GOBINDARAM MITRA'S 'BLACK PAGODA'
The “Black Pagoda” was made by the first “Black Zamindar”, Gobindaram Mitra in the 18th century. The original temple was a big Pancharatna temple flanked by two smaller Nabaratna temples. This temple complex was set up on the Chitpur Road in 1730. It appears in the 1787 painting “Gentoo Pagoda and House” by Thomas Daniel. The layout shows that a Dalan with three arches topped by a small pediment. Again with these was added a Dochala temple. Another temple of nabaratna style of about half the size of the main temple can be seen within the complex.
The temple suffered major damages in the cyclone and earthquake of 1737. By 1813 the big pancharatna temple was completely destroyed. However, the remaining part can still be seen, though it has gone some modifications over time.
In the 1829 painting – “Chitpore road and the Black Pagoda” by Thomas Princep and in the 1830 painting “Hindu Mut in the Chitpore Bazar” by Charles D’Oyly the temple is shown in its dilapidated condition. It is said that the original temple was more than 165 feet and that way it was taller than the ‘Octerlony Monument’ (present day Shahid Minar). |