Kodla Math Bagerhat

Kodla Math, one of the oldest monuments of the seventeenth century, is located in Ayodhya village of Baruipara union of Bagerhat Sadar upazila. The Math is also known as Ayodhya Math to many locals. The distance of this monastery is about 10 km from Bagerhat's World Heritage Sixty-domed Mosque. According to manuscripts from the Kodla Math, the Math was built by a Brahmin hoping to gain the grace of Taraka Brahma. According to another source, the Kodla Math was built by King Pratapaditya, one of the twelve Bhuiyas of Jessore, as a memorial to his guru Abilamba Saraswati. Originally a memorial to King Pratapaditya of Bagerhat and a shining example of Bengal's rich Hindu heritage and architecture.

The architecture of Kodla Math is completely different and unique. Beautifully crafted, this monastery has the influence of temples built on the “Rekha” pattern in the Orissa region around the 16th century AD. The pyramidal architecture on a square base is known as the Nagara style in the Indian region. The thin brick walls of this monastery are 18.29 meters high from the ground, and each inner square wall is 2.61 meters long. The monastery has three entrances on three sides except the northern wall. However, the main entrance on the south side has an interesting design of burnt clay. And the exterior of the Math is the most attractive aspect of the Kodla Math, the polygonal walls with five niches and the exquisite decorative terracotta craftsmanship. At present this ancient monastery is under the Bangladesh Directorate of Archaeology.

You can go to Bagerhat by bus or train from Dhaka. Dola Paribahan, Welcome Express, Falguni Paribahan, Sakura Paribahan, Hanif Enterprise, Sohag Paribahan and Eagle Paribahan etc. buses from Gulisthan and Syedabad of Dhaka ply from 6 am to 10 pm on the way to Bagerhat via Padma bridge. And you can go to Bagerhat via Khulna by intercity Kapotaksh Express, Chitra, Rupsa or Sundarban Express trains from Dhaka's Kamalapur railway station. The distance of Kodla Math from Bagerhat district is about 14 km. Take a rickshaw from Bagerhat bus stand and get off at Jatrapur Bazar and continue for 3 km to the east of the ancient Bhairab River to see this beautiful monastery.

Among the residential hotels and guest houses located in Bagerhat city are Circuit House, Dak Bungalow, Sixty Dome Archeological Guest House, Sundarban Resort, Momtaz Hotel, Hotel Mohna, Hotel Al Amin, Residential Hotel, Hotel Abhi, Hotel Fuad Residential, Zarif Residential and Hotel Dhansindi etc. significant

Coconut shrimp is the most popular local dish of Bagerhat. Besides, there are several good hotels and restaurants in the city like Radhuni Hotel and Dhansindi Hotel.

Feature Image: Nahid Sultan