Jatar Deul is the replica of one of the earliest brick temple in Bengal. It is remarkable in it`s height, and stands near the estuary of the Moni river, towards the east of Kankandighi. This place is located in the deep interiors of Sunderbans. Though confusions about this being a Buddhist pagoda, victory tower of Pratapaditya of Jessore apart from being a Hindu Temple cannot be ignored.

The tower is Square in ground plan, and measures 9.37m each side from the outside. It has a slightly rectangular projection in the middle, along with an arched entrance on the east that measures 2.9m. This has a height of about 30.48m. In the inside, the cellar is about 3.05m square and has thick walls. The floor can be reached with the flight of steps ascending on it, and it is about .83m below the present level of the ground. The whole monument is built with thin country bricks and also has a decoration made by carved bricks.

The Deputy Commissioner of Diamond Harbour discovered once a copperplate almost near to the Jatar Deul, in 1875. On it was recorded in Sanskrit the date of its building by Raja Jayantachandra in Shaka 897, corresponding to 975 AD. This copperplate is no more traceable at present. This same tower has some resemblance to the Ichhai Ghosh Deul, which is located on the south bank of the Ajay near Kenduli, which is erected during the reign of DEVAPALA (c 810-40 AD). Though it is just an assumption. There is a belief among the scholars about the Jatar Deul that it was also built about the same time. The monument went through a transformation when it was repaired under the Archaeology Department. They altered its shape and features and hence it lost its originality.

Hence the jatar deul is a historical place and has its own myths and beliefs attached to it. With time though the prominent characteristics typical to it has obliterated into oblivion, it still remains in its altered form as a replica of the past.

More on West Bengal