KAITHA TEMPLE. RAMGARH.

Subhashis Das

The old kaitha temple is situated on the NH 23 on the Bokaro-Ramgarh highway about 3 kms away from Ramgarh town.The temple was built by the Ramgarh Raja, the Singhs, supposedly around 1670. This temple is unusual in its architecture and also reveal shades of both European and Muslim influences. 

The facade

Ty upwards it's sides parallel to each other. The sikhara and the elevation of the temple is indeed bhe sikhara doesn't recede at the top as conventional sikharas of normal temples do. On the contrary it rises verticallased on the mandala but is devoid of a trishula and an amlaka.

The facade reveals the Bengal's 'aat chaala' design.

The garbhagriha or the inner sanctum of this double storied temple can be reached climbing quite a number of steps. The facade of the inner sanctum is designed in Bengal's "aat chaala" architecture.

The passage on the top floor meant for circumambulating around the garbhagriha has Muslim influences.

The ruined passage on the top floor

The ground floor according to folklores was used by the military of the Raja. This is ofcourse has been shunned by many as they regard that the bottom floor was possibly used by the queen and the women folk of the palace as changing rooms after a dip in a neighbouring pond before their puja. 

The profile of the sikhara from the first floor.

Although these are merely legends, the truth is perhaps buried with time. The bottom floor replicates the top floor and houses even a garbhagriha without any vigraha. 

New idols have been placed in the garbhagriha or the main sanctum and a little is renovated but a large part of this magnificence temple today lies in ruins.
I was also informed of an underground tunnel from this temple leading to the palace of the king a few kms away meant for the king and the queen to secretly come and worship here and return thereafter. But they couldn't me tell its whereabouts.

The inner sanctum or the garbhagriha reveal the Bengal's 'aat chala' design.

A close-up of the profile of the temple. The man in the foreground is a proposed descendant of the king's family.

The newly renovated steps leading to the inner sanctum.

The passage of the ground floor.

The entrance to the inner sanctum at the ground floor. Note the symbols used as designs.