Kantaji's Temple, Dinajpur, Bangladesh

This temple near Dinajpur town was built in 1752 by Maharaja Pran Nath of Dinajpur. The temple, a 50' square three-storeyed edifice, rests on a slightly curved raised plinth of sandstone blocks, believed to have been quarried from the ruins of the ancient city of Bangarh near Gangarampur in West Bengal from where the now stolen Radha-Krishna idols are said to have been brought. It was originally a nava-ratna temple, crowned with four richly ornamental corner towers on two storeys and a central one over the third storey. Unfortunately these ornate towers collapsed during an earthquake at the end of the 19th century.

Every inch of the temple surface is beautifully embellished with exquisite terracotta plaques, representing flora, fauna, geometric motifs, mythological scenes and an astonishing array of contemporary social scenes and favourite pastimes. The Maharaja's palace with relics of the past centuries and local museum are worth a visit.

Courtesy: Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation