Puthia Temple Complex facts for kids

The Shiva Temple at Puthia

The Puthia Temple Complex is a group of amazing old Hindu temples in Puthia Upazila, Rajshahi District, Bangladesh. It's about 23 kilometers (14 miles) east of Rajshahi city. This complex has the most historic temples in Bangladesh! Wealthy Hindu families called Zamindars from the Puthia Raj family built these temples. They were known for being very generous. The temples are made of terracotta (baked clay) and show different building styles. They mix the special Jor-bangla architecture with other designs. The Rajbari (the palace of the Raja of Puthia) and the Dol Mancha are also part of this cool complex. The temples are set around a beautiful lake with a big, open lawn.

The Puthia Royal Family's Story

The Puthia Raj family started with a wise man named Bhatsacharya. He lived a long time ago, in the 1500s. A powerful governor named Raja Man Singh, who worked for the Mughal emperor Akbar the Great, gave some land to Bhatsacharya. This land was called a Jagir. Bhatsacharya was very learned, but he didn't want the land for himself.

How the Family Grew

Instead, his son, Pitambar, was given the Lashkarpur estate forever. When Pitambar passed away, his son Nilambar received the special title of Raja from Emperor Jahangir. The Puthia Royal Family became very important. Their estate was the second largest and wealthiest in British Bengal. After India was divided, the government took over the lands of many wealthy families, including the Puthia Royal Family. The family then moved to India.

Exploring the Puthia Temples

The temples at Puthia are famous for their unique designs. They are mostly built from terracotta. This means they use special baked clay bricks to create beautiful patterns and pictures on the walls.

Architectural Styles

• Jor-bangla Style: Some temples use the Jor-bangla style. This means they have two hut-like structures joined together.
• Other Influences: You can also see other building styles mixed in. This makes each temple a bit different and interesting to look at.

What Else is There?

Besides the temples, the complex includes:

• The Rajbari: This is the palace where the Raja of Puthia lived. It's a grand old building.
• The Dol Mancha: This is a special platform. It was used for religious festivals and celebrations.

The whole complex is designed around a lake. This creates a very peaceful and beautiful setting. It's a great place to learn about history and old architecture.

Images for kids

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  The Shiva Temple at Puthia over the Shiv Sagar lake. The Roth temple is on the left.

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  The Pancharatna Govinda Temple

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  The Shiva Linga at the Shiva temple

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  Bara Ahnik Mandir at Puthia.

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  The Puthia Rajbari

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  Dol Mandir at Puthia

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  Terracotta work at Govinda Mandir

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  Massive and detailed terracotta work at the Govinda Mandir of Puthia, Rajshahi