Discovering Jhenaidah

Part1

Bangladesh is gifted with so many natural and architectural beauties. Jhenaidah, a southwestern district in Khulna division, has notable places that can be attractive to tourists from home and abroad, and source of income for the locals. Kaliganj upazila of the district is famous for its archaeological treasures, such as the Naldanga and Goonjanath temples.

Naldanga Temple Complex
It is also known among the locals as Naldanga Mat Bati, or Siddeshwar Mayer Bari. The place is located just 4 kilometres from Kaliganj sadar along the Begbati River.
There are eight temples in the same area. Most of them need to be renovated urgently, as one of the temples is now pretty much buried under ground. The temples are: Siddeshwari Mandir, Kalimata Mandir, Laxmi Mandir, Ganesh Mandir, Durga Mandir, Taramoni Mandir, Vishnu Mandir and Rajeshwari Mandir. They are over 300 years old and are all still standing to display their archaeological importance.
Naldanga has had different kings over 300 years. Siddeshwari Mandir was first built in 1656 by Maharaj Indranarayan Debroy, a renowned king of Naldanga Raj family, on the Begbati River bank. The idol of goddess Kali (Siddeswari) was brought from Benaras, India. Later, the rest of the temples were built by successive rulers. Now, both devotees and tourists visit the temple complex for its spiritual as well as archaeological significance.
Vishnu Mandir is a two-storey structure. It is also known as Pancha Debota Mandir because of its puja rituals. It is about 60-feet high.
Govida Chandra Das, a local resident says: “The temples can be an attractive tourist spot, if maintained properly.”
After the fall of the Naldanga royal family in 1955, their land went to the state. Realising the historical importance of the site, the district  administration has come forward to renovate the ancient temples. The restoration work is still going on.

Goonjanath Temple
It is another famous temple of the Naldanga Raj family dedicated to Lord Hazrathakur (Shiva). This isolated temple stands in the village of Tailkupi on the eastern bank of Begbati, which flows from north to south along the small villages of Goonjanagar and Kasima on its western bank. There are two cremation grounds with shrines where devotees come to pray. Every year during Chaitra, the last month of the Bengali calendar, a mela, or village fair, is held here, with crowds gathering to buy different types of goods.
There is no problem getting there because of good road communication. Buses go to Kaliganj from Jessore, while Naldanga can be easily reached by rickshaw or three-wheelers from Kaliganj.

To be continued.

Discovering Jhenaidah

Part1 Bangladesh is gifted with so many natural and architectural beauties. Jhenaidah, a southwestern district in Khulna division, has notable places that can be attractive to tourists from home and abroad, and source of income for the locals. Kaliganj upazila of the district is famous for its archaeological treasures, such as the Naldanga and Goonjanath temples. Naldanga Temple Complex It is also known among the locals as Naldanga Mat Bati, or Siddeshwar Mayer Bari. The place is located just 4 kilometres from Kaliganj sadar along the Begbati River. There are eight temples in the same area. Most of them need to be renovated urgently, as one of the temples is now pretty much buried under ground. The temples are: Siddeshwari Mandir, Kalimata Mandir, Laxmi Mandir, Ganesh Mandir, Durga Mandir, Taramoni Mandir, Vishnu Mandir and Rajeshwari Mandir. They are over 300 years old and are all still standing to display their archaeological importance. Naldanga has had different kings over 300 years. Siddeshwari Mandir was first built in 1656 by Maharaj Indranarayan Debroy, a renowned king of Naldanga Raj family, on the Begbati River bank. The idol of goddess Kali (Siddeswari) was brought from Benaras, India. Later, the rest of the temples were built by successive rulers. Now, both devotees and tourists visit the temple complex for its spiritual as well as archaeological significance. Vishnu Mandir is a two-storey structure. It is also known as Pancha Debota Mandir because of its puja rituals. It is about 60-feet high. Govida Chandra Das, a local resident says: The temples can be an attractive tourist spot, if maintained properly. After the fall of the Naldanga royal family in 1955, their land went to the state. Realising the historical importance of the site, the district administration has come forward to renovate the ancient temples. The restoration work is still going on. Goonjanath Temple It is another famous temple of the Naldanga Raj family dedicated to Lord Hazrathakur (Shiva). This isolated temple stands in the village of Tailkupi on the eastern bank of Begbati, which flows from north to south along the small villages of Goonjanagar and Kasima on its western bank. There are two cremation grounds with shrines where devotees come to pray. Every year during Chaitra, the last month of the Bengali calendar, a mela, or village fair, is held here, with crowds gathering to buy different types of goods. There is no problem getting there because of good road communication. Buses go to Kaliganj from Jessore, while Naldanga can be easily reached by rickshaw or three-wheelers from Kaliganj. To be continued.