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Mirkadim
Bridge
This old bridge spans the Mir
Kadim canal (creek) which runs from Mir Kadim to Tangibari.
It connects with village Abdullahpur and Panam area of Rampal
U. P. under Munshigonj District. It situated at a distance
of about 5.50 km from the district headquarters. The local
tradition claims it to have been built by King Ballal Sen,
but the architectural features belie the local tradition. The
bridge can architecturally be attributed to the Mughal period,
not earlier than 17th centaury. The 53m long bridge consists
of a central pointed arch of 4.40m span with two side arches
of 2.25m span each. The central arch is 0.40m high from the
water level of the creek and at present 31m wide. It is 6.15m
wide with each wing measuring 16.80m in length. The central
arch is flanked by an octagonal pilaster on either side. Similarly
each of the side arches has a pilaster each crowned with a
cupola. The plasters of the side arches rise above the spandrel
of the arch but those of the central arch are shorter and so
not reach the archivolt. The pier is 1.85m thick. It is reported
that on either end of the bridge there were circular pillars
but now these are buried under earth. It appears that there
are 6 piers on each side of the bridge. The central arch is
loftier and wider than the side ones and is set in a deep rectangular
panel with plain plastered spandrel. Base of the arches wee
provided with cutwaters. The hump backed bridge rises to a
central point from which its back gently slopes to either side.
It has a 70 cm high parapet wall on either side. The surviving
thickness of the bridge measures 4.34m (Pl-8, Fig-3)
It has been protected and repaired
extensively by the Department of Archaeology.
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