Gosanimari village is an interesting archaeological site which is situated in Coochbehar District, West Bengal. The term `Gosanimari` has been obtained from the current `grampanchayat` name of the subdivision of Dinhata. Demolished ruins of Kamtapur, an ancient city is also available here, which is said to be the capital of Kamata kingdom. This part of the country is spread over a gigantic portion of Vanga and Kamarupa. Gosanimara is visited by national as well as international tourists, mainly for its noted archaeological relics.
Archaeological Ruins at Gosanimari
Some scholars have claimed that the region of Gosanimari existed between the kingdom ruled by the Ahom Dynasty and the Muslim Kingdom of Bengal, during the 15th century AD. It is believed that Gosanimari might have been created by the `khens`. However it is said that such Mongoloid communities utilized just the fortification ruins to erect Gosanimari, which were existent since numerous centuries. Following the independence of India, the Archaeological Survey of India or ASI started supervising the excavations which began to be conducted here.
Historians are of the view that several parts of Gosanimari are currently lying buried underneath a large lush green mound. The archaeological marvels which are believed to have been buried include ruins of famous buildings and beautiful temples. Till date, two great stone wells have been recovered from this historical site, apart from stone walls and some idols. Besides these, various kinds of pottery-ware involving beakers, basin, vases, bowls and much more have been unearthed from this area. The physical appearance of the different idols and artefacts found here suggest that these products belong to the period of the 11th and 12th century A.D. and are inspired by the Pala-Sena school of art.
Gosanimari of present-day Cooch Bihar is about 35 km from the town of Cooch Bihar, the district headquarters of Cooch Behar District. This archaeological site boasts of the ancient temple of the Goddess Kamateswari, the present temple being established by the king Maharaja Pran Narayan in 1665 AD. The original temple is believed to be buried under earth at a place called Rajpat about one kilometre from the present temple.
The word Rajpat is derived from the Bengali word "Rajbati" meaning King`s Palace. The area is actually a huge mound or better called a small hillock, now surrounded by a wire fence and this is now under the governance of ASI. ASI has carried over two excavations in the area and discovered some medieval structure buried under the soil.
The important findings are two huge brick-built wells, a long brick-built wall which was probably a part of the fortification of a fort or citadel, some stone structures and few medieval stone idols which were transferred to Cooch Bihar Museum located in the Palace in the town of Cooch Bihar.
The undulating hillocks are covered with green grass and present a view pleasant to the eyes. There is a pond on one side, which was most probably a part of a moat surrounding the citadel. Gosanimari definitely deserves a more prominent place in the tourism map of West Bengal.