nearby pond which
attracts a large number of migratory birds, making it a great birdwatching
destination.
13. Kushumba Mosque:
Kushumba Mosque, Rajshahi is a religious place among many other mosques
in the city. The place of worship is used by the Muslims as well as the Hindus.
The entire building of the mosque is built mainly from brick. Built during the
Suri rule, the famous mosque is one of the historical sites and tourist
attractions in Rajshahi. Kushumba Mosque, Rajshahi is attractively situated on
the banks of Atrai River.
The ancient mosque was built during the Afghan rule in Bengal under the
reign of Ghiyasuddin Bahadur Shah. The mosque features a rectangular shape with
six domes, two aisles and three entrances. Bricks and stones have been used for
the entire construction of the exterior walls. The style of architecture in
Muslim period is different from the Buddhist and Hindu architecture and this
mosque resembles the contemporary kind of architecture. Rajshahi Kushumba
Mosque is one of the last important monuments in the Sultanate period.
Kushumba Mosque in Rajshahi is situated at the village of Kushumba after
which the monument had been named. The mosque features a brick building, carved
cornice and the octagonal corner towers. The columns, platform and floors are
made of stone. The stone carvings inside the mosque are decorated and engraved
with religious images. The edges of the platform are designed with grape vine
decorations and is supported with spandrels of the arches.
Sightseeing in the city should include the Kushumba Mosque. The
archaeologists and history researchers will definitely like the site for its
impressive structure and style of architecture.
14. Tomb of Haji Khawaja Shahbaz:
The
solitary splendour-mosque and tomb of Haji Khawaja Shahbaz
Haji Khwaja Shahbaz, known as the Malik-ul-tujjur or
Merchant-Prince is said to have lived in Tongi when he came to this country. At
the time when he built this mosque, Bengal was experiencing an era of Muslim
grandeur and influence and Dhaka enjoyed the status of a provincial Mughal
capital. Shaista Khan as the Subedar inaugurated the most memorable phase of
Dhaka's history. Waves of luxury and prosperity embraced Dhaka.
15. Tajhat palace:
Tajhat palace still attracts
visitors from home and abroad because of its amassing architectural skill. The
100-year-old extraordinarily designed palace makes visitors ponder over the
urbanisation of old Rangpur and craftsmanship of the past. Mahiganj the then
main town of Rangpur of which Tajhat was a part. This town was urbanised with
the Tajhat viceroy as the centre.
The founder of Tajhat-dynasty Manna Lal Roy was a big cap merchant. He came
from Punjab in India in early 18th century. He became rich with the sales of
caps. Fortune smiled on him during the famine of 1770-1790. He lent money to
many viceroys in the region,had other viceroys in Rangpur and its adjoining
areas under his control and became an influential zaminder in the 19th century.
After
1972 Tajhat palace was an asset of the Archaeology Department. But it was
handed over to the ministry of law in 1984. The ministry shifted the then
Rangpur high court to the palace. After the fall of the Jatiya Party in 1990,
the new government decided to withdraw the high court from Rangpur in 1991. On
vacation of the Rangpur High Court the palace was came under the purview of the
Ministry of Law till 1995. In 1995 the Tajhat palace was handed over to the
ministry of culture.
16. Rangpur Carmichael College:
Rangpur
Carmichael College, a traditional and prestigious educational institution setup
during the British regime in undivided Bengal is still playing a challenging
role in the education sector.
The
institute has already gone through 88 long years educating millions of students
since its inception in 1916. In 1955 the students and teachers of the Bengali
department of Carmichael College formed a literature union under the name
"Samajderer Ashore". The activities of said organisation continued
for next five years. Founder president was poet Mohammed Sultan, a close friend
of Kazi Nazrul Islam.
17. Chandanpura Mosque
Abdul Hamid Master a zaminder at
Chandanpura during the later part of 18th century. He built a big earthen
mosque on a large piece of land, which changed through the passage of time in
1950 into concrete, yet holding together the original architectural design.
Abu Syed Dobash, one of Hamid Master's successors, started the change in 1947
and it took three years to complete the work, which cost him approximately Tk 4
lakh, which was considered huge during that period.
18. Peelkhana:
Peelkhana,
or the Royal Elephants Shelter, was at the northwest periphery of Mughal Dhaka,
along with a small cavalry garrison too. The elephants paraded as they walked
along Elephant Road up to Begunbari Khal to bathe. True to tradition, the
Mughal Eidghah was just on the outskirts of the city on the riverbank, further
to the east than its present courses, and now silted away because of the
expansion of late-Mughal and colonial settlements in Hazaribagh-Rayerbazaar
belt that contains many small late-Mughal and Colonial structures.
A few
kilometres to the north of Peelkhana was the Sarai Jafarbad-Katasur area,
possibly a caravan route along the river. A small urban settlement in this area
is evident from its geographic and strategic location, origin of the name(s) of
the locality, and the remnants of few Mughal period structures, particularly
two mosques, one of which was demolished recently, and two tombs, one of which
was converted to a mosque.
19. Seven Domed Mosque:
A small rural community with agricultural land in between may have existed,
which area in course of time became like a jungle due to disuse, dereliction
and abandonment mainly during the British period. This has now become one of the planned
and most expensive residential enclaves of Dhaka - - Dhanmondi. One
major peripheral road of the district to its west -- the Satmasjid Road,
bearing the name of the most famous of these edifices- the Satgambuz Masjid
(Seven Domed Mosque).
19. Tomb of Dara Begum:
The Tomb
of Dara Begum, built on the east bank of a huge pond nearly three acres in size
in what is now Lalmatia Block F, is variously known as Shahi Masjid or Bibir
Majid to the locals. This, converted and extended in a huge multi-storied
mosque with sales/display centre at semi-basement level, is part of the Jamia
Islamia Madrashah complex, and the pond is used for pisci-culture as a source
of income. Traditionally the tomb is ascribed either to a daughter of Shaista
Khan or to the wife of a Subahdar before him. Based on the stronger and more
sober style, it looks like belonging to some high ranking lady who died before
Khan's time.
The best
example of pre-Mughal single dome kiosk mosque in Dhaka, though built in much
later time of 1680, was the Allahkuri mosque in Mohammedpur. This simple style
has been very popular throughout the Islamic world at all ages because of its
simplicity. However, unlike the Sultanate or earlier Mughal
examples, the mosque was distinguished by the semi-octagonal mihrab niche, plastered walls, horizontal parapet, corner towers rising above the parapet and ending in solid kiosks with small cupolas, the dome being placed on octagonal drum crowned by lotus with kalasha finial. The building called for attention as it had four axially projected frontons with bordering ornamental turrets, an idea borrowed from axial iwan-type gateways of the Persian influenced upper Indian standard Mughal mosques, e.g. Delhi Jami Masjid or Lahore Badshahi Masjid. Unfortunately this historic and architectural heritage structure was demolished recently to pave way for a supermarket.
19. Seven Domed Mosque:
A small rural community with agricultural land in between may have existed,
which area in course of time became like a jungle due to disuse, dereliction
and abandonment mainly during the British
period. This has now become one
of the planned and most expensive residential enclaves of Dhaka
Dhanmondi. One major peripheral road of the district to its west -- the
Satmasjid Road, bearing the name of the most famous of these edifices- the
Satgambuz Masjid (Seven Domed Mosque).
19. Tomb of Dara Begum:
The Tomb
of Dara Begum, built on the east bank of a huge pond nearly three acres in size
in what is now Lalmatia Block F, is variously known as Shahi Masjid or Bibir
Majid to the locals. This, converted and extended in a huge multi-storied
mosque with sales/display centre at semi-basement level, is part of the Jamia
Islamia Madrashah complex, and the pond is used for pisci-culture as a source
of income. Traditionally the tomb is ascribed either to a daughter of Shaista
Khan or to the wife of a Subahdar before him. Based on the stronger and more
sober style, it looks like belonging to some high ranking lady who died before
Khan's time.
The best
example of pre-Mughal single dome kiosk mosque in Dhaka, though built in much
later time of 1680, was the Allahkuri mosque in Mohammedpur. This simple style
has been very popular throughout the Islamic world at all ages because of its
simplicity. However, unlike the Sultanate or
earlier Mughal examples, the mosque was
distinguished by the semi-octagonal mihrab niche, plastered walls, horizontal
parapet, corner towers rising above the parapet and ending in solid kiosks with
small cupolas, the dome being placed on octagonal drum crowned by lotus with
kalasha finial. The building called for attention as it had four axially
projected frontons with bordering ornamental turrets, an idea borrowed from
axial iwan-type gateways of the Persian influenced upper Indian standard Mughal
mosques, e.g. Delhi Jami Masjid or Lahore Badshahi Masjid. Unfortunately this
historic and architectural heritage structure was demolished recently to pave
way for a supermarket.
20.
Bibi Begni's Mosque:
Located to the west of
Shait Gumbad Mosque across the Ghora dighi is the Bibi Begni’s Mosque,
measuring 14.6m square. This single domed mosque shows resemblance with Singar
Mosque in general appearance except that it is larger and massively built. The
building has three entrances on the east and one each on south and north sides.
The central doorway is larger. The corner turrets are relieved with bands of
mouldings at regular intervals.
The western wall is
projected westward in its middle which is flanded by two engaged small unusual
round towers ornated with horizontal bands and terracottas.
The multi-cusped
mihrabs are embellished with terracotta floral motifs and bordered with
terracotta floral motifs and bordered with rectangular mouldings. In the center
of each mihrab chain-and-bell motif is prominent. The spandrels of each mihrab
are decorated with rosettes on either side. Intertwined geometric motifs and
blind merlons run in parallel rows over the spandrels. The building has eight
engaged round pilasters-two in each wall. The curved cornice runs through the
corner turrets.
21.
Kodla Math:
The elegant spired
math is located ten km. north-west corner of Bagerhat town situated in the
village Ayodhya. Infact it is a memorial structure. In couse of time the Kodla
Math popularly known as Ayodhya math. The math measuring about 18.29m high from
the surrounding ground level, having 2.76m. thick walls. It has three entrances
on the east, west and south. Brickworks and ornemental decoration is the main
attraction of the math. A fragmentary Bengali inscription found of the math
records that the math was erected by a Brahman and was dedicated to Taraka
Brahmn Propably in the early 17th century.
It was old legendary
saying that the math was built by Raja protapaditya of Jessore as a memory to
his corut pandit Abilamba. It was declared as the Protected Monument in 1923
A.D.
22.
Nine-Domed Mosque:
The mosque is located
on the western embankment of the Thakur Dighi and to the southwest of the
mausoleum of Khan Jahan. The square mosque (15.1m) is roofed over with nine
hemispherical domes rest on four free- standing stone columns.
It has three pointed
arched openings on the north, south and east sides bordered within tall
rectangular frames. Above the arches there are horizontal rows of moldings.
The western wall is
relieved with three semicircular mihrabs of which the central one is larger and
is projected to the west. The multi-cusped mihrabs are decorated with
terracotta floral, scroll and foliage patterns within rectangular panels.
Center of each mihrab is decorated with chain and bell motif. Apexes of the
arches have diaper designs and large rosettes at the spandrels. Rest three
walls are relieved with only two niches in each.
The corner turrets are
round and are faceted by eight bands of mouldings. The exterior walls are
relieved with vertical panels. The curved cornice is very prominent.
23.
Sitakot Vihara
Situated in village
Fatehpur Maras under Nowabgonj thana of Dinajpur District, the site has yielded
the impoverished remains of a brick-built Buddhist monastery. It is medium in
size, roughly 65.5m each side, and has yielded a number of movable antiquities,
i.e. bronze sculptural pieces of Mahayana origin, iron dagger, terracotta
net-sinker, terracotta cone, carved brick, potteries of early medieval origin
etc.. On ground of style they are datable to the circa 7th-8th century AD.
To reach at the site
one can start his journey from Dinajpur zero point by any kind of motorized
vehicle comfortably.
24.
Bharat Bhayana:
The site is known
after the name of its village Bharat Bhayana which is in the thana of Kesabpur
under Jessore district. The village and its surroundings are dotted with some
and sparsely lying architectural pieces. Of them, only one, Bharat Rajar Deul, has
yielded the substantial ruins of a brick-built curious structure.
It was planned on a cruciform base and endowed
with several bind cells above. It shows starkly plain wall surface save some
receding offsets at the base level only. The present height of the roof-less
structure is about 10m at its highest point that appears to have been much more
in its original form. The site has also yielded some busts of princely male
figures, potteries of early medieval origin etc. On stylistic ground they may
be dated in circa 5th-6th century AD.
One can start his
journey for Bharat Bhyana from either Khulna Bus Stoppage or Jessore Airport by
any kind of motorized vehicle.
25.
Gorar Mosque:
It is a single domed
square mosque with its entrances on the east. It is entirely built of bricks
and datable to the 15th century AD.
26.
Father in law’s house of Rabindranath Tagore:
Father in law house of
the world famous Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore is situated in the village
Daxindihi, upazila Fultala in Khulna. The house is located from 1.5km east of
Fultala busstand at Jessore-Khulna highway. The surviving two storied south
facing building was created by the poet’s brother in law Mr. Nagendranath Roy
Chowdhury.
The house externally
measures 15.55m x 7.88m with 0.60m.
thick walls. In front of the porch of the verandah carried on three
semi-circular arched opening on the south. The airy balcony of the upper floor
supported on a series of columns topped by semi-Corinthian capital, adhesive
with a series of three fixed louvered shutter and the lower portion is fixed
with ornamental casting railing. The front facade of the ante chamber also
decorated with parabolic arch, set within three symmetrical pointed arched
window. Top of the peak arch also pointed each two window wheel. The parapet
wall of the building is tastefully decorated in plaster work. The architectural
charater of the building influenced by early English style. The house was
declared as the protected monument in 2006 A.D. by the Department of
Archaeology.
27.
Baliati Prasad:
Baliati Prasad is a
palatial complex situated 35km to the northwest of Dhaka city and can be
approached by light motorized vehicle from any traffic point of Dhaka. It
accommodates a group of five residential buildings enclosed within a walled compound.
The face of the
compound is on the east and can be entered through four lion-gates. The
buildings are built of brick, lime and brick-dust. The general delineation of
the buildings speaks of the neo-Indo-European architecture as they are provided
with beautiful Corinthian pillar, colored glass ventilation, tile paved floor,
marble table, portraits and many other objects of antiquarian interest. The
builders of the establishments were the members of a local elite family who
lived in the beginning of the last century.
It can be reached from
Dhaka by any kind of motorized vehicle following first the road leading to
Aricha and then to Saturia via Kalampur transaction.
28.
Baba Adam’s Mosque:
The mosque is locally
known after a famous saint Baba Adam whose simple grave is close by, but
nothing historical is known about him, except the popular tale of his fight
with Ballal Sen. However, according to the inscription hung over a wall, this
six domed mosque was built by the great Malik Kafur during the reign of Sultan
Jalaluddin Fatah Shah in or around 1483 A.D.
A visit to the mosque
can easily be made from Munshigonj town following a motorable road any time
around the year.
29.
Idrakpur Fort:
This small fortress is
situated on the bank of the dried up Ichamoti river at Idrakpur in Munshigonj
town. It was built by Mir Jumla, the viceroy of Bengal in 1660 A.D. The special
feature of the fort is a huge solid circular platform or drum, with a diameter
of 32.91m. The huge platform evidently was used to mount cannon and also as a
watch tower.
One can start his
journey for the monument from Lalbagh Fort by any kind of motorized vehicle.
30.
Muktagacha Place:
It is an extensive
palatial complex sprawling over at least 20 hectors of land. The whole area is
full of many ponds, temples, palaces and out buildings. Of them only a part is
now being protected by the Deptt. of Archaeology. The protected area is an east
facing enclosed precinct studded with gateway, garden, reservoirs, residential
complexes, temples and several other ancillary buildings. The architecture of
all the buildings simulate Indo-European neo-classic ethic. They were built by
different members of the Muktagacha zamindar family in different time. Some are
still being used
for different
purposes. The protected part is called ‘Char Ana’ locally. It may hardly be
dated in the early 20th century A.D.
31.
Jorbangla Temple:
It resembles two
curved Bangali huts joined together from which this highly ornate brick temple
derives its name of Jorbangla.
Traditionally it was
built by one Braja Krori, a ‘Tahsilder under Naweb of Bengal in the 18th
century A.D. It stands on a single platform. The constitutents of the temple is
an anti-chamber and sanctuary. The frontage of the sanctuary is provided with
three ornamental arched entrances. Its entrance facade is enriched with
terracotta plaques depicting seenes from the Hindu Epice.
32.
Kachichira Mosque:
It is a single domed
mosque of exceptional beauty is located in the village Kachichira of Patuakhali
Sadar Upazila District Patuakhali. The mosque is situated about 10km north-west
of Patuakhali Sadar. The square is shaped of the mosque internally measures
4.2m by 4.16m with 0.76m thick walls. This mosque is essentially an elegant
version of srirampur mosque located in the same district, even so the quantity
of decoration might be compared with the similarly design
by the same mosque.
The mosque is buttressed with four octagonal corner towers each of which topped
by a miniature. The domed have been placed on a octagonal high drum. The front
wall of the mosque is embellished with stucco paneling design. The central
entrance is flanked by a pair of slender turrets which rises up to the Parapet.
There is a elliptical arched doorway on the eastern front wall. No inscription
is fond here, stylistically the mosque belong to 17th century A.D. It was
declared as the protected monument in 1989 A.D. by the department of
Archaeology.
33.
Putia Palace:
Puthia is about 28km
east of Rajshahi town and is connected to the Rajshahi-Natore highway by a 200m
stretch of feeder road towards the south. This derelict but imposing palace
faces the ‘Dol-Mancha’ temple across a large meadow to the north. presenting a
projection on each of its eastern and western ends. Its central part, which is
about 15m wide, has an imposing portal in front. The building has two other
smaller projections on either end and a further inset at the rear. A 3m wide
verandah runs along the front of the block and provides access to some large
halls behind.
The balcony roof is
supported on three graceful semi-Corinthian round and fluted columns which
reach up to the upper storey. The central part of the building is relieved with
a triangular pediment and the parapet is tastefully decorated with floral
plasterwork. A broad wooden staircase, which is built into the eastern end of
the verandah, provides access to the upper storey. Each projecting end of the
edifice is relieved with four semi-Corinthian columns. A bilingual inscription
fixed over the portal records its construction in 1895 by Rani Hemanta Kumari
Devi.
There are to be seen a
few more out-buildings in its premise, all being built in the same period.
To reach at the site
one can start his journey from Rajshahi town by any kind of motorized vehicle
comfortably.
34.
Atiya Mosque:
Constructed in 1609
A.D. by Sayyed Khan Pani, son of Bayazid Khan Pani, the mosque (21m x 12.19m
)consists of a single domed square prayer chamber fronted by a verandah covered
over by 3 domes. Its cornice is deeply curved and wall surface is relieved with
terracotta ornamental panels showing a blending of Mughal and pre-Mughal
architectural traits.
It can be approached
from the zero point of Tangail town, along the Dhaka-Jamuna Setu, by any means
of motorized vehicle.
35.
Choto Sona Mosque:
It is a remarkably
fine architectural specimen of the Sultante Period. Built by Wali Muhammad son
of Ali during the reign of Sultan Hossain Shah (1493-1519). It has fifteen
gilded domes including three chauchala domes in the middle row. Chief
attractions of the Mosque are its intricate stone carvings and decoration.
Harish Chandra Raja’s Mound
Situated on the
northeast corner of Savar town (18km north of Dhaka metropolitan city), the
mound has yielded the substantial ruins of a smaller Buddhist monastery
entirely built of brick. In its close north there still exist the ruins of a
medium size votive stupa. The site has also exposed some bronze sculptural
pieces belonging to Buddhist pantheon, carved bricks, potteries and a silver
coin of Pattikera-Harikela origin. It is further to be mentioned here that a
number of Imitation Gupta Gold Coins have earlier been reported from the
surroundings of Harischandra Rajar Prasada Mound time and again. Moreover,
there exist the remains of a mud fort, Kotbari by name, on the northwest of the
monastery. It is also to be remembered that remains of a group of votive stupas
were also discovered a few years back in a place called Rajasan which is only
150m on the east of the site. Of the promising structural ruins of the
neighboring area mention may also be made of ‘Harischandra Rajar Buruj’ that
appears to have been a brick-built stupa. On stylistic ground they are datable
to circa 6th-8th century AD.
The approach to
archaeological heritage in Bangladesh addresses the dilemmas faced by many
nations: finite resources to devote to cultural heritage, pressure on the land
that makes it difficult to set aside large sections for archaeological
protection, and environmental difficulties, some of which may be exacerbated by
steps taken to alleviate other problems. The theoretical and methodological
approaches to archaeology in Bangladesh must be reconciled with the real-world
factors of population growth and the resultant damage to many archaeological
sites. However, given that Bangladesh is the world's most densely populated
country, the relatively large quantity of archaeological remains is nothing
short of astonishing. The Government Directorate of Archaeology is to be
commended for its attention to the country's archaeological heritage, despite
meagre budgets and increasing numbers of visitors. Their management of
archaeological resources for the benefit of Bangladeshis, both as sources of
national identity as well as zones for recreation and leisure, provides a model
for other nations whose archaeological sites are under threat from rapid
urbanization and land reclamation.
36. Rose Garden Mansion:
This
formerly Zaminder mansion, known as the ‘Rose Garden’ is not a garden of roses
but in reality it is a pleasure lodge, built in the late 19th century. The
building which remains a private property to date, has been renovated and
painted by its recent owners keeping the original character fully maintained.
The building has
wonderful Corinthian columns and has on its ground floor eight apartments
including a central hall whilst the upper floor has a further five apartments
including a large dance hall in the middle. In the front yard, there was a
fountain, the structure of which still remains. There are several classical marble
statues in the garden. Though the rose garden that has given the mansion its
name does not exist anymore, the extensive lawn with a small pond in the middle
that was overgrown with wild grass, thickets and clumps of weed have been
cleared and is in the stage of recovery.
Visitors are allowed to visit the place as an afternoon refreshment spot. The
owners said that they wish to maintain the building and they have no plans till
now to use them as their residential quarters and nor to make it a profit-based
tourist spot. This tall, massive building is in good condition and stands
proudly reaching the skyline.
37. Dinajpur Rajbari:
During the 18th and 19th centuries, the aristocratic feudal lords of the land
were known as zamindars. They often held courtesy titles of rajas and
maharajas. These rajas or maharajas expressed their power and glamour in many
ways and the architectural forms and structures built by them were one such
expression. Often these ornamented, picturesque palaces translated the combined
architectural language of European Renaissance, Mughal and Bengali styles.
Latest Excavation
The
upcoming archaeological wonder of Bangladesh
Wari-Bateshwar-1400 years old Buddhist City
 |
Wari-Bateshwar is the site of an
ancient fort city dating back to 450 BC situated in the north-eastern part of Bangladesh. This 2500 years
old site is a significant archaeological discovery. It challenges the earlier
notions about the existence of early urban civilisation in Bangladesh.
Soil layer covering a road
system at Boteshwar excavation site.
The site is about
75km from Dhaka situated near the
Wari and Bateshwar villages in the Belabo Upazila of Narsingdi
District.
It was discovered in the early 1930s by a local school teacher, Hanif Pathan.
However, formal excavation started only recently in 2000. The current
scientific study is being carried out by a team from the Archaeology Department
of Jahangirnagar University led by Professor
Sufi Mostafizur Rahman.
Prof. Rahman
believes that Wari-Bateshwar is the rich, well planned, ancient emporium (a
commercial city) "Sounagora" mentioned by Greek geographer,
astronomer, mathematician Ptolemy in his book Geographia [2]. The other emporia
mentioned in Ptolemy's work include Arikamedu of India, Mantai of Sri Lanka, Kion Thom of Thailand. All of these were
the most ancient civilisations in their respective regions, each was a river
port, and all of them produced monochrome glass beads. The artifacts found at
Wari-Bateshwar bear similarity with those found in the other emporia sites.
According to
researchers, the discovery of Rouletted Ware, Knobbed Ware, stone beads,
sandwiched glass beads, gold-foil glass beads, Indo-Pacific monochrome glass
beads and importantly its geographical location indicates to Southeast Asiatic
and Roman contacts
Excavation also
unearthed the presence of pit-dwelling. The discovery of a pit-dwelling is the
first of its kind in Bangladesh. People used to
live in these small ditches. The pit-dwelling is a Copper Age or Chalcolithic artifact. Similar
pit-dwellings have been found in India and Pakistan which are believed to be
4000 years old. The unearthing of a 180-meter long, six-meter wide and 21-35cm
thick road with a by-lane points to very early urbanisation in this area.
Before the discovery of this, the widely held view was that urbanisation
occurred later than what Wari-Bateshwar ruins indicate.
Suggests find of
pre-Mauryan silver coins in the area
The discovery of silver
punch-marked coins of the pre-Mauryan period dating back to 600 BC to 400 BC in
Wari-Bateshwar reveals that the place was a Mahajanapada, one of the
earliest kingdoms or states in the Indian subcontinent. The silver coins and
artefacts unearthed and collected so far and geographical positioning of the
place both are apparently leading archaeologists to an astonishing discovery.
Wari-Bateshwar could be a part of Gangaridae, which was described as a rich
place of trade in the estuary of the river Ganges in Greek and Latin literature
and was also mentioned by Ptolemy, Virgil, Strabo, Deodorus, Kartius and
Plutarch, archaeologists claim.
The punch-marked coins are of two series –Janapada, a coin series used
during pre-Mauryan period dating back to 600 BC to 400 BC when 16 Mahajanapadas
were flourished in the Indian subcontinent, and Imperial, another series used
during Mauryan period dating back to 400 BC to 200 BC. "The coins
unearthed in Wari-Bateshwar were of imperial and Janapada series.
On the basis of the silver punch-marked coins it can be said that it was a Mahajanapada,"
said Prof Sufi Mustafizur Rahman. "This means it was the earliest state in
Bangladesh and in the Indian subcontinent as well," the archaeologist
added.
"Geographical importance
and findings of Wari-Bateshwar interestingly match the description and identity
given in Greek and Latin literature about Gangaridae and indicates that
Wari-Bateshwar was a part of it," he added.
Prof Dilip Kumar Chakrabarti, noted Indian archaeologist and faculty member of
Cambridge University, in an essay published on the Archaeological Heritage by
Asiatic Society said: "If Wari-Bateshwar is considered as a main and
fortified city, it can be considered that it was the capital or main centre of
an ancient Janapada." "But the main problem is to determine
the name of the Janapada," he added.
A study on 150 coins, unearthed and collected from Wari-Bateshwar and its
adjoining areas, by the excavation group led by Prof Sufi Mustafizur Rahman of
the Department of Archaeology at Jahangirnagar University (JU) found existence
of both Janapada and imperial series coins. This indicates the
earliest money-based economy contemporary to the subcontinent and the world as
well.
Back in 1942, following discovery of some coins on the bank of the Arialkha, a
place seven kilometres south off Wari-Bateshwar, Nalini Kanto Bhattyashali,
founder curator of Bangladesh National Museum, said those were of Mauryan and
pre-Mauryan period and shown the early nature of the settlement.
It was thought earlier that use of coins was not existed in Bangla before 300
BC. Earlier, silver punch-marked coins of only Imperial series were
found in Mahasthangarh.
The discovery of coins provides substantial and significant information about a
well-established urban civilisation as part of the second urbanisation on the
context of Indian subcontinent.
The existence of coins found in Wari-Bateshwar also suggests trade, banking
system and administration besides bearing sociocultural and sociopolitical
condition prevalent at that time, archaeologists explain.
Study
also reveals that punch-mark found on the faces of the silver-coins of Wari-Bateshwar
is distinctive in symbols, shapes and forms that reveal that the Mahajanapada
was a distinctive one in addition to the 16 Mahajanapadas so far
unearthed in the subcontinent by archaeologists and described in Jain and
Buddhist literature. Earlier, another Janapada was found in Pundranagarh
in Bangladesh.
Archaeologists who say Wari-Bateshwar might be a part of Gangaridae explain that the wide range of areas through which the Ganges downstream flowed is known as the Ganges delta.
Though Wari-Bateshwar is nearer to the old Brahmaputra river the area is geographically known as the Ganges delta in a wider sense, they add.
The discovery of Rouletted Ware (RW), Knobbed Ware, sandwich glass bids and other artefacts indicates that the place had relations and trade with the Mediterranean and Southeast Asian countries, the archaeologists describe. Moreover, according to the statement of Ptolemy all the estuaries in the river Ganges are in the states owned by people called Gangaridae.
Archaeologists, however, say till now it couldn't be confirmed specifically which place in the subcontinent was Gangaridae. It is widely believed that south part of the West Bengal was occupied by Gangaridae. They also add that radiocarbon date of the charcoal samples tested by the Netherlands' Centrum Voor Isotopen Onderzoek has confirmed that there were habitation and industry in the area in 500 BC.
Prof BN Mukherjee of Calcutta University earlier in the book Banga, Bangla and Bharat said the present West Bengal and North 24 Parganas, Hugly, Haora and Medinipur, some parts of Bardhaman and till the mouth of the Padma (the adjoining point of the Padma, Brahmaputra and Meghna) in present Bangladesh was on the border of the ancient country named Ganga or Banga. He said the seaside areas of Bangladesh were occupied by Gangaridae.
The coins of Wari-Bateshwar weigh from 1.7gm to 1.9gm. The symbols found punched on the faces of the coins include boat, sun and fish. The silver coins are found usually in round and square shapes.
Archaeologists who say Wari-Bateshwar might be a part of Gangaridae explain that the wide range of areas through which the Ganges downstream flowed is known as the Ganges delta.
Though Wari-Bateshwar is nearer to the old Brahmaputra river the area is geographically known as the Ganges delta in a wider sense, they add.
The discovery of Rouletted Ware (RW), Knobbed Ware, sandwich glass bids and other artefacts indicates that the place had relations and trade with the Mediterranean and Southeast Asian countries, the archaeologists describe. Moreover, according to the statement of Ptolemy all the estuaries in the river Ganges are in the states owned by people called Gangaridae.
Archaeologists, however, say till now it couldn't be confirmed specifically which place in the subcontinent was Gangaridae. It is widely believed that south part of the West Bengal was occupied by Gangaridae. They also add that radiocarbon date of the charcoal samples tested by the Netherlands' Centrum Voor Isotopen Onderzoek has confirmed that there were habitation and industry in the area in 500 BC.
Prof BN Mukherjee of Calcutta University earlier in the book Banga, Bangla and Bharat said the present West Bengal and North 24 Parganas, Hugly, Haora and Medinipur, some parts of Bardhaman and till the mouth of the Padma (the adjoining point of the Padma, Brahmaputra and Meghna) in present Bangladesh was on the border of the ancient country named Ganga or Banga. He said the seaside areas of Bangladesh were occupied by Gangaridae.
The coins of Wari-Bateshwar weigh from 1.7gm to 1.9gm. The symbols found punched on the faces of the coins include boat, sun and fish. The silver coins are found usually in round and square shapes.
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