Dhakeshwari Temple, Hindu temple in Old Dhaka, Bangladesh
Dhakeshwari Temple is a Hindu place of worship in Old Dhaka with three pyramidal towers above its main chambers, the central tower rising noticeably higher than those beside it. The compound includes several separate buildings connected by open courtyards where visitors can walk between shrines.
The exact founding period of this place remains unclear, though historians believe it was built between the 12th and 16th centuries. The use of lime mortar points to Muslim building traditions common in this region during that period.
The name of this place means "Goddess of Dhaka," and devotees come here throughout the week to light incense and leave flowers at the main shrine. Priests perform traditional ceremonies each day, chanting mantras while visitors sit or stand near the entrance.
The compound opens at sunrise and closes at sunset, with the best visiting times outside major festivals when fewer people are present. Visitors should remove their shoes before entering the main shrines and ensure their clothing covers shoulders and knees.
A sacred pond sits within the walls where devotees perform ritual washing before entering the shrines. Four separate Shiva shrines are scattered across the grounds, each with its own stone lingam representation inside.
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