Puthia Temple Complex
পুঠিয়া মন্দির কমপ্লেক্স
The densest concentration of ancient Hindu temples in Bangladesh. A royal palace, a Shiva temple, a five-spired Govinda temple and terracotta reliefs are spread around the ponds.
Puthia lies about 25 km east of Rajshahi and was once the domain of the Puthia royal family. It preserves more historical Hindu temples than anywhere else in Bangladesh. The centerpiece is the Puthia Rajbari palace, built in 1895 by Queen Hemanta Kumari Devi. Its facade of white colonnades is in an Indo-European style. Around the ponds near the palace are several temples. The Bhubaneshwar Shiva Temple, built in 1823, is the largest of its kind in the country and houses a huge black stone lingam. The four-tiered Dol Temple stands nearby, along with the five-spired Govinda Temple, whose outer walls are covered in fine terracotta reliefs, and the Chota Govinda Temple. The temples are a few hundred meters apart, and you can see them all on foot in about two hours. From Rajshahi, take a bus or hire a CNG three-wheeler. The trip is often combined with Bagha Mosque or the Natore Rajbari in a day tour. Remove your shoes before entering the temples, and dress modestly.
Opening hours
All day (opening hours for some temple interiors vary)
Nearby sights
- Bagha Mosque
- Natore Rajbari
- Uttara Ganabhaban
- University of Rajshahi Campus
- Rajshahi Silk (Sopura Silk Mills)
- Padma River Promenade
- Shah Makhdum Ruposh Dargah
- Varendra Research Museum