Kantajew Temple

Kantajew Temple is also known as Kantair Temple or Kanta Nagar Temple. It is situated 20 kilometers north of Dinajpur district in Bangladesh. It is one of the most ancient temples in Bangladesh, which is situated on the banks of the river Dhepa, in the west of Dinajpur-Tentulia highway. It is also known as Nava Ratna Temple, because the three-storied temple has nine peaks or gems. This temple is a beautiful religious monument built in the 18th century.

From the inscriptions on the north of the temple, it is known that the then Maharaja Zamindar of Dinajpur, Prannath Roy, started the construction of the temple at his last age. After his death in 1722, his adopted son Maharaja Ramnath Roy completed the construction of the temple in 1752 AD. Initially, the height of the temple peak was 70 ft. On the outer walls of the temple are written Ramayana, Mahabharata and parts of various Hindu myths on the terracotta plates.

There are about 15,000 terracotta tiles in the entire temple. The temple has climbed up three steps above. Although the temple courtyard is rectangular, the temple is square shaped which is standing on the foundation of stones. From the second veranda on the west side of the temple, the stairs are rising upwards. The temple has 21 doors on the ground floor and 27 doors on the first floor, but on the second floor, there are only three doors.

Many parts of the temple were damaged in the earthquake of 1879. But the architectural construction has proven its amazing past. Many visitors are impressed with its construction style and craftsmanship. The Kantajew Temple is an absolute interest for the native and foreign tourists, researchers and topical theorists. It is an exceptional example of the spectacular and architectural industry of Bangladesh.

Besides this landmark, there are nine more landmarks listed in Dinajpur. There's also ten attractions listed in this district in other categories. You will find the exact location of Kantajew Temple on the map above.