CH101 Session 09: Lalbagh Fort Quiz

10 Questions

What is the significance of the limestone slab discovered in Mahasthangarh in 1931?

It dates Mahasthangarh to at least the 3rd century AD.

When was the Kantajew Temple in Dinajpur built?

1752

What is the architectural style of the Kantajew Temple in Dinajpur?

Nava-ratna (Having 9 towers at the top) temple

Why did the ornate towers of the Kantajew Temple collapse?

Due to an earthquake at the end of the 19th century

What type of plaques embellish every inch of the Kantajew Temple's surface?

Terracotta plaques

Where is Wari-Bateshwar located?

Belabo Upazila

When was Wari-Bateshwar discovered?

Early 1930s

Which ancient emporium mentioned by Ptolemy is believed to be Wari-Bateshwar?

"Sounagora"

"Rouletted Ware," "Knobbed Ware," and stone beads found at Wari-Bateshwar indicate what?

Indication to Southeast Asiatic and Roman contacts.

"Sounagora" mentioned by Ptolemy is said to have produced what type of beads similar to other emporia sites?

"Monochrome glass beads"

Study Notes

Here are the study notes:

Lalbagh Fort

Located in the southwestern part of old Dhaka city, overlooking the Buriganga River
Rectangular in plan, enclosing an area of 1082' by 800'
Contains several monuments, including a 3-domed mosque, the mausoleum of Bibi Pari, and the Hammam and Audience Hall of the Governor
Main purpose was to provide a defensive enclosure for the palatial edifices of the interior

Ahsan Manzil (The Pink Palace)

Located in Kumartoli, Dhaka, on the bank of the Buriganga River
Was the residence and kachari of the Nawabs of Dhaka
Construction began in 1859 and completed in 1872
Named Ahsan Manzil after Khwaja Ahsanullah, son of Abdul Ghani

Sonargaon - the Old Capital of Bengal

Located on the northern bank of the Dhaleswari River, close to its confluence with the Sitalakshya and old Brahmaputra
Site is now known as Panam in Sonargaon, about 2.5 kilometers north of the Dhaka-Chattogram highway
Bangladesh Folk-Art Museum is situated in Sonargaon

Sixty Dome Mosque

Located in Bangladesh, largest mosque from the Sultanate period
Has been described as "the most impressive Muslim monument in the whole of the Indian subcontinent"
Locally known as the 'Shat Gombuj Masjid', which means Sixty Domed Mosque in Bangla
Has 77 domes over the main hall and exactly 60 stone pillars

Mainamati

Once known as 'Samatata', a land lying almost even with the sea-level
An isolated eleven-mile long spur of dimpled low hill range known as the Mainamati-Lalmai range
Home to one of the most important Buddhist archaeological sites in the region
Comilla Cantonment is located nearby, housing a beautiful colonial era cemetery

Paharpur Buddha Vihara

Located in Badalgachhi Upazila, Naogaon District, Bangladesh
One of the best-known Buddhist viharas in the Indian Subcontinent
Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985

Mahasthangarh

One of the earliest urban archaeological sites discovered in Bangladesh
Located in Shibganj thana of Bogra District
Remains of an ancient city, which was called Pundranagara or Paundravardhanapura
A limestone slab bearing six lines in Prakrit in Brahmi script dates Mahasthangarh to at least the 3rd century BC
Fortified area was in use till the 18th century AD

Kantajew Temple, Dinajpur

Built in 1752 by Maharaja Pran Nath of Dinajpur
A 50' square three-storied edifice resting on a slightly curved raised plinth of sandstone blocks
Originally a nava-ratna (nine-towered) temple, now only four corner towers remain
Every inch of the temple surface is beautifully embellished with exquisite terracotta plaques

Wari-Bateshwar

Site of an ancient fort city, dating back to 450 BC
Located in the north-eastern part of Bangladesh
A significant archaeological discovery, challenging earlier notions about the existence of early urban civilization in Bangladesh