Sonarang Twin Temples
located in Sonarang village under Tangibari upazila of
Munshiganj district. Two temples stand side by side on
a single masonry platform surrounded by a moat on three
sides and an access path on the eastern side. Of the two,
the western one is a Kali temple and the eastern one is
a Siva temple. The western temple, loftier than the eastern
one, is about 15m high over the square sanctum, and measures
5.35m x 5.35m and has a 1.90m wide veranda. A low hemispherical
dome covers the square sanctuary, over which rises an
octagonal shikhara crowned by the usual pinnacle with
kalsa finials. This terminates in a trident fixed with
an iron rod. The outer surface of the sikhara is decorated
with a semi-circular arched pattern in plaster, which
is repeated on all sides. The entire sikhara is dotted
with three pigeonholes under each arch pattern.
The main sanctuary has
two archways, one each on the south and west sides,
flanked by arched panels on both sides, and a pattern
of three arches on the other two sides. The western
entrance consists of a two-centred arch. The top
of the archway is decorated with a frieze of blind
merlons. In front of the sanctum, the veranda is
covered with a flat roof supported on columns, It
has three arched openings on the south, one each
on its east and west side.
The octagonal surface between the sanctuary and
lofty sikhara is divided into two areas. The lower
stage is relieved with small rectangular panels
in plaster while the upper stage is decorated
with a window pattern within large rectangular
panels in plaster that is topped with semi-circular
arches. At the top of the middle octagonal area
there are two moulded bands. The sikhara is decorated
with reiterated curvilinear panels rising upward
vertically.
There are four miniature sikharas (ratna) on
four corners of the square sanctum around the
lofty central sikhara, and another four on the
veranda, two of which have now disappeared, thus
making it a navaratna.
The smaller eastern temple is more elegant in appearance.
A square building, the sanctum measures 4m a side; A
1.5m wide veranda runs around the sanctum. The sanctuary
is covered with a low dome which rests directly on the
four walls and squinches in the upper angles. The surrounding
veranda is covered with four chau-chala vaults and four
small vaults on their four corners. There are five arched-openings
in each side of the veranda; the tri-foiled arches spring
from columns. The main sanctuary has a four-centred
archway on its south side and a two-centred archway
on the east side. Inside the western wall is an altar
and there are three alcoves in the north wall. It is
also a navaratna consisting of four small ratnas over
the square sanctum around the lofty sikhara and four
others over the four corners of the veranda.
Other features and decoration of the eastern temple
bear close similarity to the western one. But there
is a difference; each plastered arch pattern on the
surface of the entire sikhara is crowned with a frieze
of expanded serpent hood motif.
From stone inscriptions fixed over the temples, it
appears that one Rupchandra of nebulous identity had
built the large Kali temple in 1843 AD and the smaller
one in 1886 AD.
Courtesy: Muhammed Nasir Uddin, Banglapedia, Asiatic Society
of Bangladesh
