Known as the City of Silk due to it being an historic centre of the production of silk, Rajshahi stands on the banks of the Padma River close to the Bangla/India border. It has in modern times also become known as the City of Education, due to it housing four universities, seven medical schools and numerous polytechnics and higher education establishments, it is also the cleanest city in Bangladesh.
We travelled out of the city to view some touristic bits.
The Puthia Temple Complex, laid out around a lake named Shyam Sagar, approximately 10 miles out of the city centre is a group of ancient Hindu temples, the largest cluster in Bangladesh.
The Shiva temple was built between 1823 and 1830, Hinduism is the second largest religion followed in Bangladesh, in Rajshahi are there are over 1 million hindus, that is just 5% of the local population
An interesting yet plain style of architecture, built out of the most basic of materials, brick built with white washed plaster rendering.
But, let's be honest here, it is a rather splendid and imposing piece of architecture. Another building of religion that mimics a space craft on a launchpad?
Inside was as basic as the shell, the small sanctum dominated by the Shiva Lingam, with scattered offerings left by the devout
Carved from black basalt stone it is the largest Shiva Lingam in the country.
During the War of Independence the invading Pakistani army attempted to steal the Shiva Lingam, but due to its weight and size were unable to move it
The internal plastered walls of the temple are decorated with deities from Hindu mythology.
The Temple is now a protected monument under Bangladeshi law.
A couple more Hindu temple which are believed to have been built sometime in the early 19th century.
I loved the intricate detailed carvings on the terracotta panels
They depict the ten incarnation Avatars of Vishnu.
Avatar: a concept within Hinduism that literally means 'descent". It signifies the appearance or incarnation of a powerful deity, on Earth. Hmmmm? 10,000 gods in Hinduism so they say; thats not a space ship that is a whole fucking fleet.
People, with a population of over 170 million there are always gonna be people.
A woman's work is never done, but here there is no luxury of a dishwasher, in fact no luxury of indoor plumbing, but she is happy, she smiles she is carefree.
School kids, not phased by a group of westerners smart uniforms smart minds all with dreams and aspirations, they are the fortiunate ones born on the right side of the tracks
Young Muslim boys, I am still puzzled as to why the big guy has a third hand!
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