Kantaji gets back its shine

Iconic Kantaji temple in Dinajpur's Kaharol upazila is shining. Following renovation and site development works worth Tk 100 crore, financed by the Asian Development Bank under the World Heritage of South Asian Tourist Infrastructure Development Project, the temple is set to consolidate its position as a tourism magnet, showing off its beauty anew.

With renovations supervised by archaeology department officials begun in August 2015, Tk 25 crore has been spent on cleaning the temple, which is now free of mosses and lichens. The remaining budget of Tk 75 crore was dedicated to infrastructure improvement

“The temple looks really fantastic,” says tourist Rehana Begum of Chittagong, while visiting the site recently, her second visit since 2009. “It's brighter and cleaner than before.” The surrounding infrastructure has also been developed well, she adds.

“We cleaned every terracotta plaque and treated them with chemicals to prevent moss re-growth and better preserve them,” says Shafiqul Alam, a former archaeology department director and the site manager. “Experts hired from Sri Lanka were involved.”

Only some damaged terracotta portions could not be fixed, he adds.

Drainage pipes meanwhile have been installed along the temple edifices, while pavements and seating arrangements surrounding the temple, as well as a toilet block, have been set up for the convenience of visitors and devotees. New lighting offers a new charm to the temple at night.

Visitors are suitably impressed. “The temple looks as bright as newly burnt brick,” says visitor Rabiul Islam of Thakurgaon.

Local Krishna Chandra Roy meanwhile says tourist numbers have risen in recent months, especially due to access to the site via the new bridge over the Dhepa river and because of the temple's beautification.

“A handful of people used to visit the site previously, but nowadays nearly 1,000 visitors arrive daily.”

Planning for other new facilities including parking, a Parjatan Corporation rest house, a restaurant and shopping centre is also underway.

The construction of the 18th century temple, one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Bangladesh replete with its intricate terracotta depictions of Hindu epics and the contemporary life of the time, was commenced by local ruler Maharaja Pran Nath and completed during the reign of his son Raja Ramnath.