Historical Site Details

Cooch Behar, West Bengal

Name of the Site Baneswar Shiva temple

Location Lat.: 26.399063°N

Long.: 89.497535°E
State West Bengal
District Cooch Behar
Sub-Division Cooch Behar Sadar Sub-Division
Block Cooch Behar-II Dev. Block
PMGSY road name connecting the Baneswar Shiva temple to Paul Para
site (Package No. WB06-42B)

Road completion date 22-10-2021

Introduction & Background about the Site:

The Baneswar Shiva temple is big outskirt from the Cooch Behar town which is
about 10K.M. at North and near Baneswar Railway Station. This temple illustrious
history associated with itself with the Lord Shiva and black softshell turtle which
is known as “Mohan”. The temple is reputed to date back to 1100 B.C. behind in a
mythology. Folklore is as such the fabled Raja Banasura, an ardent devotee
of Shiva had made the latter agree to come down to earth. When Shiva was
following Raja Banasura, the latter suddenly stopped at Baneswar (earlier name
Gordasandara), which was a breach of agreement. Shiva instantly disappeared
and later established a Shiva-linga on the banks of the Bangti River.
The temple is square in shape 9.600 X 9.600 Mtr. with a height of 10.900 Mtr. and
walls are 2.5 Mtr. thickness with some decorated narrow strips. A dome was
placed over the main structure also. The temple has a Shiva linga and a ‘Gouripat’
in the garbhagriha, 3.100 Mtr. below the plinth level At North side there is
another temple idols of Lord Shiva and Ardhanariswar at same premises of the
temple including a Maa Kali temple on another side. The idol ‘Ardhanariswar’ also
known as Movable Baneshwar; as during occasions of Madan Chaturdashi and
Dol Purnima it carried temporarily to the Madan Mohan Temple of Cooch Behar
town. There is an antique big pond having a large number of black softshell turtle
namely “Mohan” within the premise of the Baneswar Shiva temple.

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Historical Site Details

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 Cooch Behar, West Bengal
Name of the Site Gosanimari Rajpat.

Location Lat.: 26.1518°N

Long.: 89.3502°E
State West Bengal
District Cooch Behar
Sub-Division Dinhata Sub-Division
Block Dinhata-I Dev. Block
PMGSY road name connecting the Upgradation of VR from Gosanimari
site Choepathi to Rajpat
(Package No. WB 06 02 A)
Road completion date 05.02.2021

Introduction & Background about the Site:

The Khen dynasty was one of the greater era of ancient North Eastern India. But that was
replaced the weak rulers of the Kamata kingdom in the middle of the 15th century. In 1498,
its last capital at Gosanimari was attacked by the invading army of Alauddin Husain
Shah of Bengal, bringing an end to the Khen authority. In 1998-2000 at the Rajpat Mound of
the Gosanimari excavations were carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India and the
Rajpat or Kamtapur Fort fetched out. The site consists of several ruins, including two temples
and a stupa. The two temples are dedicated to the Hindu gods Siva and Vishnu. The stupa is
believed to have been built by the Pala kings. The steps of Pala dynasty, Sena dynasty and
Khen dynasty were impressed on it. The fort was surrounded by a horse-shoe type high
earthen wall running for around 22 K.M.and was open only on the side where the Dharla
River was there. At the earlier days had seen many roads, temples, ponds and other utilities.
But now, it is mostly around 30 feet high and 35 feet wide and can see is a large mound
strewn with broken pieces of structures. The ruins of Gosanimari Rajpat are situated on top of
a hill, making it a great place to admire the surrounding scenery. It is also a popular place for
bird watching. Many species of birds are found in the area, including some endangered
species.

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