Poet Chandravati is recognized as the first female poet of the Bengali language. Chandravati was born in 1550. Baba Dwijavanshi Das is the author of the famous poem ‘Mansa Mangal’ and the poet’s mother’s name is Sulochana. Just 6 km from Kishoreganj town, there are two Shiv Mandirs with handicrafts on the banks of Phuleshwari river in Patowair village. This temple is known as Kabi Chandravati Shiva Mandir or Kabi Chandravati Mandir. It is believed that various events in the poet’s life are associated with these temples. Adjacent to the temple there are seating arrangements for the visitors. Many people visit Kabi Chandravati temple every afternoon and on various holidays. Next to the temple is the almost ruined house of Kavi Chandravati. Click here to watch video footage of Chandravati Temple.
History
It is said that Jayananda, a Brahmin youth, fell deeply in love with the poet Chandravati in his youth. According to their relationship, the poet’s father fixed their wedding day. Later Jayananda broke his promise and converted and married a Muslim woman. Poet Chandravati was very broken in this incident. At that time he requested his father to build a temple for worship. Dwijavanshi Das established a temple on the banks of the river Phuleswari to protect his daughter’s abdar. Till today this Kavi Chandravati Temple stands as a witness of time on the bank of river Phuleswari.
Details
Kabi Chandravati Temple is octagonal in shape and its height is about 32 feet. There is a room on the ground floor of the temple, inside the room there are 7 niches. The second floor of the temple has a spacious niche with beautiful terracotta work. From the second floor, the temple gradually tapers up to a height of 32 feet. In 1990, the Department of Archeology undertook the restoration of the Chandravati temple.
How to go
If you want to visit Kabi Chandravati Temple, you must first come to Kishoreganj district headquarters. You can come to Kishoreganj by train or bus from Dhaka.
Kishoreganj by train from Dhaka
To come to Kishoreganj from Dhaka by train, take the train from Kamalapur or Airport railway station at 7:15 am to Egarosindhur and you will reach Kishoreganj by 11 am. Dhaka to Kishoreganj train ticket costs from Tk 135 to Tk 368 depending on the class. Then go to Shahidi Mosque in the center of the city by renting an easy bike for only 10 taka.
Kishoreganj by bus from Dhaka
If you want to come by bus, take any Kishoreganj-bound bus from Dhaka’s Mahakhali or Golapbagh bus stand and go to Kishoreganj Gaital Bus. The condition of bus services is not very satisfactory. But if you want to come from Mohakhali, come by Ananya Paribahan. If you want to come from Golapbagh, come by transport. Bus fare is Tk 270-350. Come to Kishoreganj and then take a rickshaw or easy bike to the city’s Shahidi Mosque. Easybike will cost 10 taka and rickshaw 25 taka.
How to reach Chandravati temple from Kishoreganj
Talking about Chandravati temple to the Nilganj-bound easybike driver from in front of Shahidi Masjid will drop you a little further from Jalalpur Bazar to Chairman’s Bazar. Easy bike will be rented at 15 taka per person. There the poet will see a road sign about Chandravati. Kabi Chandravati Temple can be seen after a ten to fifteen minute walk across the bridge over the Narsunda River along the road on the right side. Near the temple you will find the house of Kavi Chandravati. Again, if you ask the easy bike drivers in front of Shahidi Masjid, they drop you in front of Chandravati’s house, but in this case you have to pay an additional fare of 5 to 10 taka per person. It takes 30 minutes to reach Chandravati’s house by easy bike or auto from in front of Shahidi Masjid.