Kantaji temple

Kantanagar temple in this series is the most

significant ornate architecture in Bangladesh.

The three storied temple of 99.06 meters high

and stand on a stone made square platform

measuring 19.20 meters. It was erected by the

local raja Prannath in 1704 at the first stage.

Later his adopted sun Ramnath completed the

remaining works in 1752. The temple had eight

ratnas on each four corner of its two roofs and

one ratna on the top roof of the temple. The

ratnas are no longer on the temple because of

the devastating earthquake of 1897. Every inch

of the temple surface is beautifully embellished

with exquisite terracotta panels from the bottom

to the top. The plaques represent mythological

(Ramayana and Mahabharata) scenes, flora,

fauna, geometric motifs, the social life of

medieval aristocratic people (probably the

Mughal aristocrats) of Bengal and also few

European boats and soldiers.

North-south oriented oblong inner court having 240’×120’

pilgrim shed.

•Logical development of a nuclear square cell with

    10’-3”sides shooting up to 50’-0” each measuring 

     20’-6”,  35’-8”, 52’-0” sides in graded heights.

• 63’-0” square and 3’-3” high stone plinth.

• Three storied.

• Thickness of walls of first two cells 3’-0” each, 3rd is 

       2’-6” and innermost is 1’-6”

• 3 multi-cusped arch entrances.

• Striping open space around the shrine-5’-6” wide

• Stone staircase set in western side and eastern side

• In 1st floor arch doorway on each side- 5 no.