322-year-old Chanchra Shiva temple still mind-blowing

BENAPOLE, Oct 21: After crossing four kilometres from Chanchra Union Parishad in Jashore, one can see 322-year-old Chanchra Shiva temple adorned with beautiful and nice terracotta tiles.

The temple is a special style of architecture in Bengal where a smaller 'chou-chala' (four-roof) is constructed above the roof of a square or rectangular sanctum.

This Shiva temple has three arched front entrances and the whole facade of the temple is beautifully decorated with terracotta tiles.

Chanhra village is about 4km from Bhairav Chattar of Jashore district town. The Shiva temple is visible from the Jashore-Benapole highway.

King Manohar Roy of Chanchra built the temple in 1696.

Historian Satishchandra Mitra's 'History of Jashore' -Khulna (published in Calcutta in 1914) describes this temple.

This ancient temple is built in 'atchala' (eight-roofed) style. This style was very popular in temple architecture in ancient Bengal.

The east-facing temple measures (9.5×8.13) metres. The front of the temple has three arched entrances.

Temple has decorated with terracotta tiles with exquisite craftsmanship.

A plaque in front of the temple tells us that there was a huge water body called Shiva Sagar in front of the temple and it was situated at a distance of 150 feet to the east from the temple.

As the temple is very old, the interior is a little dark and the interior space is not too big.

There is a medium-sized idol of Shivthakur and to its immediate left is a small idol of Siddha Purusha Loknath Brahmachari.

Inside the temple there are also images of various gods and goddesses including Radha Krishna. In front of them are lamps, conch shells and various articles of puja.

The temple is surrounded by various types of trees, including coconut and betel nut. A maintainer is employed to maintain the temple.

Horinath Saha, maintainer of the temple, said it is not much crowd in the temple. Some dishonest people also come here who try to do various damages to the establishment.

Recently, a small idol was stolen from the temple, said the caretaker of the temple.

On one side of the temple, there is a legal notice on a blue signboard- The notice reads, "If any person destroys or causes harm to this antiquities or causes any mutilation or mutilation there or writes or inscribes on any part there or cuts any marks or scars, under section 19 of the Antiquities Act 14 of 1968 shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine or with both.

Local resident Ohidullah Lulu said every morning here is the tradition of the neighborhood devotees come to worship. The architecture was built during the British period.

The present temple is under the Directorate of Archeology and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs of the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.

Many people come here to spend time with their loved ones as the place is quiet. This lovely Shiva temple is not that crowded. However, its architecture and terracotta craftsmanship cannot be overlooked.

Jashore District Commissioner Ajharul Islam said that this traditional temple of Jashore has been preserved. Care is taken not to damage it.

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