Puthia Palace

 This was by no means my first visit to Rajshahi. But I could manage little time for sightseeing during my earlier visits. This tour was different, at least, from time availability point of view. albeit this was a visit in work purpose, I had a while to spend during the morning as my work needed me during the afternoon. As always, whenever i'm going on the road I attempt to have a glance around with whatever time I even have in my hand. Sometimes, even an hour’s break between work was enough on behalf of me . At Rajshahi I had the entire morning with me. So, I devised some plans that might enable me to utilise the entire morning hours.

I knew from my previous searches that Puthia Palace is one among the larger things in Bangladesh that I even have missed thus far . The place needed a while for the visit, so, with several hours in my hand, that appeared like an ideal target. Yet, I couldn’t finalise the small print of my plan. Once I reached Rajshahi on the night of the 14th, I developed the plan from scratch. I looked around for the foremost reliable information and located that Puthia was no quite 30-45 minutes’ journey from Rajshahi City.

On the 15th, I started early; keeping the maximum amount time in hand as possible. I had the privilege of boarding a Dhaka-bound bus from the terminal, which might be ready to drop me at Puthia quicker than local buses. The bus left Rajshahi exactly at 9:00. But that they had to prevent at different places to select up people. This way, they were just a wee bit slower, but I reached Puthia by 9:35AM. the precise place of arrival can confuse people that haven't any idea where to start out . And as a matter of fact, i used to be totally hooked in to the bus people. The place was beyond the tiny town of Puthia. you've got to travel a long way after you see the primary signboards of Puthia before you'll reach your destination. They dropped me at the proper place. It’s some quite bazaar-like place; quite vibrant. I took a rickshaw from there.

The short journey ended at the imposing sight of the large Shiv Temple. The temple, ahead of a water-tank, welcomes a newcomer during a grandiose manner. In one word, its big! But I knew from the searches that this place has more in it than simply this building. So, I proceeded. Crossed the good Dol Temple and crossed the large field ahead of it to reach the most building of Puthia Palace. The Palace is now getting used by a university , and I’ve seen some debates about the battle for its acquisition in newspapers. The Department of Archaeology is trying hard to urge this building, which is probably the sole way these treasures are often protected within the end of the day . Whatever, I looked round the Palace and began taking photos. the school was closed for the day, so I had enough freedom; it had been quiet.

Once I entered through the primary gate, I found that the building was fully use by the school authorities and that i wouldn’t be ready to get a traditional look-around there due to that. Once I approached the second gate, I felt easier . Inside this gate was the large Radha-Govinda Temple or Govinda Temple. I had visited Kantaji’s Temple at Dinajpur; and here, this is often something that seemed like an enormous brother of that one! The temple was beautifully decorated with terracotta. Here, I found the caretaker of the place, Biswanath Das. He’s been here since 1977! For quite 31 years he’s been taking care of this place. He was quite just willing to guide me round the place. there have been some others visiting the place too, but he seemed more interested to guide me instead of them. He voluntarily took me to every of the archaeological estates and explained their dates and significance in some detail. The Govinda Temple was surrounded by some ruins, which were once temples. a minimum of two smaller temples right beside the large Govinda Temple are in complete ruin. Mr. Biswanath explained that a number of these structures go back to the Mughal Empire (17th century). the most palace itself was probably built twice, once within the 17th century then again, during the nineteenth century. the most palace building bears the date 1895, but the temples around them seem much older, which provides the suspicion that many things were rebuilt here. Mr. Biswanath pointed that the most building’s basement had one quite brick and therefore the top structure had different quite brick. those at the basement having thinner bricks (perhaps Mughal period) and therefore the ones within the main building being bigger (perhaps British period). The ruins, well, difficult to guess for a layman, but could also be experts can tell their age.

From there, Mr. Biswanath took me to a different a part of the Palace that was getting used as a office . We went through the office and behind this building to ascertain the Anhik Temple. This one appeared like the prize of the entire complex. The temple is little and its not used. But the terracotta thereon is completely brilliant! This terracotta is that the smallest ones I’ve even seen. they're extremely small and straightaway brings the question, “how on earth did they create it so small?” This temple is gorgeous to mention the smallest amount . The temple was used for everyday prayers, which formed the name of the temple.

After marvelling at the Anhik Temple, Mr. Biswanath took me to the rear of the most palace and that we arrived ahead of the tiny Shiv Temple. this is often a smaller version of the enormous one at the front of the complex. It had a Shivalinga, which was transferred from here due to lack of security. the tiny temple also lost most of its terracotta plaques. Their protection is certainly unsure . Mr. Biswanath told me that three people take care of the entire complex. And I’m unsure whether or not they have the potential to try to to that properly without the assistance of the local population. the tiny Shiv Temple had a brother beside it. it had been alittle Govinda Temple. it had been in almost complete ruins. The front face stands as one wall! Its surely counting days. These two small temples are beside a betel-nut orchard. an enormous main gate was here before the Pakistani military destroyed it during the Liberation War of 1971. This gate was called “Shingha Dwar” or Lion Gate.

We came out of the temples and entered the eerie-looking One-quarter Estate. This place is nearly on the brink of total destruction. There was an inscription above the most entrance, which mentioned the Bangla year of 1293, which was probably 1886.A.D. There wont to be a smallish Shingha Dwar (Lion Gate) here too; but its lost now. Once I entered the complex, it gave me a tragic feeling. I had an identical feeling once I visited Muktagachha Palace at Mymensingh early in 2007. This place is now facing an identical fate. One a part of the complex was in possession of a Madrasah, which this government forcefully took control of. the opposite parts are in no shape to last ten, could also be even five years! Its almost as if the building was a part of air-raid shelter during a serious war. there have been big holes within the roof; the doors were all falling apart; the entire structure was close to concede in some places. There was undergrowth everywhere. I came out of the building during a melancholy mood.

We left the One-quarter Estate to finish the tour. We received where we started, the most palace. We took permission from the school authorities to climb the Palace roof. From there it had been possible to urge a bird's eye view of the entire area. Behind was the Govinda Temple and ahead were the 2 giants, the large Shiv Temple and therefore the Dol Temple across the sector . The roof of the Palace contained some designs that hardly existed; a number of the statues lost their heads even. After coming down from the roof, I realised what proportion time has elapsed. I still had the large Shiv Temple to hide . So, we crossed the Dol Temple, taking some photographs on the way, and received the most guardian of the entire complex, the large Shiv Temple.

Did I say that its imposing? This big structure is imposing enough to stop most visitors from visiting the opposite gems lying within the back. The Shiv Temple is on a high platform. you've got to cross a bunch of stairs before you reach the temple. The pillars are big and decorated. the highest of the temple is filled with small designs and domes. the within of the temple is blessed by a huge Shivalinga of black stone. Mr. Bishwanath claimed that this is often the most important of this type in Asia! Well, I can’t confirm this, but I can tell that its big! He also let me photograph the within of the temple, which he didn’t allow others. Aside the Shiv Temple, there's another smaller temple. this is often probably called the Rath Temple. The deity of Govinda was probably transferred from the first temple to the present site during Rath Jatra (Festival of Chariots). But I haven’t been ready to confirm this yet. The Shiv Temple stands on an enormous water-tank, which is on its side . The temple has access to the tank through a well-designed ‘ghat’.

After a while walking round the Shiv Temple, i assumed it had been time to call it each day . it had been already 12:25PM. I had been here for nearly three hours. And Mr. Bishwanath had been with me all this point . It never appeared to me that he was with me for any quite benefits. He guided me voluntarily. He seemed proud to try to to what he does. and that i couldn’t have skilled a correct visit of the place unless he helped me out. it had been a ‘thank you’ note that severed this three-hour relationship with this old man. I promised to try to to my best for the promotion and proper protection of this place. That’s the smallest amount I could do for this magnificent place.

The return journey to Rajshahi didn’t give me pain, as I could catch a bus almost straightaway from an equivalent place where I arrived within the morning. The local bus journey wasn’t too boring though. They dropped me within the city center by 1:35PM. it had been time to shower and obtain back to figure . But I sure felt satisfied that I don’t need to visit any longer places before this gem.