NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Gaur, West Bengal

Coordinates: 24°52′08″N 88°07′59″E / 24.869, 88.133 Gaur, or Gour, as it is spelt mostly in modern times, or Laknauti is a ruined city, in the Malda district of West Bengal, India, on the west bank of the Ganges river, 40 kilometers downstream from Rajmahal. , West Bengal (Bengali: à¦ªà¦¶à§à¦šà¦¿à¦®à¦¬à¦™à§à¦— PoshchimbÃ´Å‹go) is a state in eastern India. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links India_West_Bengal_locator_map. ... Image File history File links Locator_Dot. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ... Location of Mirzapur and the 82. ... The geography of India is diverse, with landscape ranging from snow-capped mountain ranges to deserts, plains, rainforests, hills, and plateaus. ... Elevation histogram of the surface of the Earth â€“ approximately 71% of the Earths surface is covered with water. ... The divisions of a district. ... Malda (Bengali: à¦®à¦¾à¦²à¦¦à¦¾) is a district of the Indian state of West Bengal. ... For the past decade or so, telecommunication activities have gained momentum in India. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... Malda is a district of the Indian state of West Bengal. ... , West Bengal (Bengali: à¦ªà¦¶à§à¦šà¦¿à¦®à¦¬à¦™à§à¦— PoshchimbÃ´Å‹go) is a state in eastern India. ... â€œGangaâ€ redirects here. ... Rajmahal is a city and a notified area in Sahebganj district in the Indian state of Jharkhand. ...

History

It is said to have been founded by the mythic figure Lakshmana, and its most ancient name was Lakshmanavati, corrupted into "Lakhnauti". The area was known as Gauda under the rule of famous Bengali kings such as Sasanka, in the 7th century CE, and particularly the Pala dynasty, between the mid to late 8th century to 12th century CE, who were often described by opponents as the Lords of Gauda. It was also a prosporous city during the Sena dynasty's rule in Bengal. However, it's most well documented history begins with its conquest in 1198 by the Muslims, who retained it as the chief seat of their power in Bengal for more than three centuries. Around the year 1350, the Afghan kings of Bengal established their independence, and transferred their seat of government to Pandua (qv.), also in Malda district. To build their new capital, they plundered Gaur of every monument that could be removed. When Pandua was in its turn deserted (1453), Gaur once more became the capital under the name of Jannatabad; it remained so as long as the Muslim kings retained their independence. In 1564 Sulaiman Kirani, a Pashtun adventurer, abandoned it for Tanda, a place somewhat nearer the Ganges. Gaur was sacked by Sher Shah in 1539, and was occupied by Akbar's general in 1575, when Daud Shah, the last of the Afghan dynasty, refused to pay homage to the Mughal emperor. This occupation was followed by an outbreak of the plague, which completed the downfall of the city. Since then it has been little better than a heap of ruins, almost overgrown with jungle. Lakshaman (far left) with Rama (centre), Sita (far right) and Hanuman (kneeling) - Bhaktivedanta Manor Hare Krishna temple, Watford, England Lakshmana (Sanskrit: à¤²à¤•à¥à¤·à¥à¤®à¤£; IAST Laká¹£maá¹‡a) was the brother and close companion of Rama, and himself a hero in the famous epic Ramayana. Within Hindu tradition Lakshmana is considered to be... Shashanka (Bangla: à¦¶à¦¶à¦¾à¦™à§à¦•) is often attributed with creating the first unified political entity in Bengal. ... Buddha and Bodhisattvas, 11th century, Pala Empire. ... The Sena dynasty ruled Bengal through the 11th and 12th centuries. ... Events End of the reign of Emperor Go-Toba of Japan Emperor Tsuchimikado ascends to the throne of Japan January 8 - Pope Innocent III ascends Papal Throne Frederick II, infant son of German King Henry VI, crowned King of Sicily Births August 24 - Alexander II of Scotland (d. ... Events 29 August - An English fleet personally commanded by King Edward III defeats a Spanish fleet in the battle of Les Espagnols sur Mer. ... The Delhi Sultanate (Ø¯Ù„ÛŒ Ø³Ù„Ø·Ù†Øª), or Sulthanath-e-Hind (Ø³Ù„Ø·Ù†ØªÙ ÛÙ†Ø¯) / Sulthanath-e-Dilli (Ø³Ù„Ø·Ù†ØªÙ Ø¯Ù„ÛŒ) refers to the various Muslim dynasties that ruled in India from 1210 to 1526. ... Pandua, Malda - ruins of a historic town in Malda District Pandua, Hooghly - historic town in Hooghly District Category: ... April 2 - Mehmed II begins his siege of Constantinople (Ä°stanbul). ... Events March 27 â€” Naples bans kissing in public under the penalty of death June 22 â€” Fort Caroline, the first French attempt at colonizing the New World September 10 â€” The Battle of Kawanakajima Ottoman Turks invade Malta Modern pencil becomes common in England Conquistadors crossed the Pacific Spanish founded a colony... The Pashtuns (also Pushtun, Pakhtun, ethnic Afghan, or Pathan) are an ethno-linguistic group consisting mainly of eastern Iranian stock living primarily in eastern and southern Afghanistan, and the North West Frontier Province, Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Baluchistan provinces of Pakistan. ... Sher Shah Suri Sher Shah Suri (1486 â€“ 1545) (Pashto/Persian: - Å Ä«r-Å Äh á¹¢Å«rÄ«) also known as Sher Khan and as The Lion King, was founder of the Sur Dynasty of northern Indian rulers. ... Events May 30 - In Florida, Hernando de Soto lands at Tampa Bay with 600 soldiers with the goal to find gold. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Year 1575 was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. ... The Mughal Empire (alternative spelling Mogul, which is the origin of the word Mogul) of India was founded by Babur in 1526, when he defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the last of the Delhi Sultans at the First Battle of Panipat. ... The bubonic plague or bubonic fever is the best-known variant of the deadly infectious disease caused by the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis. ...

Geography

Gaur is located at 24°52′N, 88°08′E near the Indo-Bangladesh international border. It has an average elevation of 22 metres. Gaur lies in the Eastern bank of the rivers Bhagirathi and Pagla. This article is about the unit of length. ... The Bhagirathi is one of the two major tributaries of the Ganga. ...

Historical Measurements and Statistics

The city in its prime measured 7 1/8 m. from north to south, with a breadth of 1 to 2 m. With suburbs it covered an area of 20 to 30 m²., and in the 16th century the Portuguese historian Faria y Sousa described it as containing 1,200,000 inhabitants. The ramparts of this walled city (which was surrounded by extensive suburbs) still exist; they were works of vast labor, and were on the average about 40 ft. high, and 180 to 200 ft. thick at the base. The facing of masonry and the buildings with which they were covered have now disappeared, and the embankments themselves are overgrown with dense jungle. The western side of the city was washed by the Ganges, and within the space enclosed by these embankments and the river stood the city of Gaur proper, with the fort containing the palace in its south-west corner. Radiating north, south and east from the city, other embankments are to be traced running through the suburbs and extending in certain directions for 30 or 40 m. Surrounding the palace is an inner embankment of similar construction to that which surrounds the city, and even more overgrown with jungle. A deep moat protects it on the outside. To the north of the outer enbankment lies the Sagar Dighi, a great reservoir, 1600 yd. by 800 yd., dating from 1126. (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... Manuel de Faria e Sousa (pron. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Separation barrier. ... The moated manor house of Baddesley Clinton in Warwickshire, England Moats (also known as a Fosse) were deep and wide water-filled trenches, excavated to provide a barrier against attack upon castle ramparts or other fortifications. ... Events Rutherglen becomes one of the first Royal Burghs in Scotland. ...

Architecture

Fergusson in his History of Eastern Architecture thus describes the general architectural style of Gaur: "It is neither like that of Delhi nor Jaunpur, nor any other style, but one purely local and not without considerable merit in itself; its principal characteristic being heavy short pillars of stone supporting pointed arches and vaults in brick whereas at Jaunpore, for instance, light pillars carried horizontal architraves and flat ceilings. Owing to the lightness of the small, thin bricks, which were chiefly used in the making of Gaur, its buildings have not well withstood the ravages of time and the weather; while much of its enamelled work has been removed for the ornamentation of the surrounding cities of more modern origin. Moreover, the ruins long served as a quarry for the builders of neighboring towns and villages, till in 1900 steps were taken for their preservation by the government. The finest ruin in Gaur is that of the Great Golden Mosque, also called Bara Darwaza, or twelve doored (1526). An arched corridor running along the whole front of the original building is the principal portion now standing. There are eleven arches on either side of the corridor and one at each end of it, from which the mosque probably obtained its name. These arches are surmounted by eleven domes in fair preservation; the mosque had originally thirty-three." For other uses, see Delhi (disambiguation). ... Jaunpur is a city in Jaunpur District in Uttar Pradesh state of India. ... The architrave is the lintel or beam that rests on the capitals of the columns. ... In a discussion of art technology, enamel (or vitreous enamel, or porcelain enamel in American English) is the colorful result of fusion of powdered glass to a substrate through the process of firing, usually between 750 and 850 degrees Celsius. ... January 14 - Treaty of Madrid. ... This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ...

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Lithography is a method for printing on a smooth surface, as well as a method of manufacturing semiconductor and MEMS devices. ...

Notable structures

The Small Golden or Eunuchs' mosque, in the ancient suburb of Firozpur, has fine carving, and is faced with stone fairly well preserved. The Tantipar mosque (1475 - 1480) has beautiful moulding in brick, and the Lotan mosque of the same period is unique in retaining its glazed tiles. The citadel, of the Muslim period, was strongly fortified with a rampart and entered through a magnificent gateway called the Dakhil Darwaza (1459-1474). At the south-east corner was a palace, surrounded by a wall of brick 66 ft. high, of which a part is standing. Near by were the royal tombs. Within the citadel is the Kadam Rasut mosque (1530), which is still used, and close out side is a tall tower called the Firoz Minar (perhaps signifying tower of victory). There are a number of Muslim buildings on the banks of the Sagar Dighi, including, notably, the tomb of the saint Makhdum Shaikh Akhi Siraj (d. 1357), and in the neighborhood is a burning ghat, traditionally the only one allowed to the use of the Hindus by their Muslim conquerors, and still greatly venerated and frequented by them. Carving can mean Rock carving Wood carving Meat carving See also: Sculpture, Lapidary This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... 5<sup>Superscript text</sup>7<blockquote> Block quote </blockquote>{| class=class=wikitable |- ! header 1 ! header 2 ! header 3 |-{| class=wikitable |- ! header 1 ! header 2 ! header 3{| class=wikitable |- ! header 1 ! header 2 ! header 3 |- | row 1, cell 1 | row 1, cell 2 | row 1, cell 3 |- | row 2... Events March 6 - Treaty of Toledo - Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain recognize African conquests of Afonso of Portugal and he cedes the Canary Islands to Spain Great standing on the Ugra river - Muscovy becomes independent from the Golden Horde. ... Molding (US) or moulding (UK) can be: moulding or molding, a decorative feature used in interior design and architecture molding or moulding, a process used in manufacturing This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Mission, or barrel, roof tiles A tile is a manufactured piece of hard-wearing material such as ceramic, stone, porcelain, metal or even glass. ... This article is about a type of fortification. ... Events September 23 - Battle of Blore Heath. ... Events December 12 - Upon the death of Henry IV of Castile a civil war ensues between his designated successor Isabella I of Castile and her sister Juana who was supported by her husband, Alfonso V of Portugal. ... For the New York prison see The Tombs. ... June 25 - Augsburg confession presented to Charles V of Holy Roman Empire. ... Ghat (Arabic: ØºØ§Øª) is a city in remote south-western Libya. ...

See M. Martin (Buchanan Hamilton), Eastern India, vol. iii. (1831); G. H. Ravenshaw, Gaur (1878); James Fergusson, History of Indian and Eastern Architecture (1876); Reports of the Archaeological Surveyor, Bengal Circle (1900-1904). Leopold I 1831 (MDCCCXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... 1878 (MDCCCLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Year 1876 Pick up Sticks(MDCCCLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Äž: For the film, see: 1900 (film). ... 1904 (MCMIV) was a leap year starting on a Friday (see link for calendar). ...

Archaeological Preservation, Restoration and Excavation

The monuments of Gour are now looked after by the Archaeological Survey of India. The brick work of several monuments have been restored, though none to its early perfection or completeness. The ASI is also carrying out excavations of a mound about a kilometer from the Chikha building within the Baisgaji wall where remains of a palace are turning up. Archaeological Survey of India is an Indian government agency under the Department of Culture that is responsible about archaeological studies and preservation of cultural monuments. ...

Exhibitions on Gour

A permanent artefact and photographic exhibition highlighting the major monuments of Gour and the restoration work undertaken by the ASI is being held at the Metcalfe Hall, Kolkata. Among the exhibits are also some fine specimens of brick moulding and glazed tiles from Gour. Early Calcutta photograph of the Metcalfe Hall. ... , â€œCalcuttaâ€ redirects here. ...

References

EncyclopÃ¦dia Britannica, the eleventh edition The EncyclopÃ¦dia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1910â€“1911) is perhaps the most famous edition of the EncyclopÃ¦dia Britannica. ... The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ...

External links

Gour-Pandua travel guide from Wikitravel Wikitravel is a project to create an open content, complete, up-to-date, and reliable world-wide travel guide. ...

Contents