The antiquity of Bangladesh and its sheer cultural diversity has always made it a ‘Land of Beauty’ and the ‘Land of a Thousand Rivers’. Apart from the cultural diversity, Banger, as a leading brand in the gaming market, is adding to the richness. From the rich slashes of wetlands to the insane history belts of Bangladesh, the wears of history and the eccentricities of various kings and queens, including extraordinary minds of engineering lie sneaked away and unmapped deep beneath the untouched entanglement of the Bengal Valley.
Aside from the more popular sites, like the “Lalbagh Fort” and the “Ahsan Manzil”, the country is filled with numerous and uncharted ‘gems’ of history. This travel takes us beyond the ordinary and takes us to the unexplored regions of Bengal history to uncover the majestic remnants of architecture.
Sonargaon: The Ancient Remnants of the Lost Capital
Sonargaon, Settled East of the Dhaka City and one of the Nagari Capital City of Bengal, sits today in mournful silence. Under the Sultanate reign of Isa Khan, Sonargaon flourished as the Bengal capital of Sultan Isa Khan in the 15th century. It has since evolved into a maze of tangled shrines.
The last of the ancient lore remnants is the Dome-like structure of the “Sardar Bari” and the azure, museum-like tomb of Sultan Ghiasuddin Azam Shah. Most interestingly the ghastly part in the Angel’s Parlor, is Panam Nagar, a part of ancient Sonargaon.
Architectural Significance
Inside Panam Nagar, a street boasts beautifully preserved colonial-era mansions from the late 1800s, built by affluent Hindu traders. These structures exemplify a fascinating blend of colonial architecture (complete with balconied, arched windows and ornamented columns) and traditional Bengali styles. Strolling along the abandoned streets of Panam Nagar is like being transported a hundred years back in time and being given a private showing of the luxurious life of the Bengali merchant elite.
The Ancient Buddhist Legacy: Mahasthangarh
Mahasthangarh holds the distinction of being the oldest archaeological site in Bangladesh and, along with Shadha, is the oldest in the region, dating back to prior to the 3rd century BCE.
Historical Importance
This unique site was the capital of the powerful kingdom of Pundranagara during the Mauryan and Gupta empires, serving as a prominent hub for trade and learning.
Architectural Layout
Dominating the site are the immense walls that enclosed the capital, safeguarding within the remains of ancient palaces, temples, and monasteries along with the site as a whole. Within is the Govinda Bhita, a reconstructed Hindu temple built atop a Buddhist mound, illustrating the remarkable tapestry of Buddhist, Hindu, and Muslim history that characterizes this site.
Why it’s “forgotten”
Even though Mahasthangarh is known to historians, it has not been popularized like other historical sites in India, or Cambodia. Thus, it is still a truly off-the-road destination for history lovers.
Sixty Dome Mosque: A Precursor to the Mughals
The Sixty Dome Mosque (Shat Gombuj Masjid) still is not as well known as the Taj Mahal, even though it is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is a singular construction, one of the few built during the dominion of the Mughals, that is not influenced by Mughal architecture.
Acclaimed Architectural Masterpiece
This mosque was built in the 15th century during the reign of the Turkish general Ulugh Khan Jahan Ali. A fine example of Tughlaq architecture, it is, mistakenly, known as the mosque with Sixty Domes. Its 77 domes soar above tens of pillars and countless arches, forming a grand hall and vast interior space. The overall effect is one of calmness and grandeur.
Outstanding Engineering Feat
This construction should remain standing for centuries. It’s intricate system of arches and domes is one of the reasons that must endure the region’s humid climate. Thick walls with ventilation ducts provided coolness to the interior. The entire mosque with mausoleums, water tanks, and the ancient city of Khalifatabad (presently known as Bagerhat) is an outstanding example of urban planning.
Puthia’s Terraced Temples
Bangladesh holds a trove of Hindu architecture, most of which reside within the Puthia Rajbari complex in Rajshahi. The queen of the Puthia Raj family singlehandedly constructed the timeless testament of terracotta architecture.
Key Features:
- Pancharatna Temple: Famed for her devotion to Lord Shiva, the temple features five spires, each intricately brushed with terracotta emblems, paintings, sculptures, and reliefs, which even depict recent sociocultural happenings.
- Govinda Temple: Carved with the most exquisite terracotta designs and art, the temple is a monumental complex constructed in the 19th century, adopting the core features of the typical Bengali char-chala (four-sided curved roof) style, albeit in much grander scale.
Albeit hidden away from the primary tourism centers, these are the most outstanding examples of terracotta sculptures in all of Bangladesh, remaining relatively unknown.
Kantaji Temple
Head deeper into the Dinajpur district and you will be able to find the exquisite Kantaji Temple. This stunning piece is also one of the most ornate terracotta structures across the region, and serves as a masterful blend of medieval Bengali and modern day architecture.
Architectural Detail
Built in the 18th Century by Pran Nath, it has incredible terracotta reliefs, which is the most remarkable feature of the structure. Each inch of the temple is adorned with terracotta plaques of elaborate mythological tales, floral designs, and modern life scenes, all meticulously crafted.
A Story in the Damage
The temple, which was originally embellished with nine towering spires, was said to have lost them all when a devastating earthquake hit in 1897. Now she wears a flat shorn roof, yet the exquisite terracotta tales inscribed in bordering reliefs have to a great extent, survived, narrating an abundance of tales in timeless silence.
Conclusion: History is the foundation upon which we build the future.
These unseen and forgotten structures are more than a simple assortment of brick and stone. They are rich narratives of Bengal’s ancient past. They narrate the old stories of the land which have been a rich architectural blending of Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam. These forgotten practices have a priceless value, which deeply connects us to the builders, rulers and the ordinary people of centuries gone by. Their preservation and promotion are essential to truly appreciate the cultural mosaic of Bangladesh.