Hindu temple, Dinajpur
Kantajew Templeকান্তজীর মন্দির
- Time needed
- One to two hours.
- best months
- Nov–Feb
- Cost
- Free to enter.
An 18th-century Krishna temple at Kantanagar whose every outer wall is carved in terracotta: the best surviving work of its kind in Bangladesh.
At a glance
- Completed
- 1752
- Dedicated to
- Krishna and Rukmini
About
Maharaja Pran Nath of Dinajpur began the temple in 1704 and his son Ramnath finished it in 1752, dedicated to Krishna and Rukmini. It was built as a nava-ratna with nine spires; the 1897 earthquake brought them down, leaving the three-storeyed square body you see today on the bank of the Dhepa.
The point is the walls. Thousands of baked-clay plaques show scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, Krishna stories, hunts, processions, boats and everyday life, panel after panel. Walk round slowly at least twice, in the low light of morning or late afternoon when the relief stands out.
Getting there: About 20 km north of the town off the Dinajpur–Thakurgaon road; take a bus to Kantanagar and walk across the bridge.
Things to do
- Circle the walls slowly and pick out the epic scenes.
- Combine with Nayabad mosque nearby.
Good to know
- It is a working temple: dress modestly and leave shoes where asked.
