Bara Ahnik Mandir () is a Hindu temple of the
Puthia Temple Complex
The Puthia Temple Complex consists of a cluster of notable old Hindu temples in Puthia Upazila, Rajshahi District, Bangladesh. Located 23 km to the east of Rajshahi city, it has the largest number of historic temples in Bangladesh.McAdam, Ma ...
in
Puthia Upazila
Puthia ( bn, পুঠিয়া) is an Upazila of Rajshahi District in the Division of Rajshahi, Bangladesh.
Geography
Puthia is located at . It has 30484 households and total area 192.64 km2. This is a historical & traditional place in Ba ...
,
Rajshahi Division
Rajshahi Division ( bn, রাজশাহী বিভাগ) is one of the eight first-level administrative divisions of Bangladesh. It has an area of and a population at the 2011 Census of 18,484,858. Rajshahi Division consists of 8 district ...
, Bangladesh. It stands next to
Chauchala Chhota Govinda Mandir and faces east. Architecturally it is exceptional for Bangladesh, the only other of known existence of this type being
Rajaram Mandir in
Faridpur District
Faridpur District ( bn, ফরিদপুর জেলা) is a district in south-central Bangladesh. It is a part of the Dhaka Division. It is bounded by the Padma River to its northeast. The district was named after Farīd-ud-Dīn Masʿūd, ...
. It was built by the Rajas of Puthia.
Location
Puthia town where the temple is located is accessible by road, 32 km away from
Rajshahi
Rajshahi ( bn, রাজশাহী, ) is a metropolitan city and a major urban, commercial and educational centre of Bangladesh. It is also the administrative seat of the eponymous division and district. Located on the north bank of the P ...
town which is also a railhead. Rajshahi is located on the Dhaka Rajashahi Highway.
Features
The temple is located facing the Char Ani Rajbari on the west bank of the Shyamsagar lake.[ The prominent feature is a triple archway in the centre, with an open platform. The temple "consists of three chambers, dochala in the center and attached two chauchala in its north and south side", hence it is also called ''tri-mandir'' (three temples); dochala, meaning two roofs, and char-chala (four roofs) or chau-chala are either square or rectangular in shape with roof in the form of a hut with four sloping parts.][
It has a highly adorned eastern facade with terracotta plaques and some of them are stated to be in dilapidated condition.][
]
Gallery
File:Big Annik Temple 3.jpg, alt=Bara Anhik Temple, The road to the Bara Ahnik temple
File:Interior of Bara Ahnik Mandir, Puthia.jpg, alt=Bara Anhik Mandir, The inner part of the temple
File:Terracotta of Bara Ahnik Mandir, Puthia.jpg, alt=Bara Anhik Temple, Decoration of earthen plates on the temple
File:Bara Anhik Mandir Rear.jpg, alt=Bara Anhik Mandir, The back of the temple
See also
* List of archaeological sites in Bangladesh
This is a list of archaeological sites in Bangladesh:
Dhaka Division
* Sat Gambuj Mosque
* Khan Mohammad Mridha Mosque
* Bara Katra
* Lalbagh Fort
* Chhota Katra
* Shahbaz Khan Mosque
* Musa Khan Mosque
* Northbrook Hall
* Ruplal House
* Rose G ...
References
Puthia Temple Complex
18th-century Hindu temples
Hindu temples in Rajshahi district
Archaeological sites in Rajshahi District
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