The Rameshwar Temple in Ambika Kalna is likely the least frequented among the town’s temples, primarily due to its somewhat obscure location. Situated just 65 meters north of the Lalji Temple in the Rajbari temple complex, it now appears to be outside the complex. Visitors typically enter the complex from the south, and after exploring the various temples within the Rajbari, they might feel a bit overwhelmed by the abundance of temples and give Rameshwar temple a miss (if they’re even aware of it). It’s worth noting as well that this temple is incorrectly pinned on Google Maps, see the end of this post for it’s actual location.
It’s not entirely clear whether the Rameshwar Temple was initially part of the Rajbari, and over the centuries, the northern limit of the complex shifted south. However, what is evident is the significant construction and encroachment the temple has endured, making meaningful photography nearly impossible, which is unfortunate.
Gazette of India : June 20 1964
The temple was constructed in 1783 CE, which places it during the reign of Tej Chandra (b.1764 d.1832). When his father Tilak Chandra died at the young age of 26 in 1770, his son Tej Chandra was just six years old. So, his mother Maharani Bishan Kumari managed the estate and legal matters, with the help of Dewan Rup Narayan Choudhury. Upon reaching the age of 15 in 1779 CE, Tej Chandra started managing the estate by himself. He would go on to construct the hugely impressive Naba Kailash Mandir (108 Shiva temple complex) immediately south of the Rajbari complex in 1809 CE.
The temple features terracotta work with a blend of geometric and floral motifs, along with additional depictions of deities and secular scenes mostly found in the horizontal bands towards the temple base. Unfortunately, the passage of time has taken its toll on Rameshwar, with most panels weathered away or replaced by blank tiles. Unlike other temples in the Rajbari complex, which have undergone constant renovation, this temple seems to have not been subjected to such restoration efforts.
Despite its condition, for those determined to explore all of Ambika Kalna’s terracotta temples, the Rameshwar Temple is certainly worth a visit.
Note : The location of Rameshwar Temple is incorrectly pinned on Google Maps. The embedded google maps aerial view below clearly shows the temple location, it’s roof stands out from the surrounding buildings (centre of the image). Using this map you should be able to navigate there quite easily.
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