Sonarong Jora Moth

Munshiganj, Bangladesh
Sonarong Jora Moth
Sonarong (means golden color) is a lovely village at Tongibari Upazila of Munshiganj district. This village belong a beautiful “Moth”(a place for praying by Hindu religious people) which is known as “Sonarong Jora Moth” (“twin moth”). It is used to call twin moth/temple, because it has two towers side by side. It may be around 150 feet high from the ground. There is a large pond just in front of the Moth. This moth is not functioning now a days. Interviewing local people we came to know that, there are no praying activities take place in this moth. Every side of the moth is covered with trees and that gave a lovely golden and green color’s illusional view of the moth.

The larger moth was made for “Shiva”(Hindu God), and made during 1843, and the smaller one for “Kali”(Hindu Goddess), and made during 1886. It was built by a Hindu merchant named “Rupchand” From stone inscriptions fixed over the temple’s entrance.

The two towers of the moth are not equal sized. One is much larger than another one. The larger tower has hundreds of holes at the top of it, and each hole is occupied by parrots. Visitors may observe hundreds of parrots from the place, and they are making sweet sound together all the day long. During the breeding season, the top of the moth become green for the numerous numbers of parrots. Both the towers of the moth are ornamented nicely with different types of leafs motif and blind alcoves.

Architectural Features:
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.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 sikhara crowned by the usual pinnacle with kalasa 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-centered 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.

It is one of the important historical & archaeological places in Munshiganj District. Very recently,renovation work is on go,undoubtedly a good initiative to protect this site from further destruction.

How to go:
It is very easy to move towards Sonarong Jora Temple from Tongibari Bus station. To reach at the moth,firstly you have to reach at the “Tongibari” upazila. From Muktarpur bridge, you can ride on any “Leguna” or “Auto-rickshaw”, which will take you at the Tongibari bus stop. This will take 30 to 40 minutes and then ride on another rickshaw or auto-rickshaw. it’s just five minutes away from the Bus stop.


Address: Sonarang Village, Tongibari Upazila, Munshiganj
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