Rang Ghar
Encyclopedia
Ahom Dynasty
The Ahom Dynasty ruled the Ahom Kingdom in present-day Assam for nearly 600 years. The dynasty was established by Sukaphaa, a Shan prince of Mong Mao who came to Assam after crossing the Patkai mountains...
s and nobles witnessed games like buffalo fights and other sports at the Rupahi Pathar (pathar meaning field in Assamese
Assamese language
Assamese is the easternmost Indo-Aryan language. It is used mainly in the state of Assam in North-East India. It is also the official language of Assam. It is also spoken in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and other northeast Indian states. Nagamese, an Assamese-based Creole language is widely used in...
) specially during Rangali Bihu
Bihu
Bihu denotes a set of three different cultural festivals of Assam and celebrated by the Assamese diaspora around the world. Though they owe their origins to ancient rites and practices they have taken definite urban features and have become popular festivals in urban and commercialized milieus in...
festival in the Ahom
Ahom kingdom
The Ahom Kingdom was a medieval kingdom in the Brahmaputra valley in Assam that maintained its sovereignty for nearly 600 years and successfully resisted Mughal expansion in North-East India...
capital, Rangpur
Rangpur (Ahom capital)
Rangpur, one of the capitals of the Ahom kingdom, was established by the Swargadeo Rudra Singha in 1707 . It is currently a part of the Sibsagar town. Many historical monuments of the Ahom era;the Kareng Ghar, Talatal Ghar, Rang Ghar are located here....
. On the roof of the Rang Ghar is a design of an Ahom royal long boat. The building was constructed during the reign of Swargadeo Pramatta Singha in 1746. It is located north east to the Talatal Ghar a multi-storied royal complex in Joysagar west of Sivasagar town, on the other side of the Assam Trunk (AT) Road in Sibsagar
Sibsagar
Sivasagar is a town in the Sibsagar district in the state of Assam in India, about north east of Guwahati....
district in Assam,India .
The Rang Ghar is said to be the oldest amphitheater in Asia .The base of the monument has a series of arched entrances and atop the roof is a decorative pair of carved stone crocodiles. In many of these, only the brick framework exists with vestiges of sculptural adornments here and there. The Ahoms, who used special thin baked bricks, did not have the use of cement and, therefore, used a paste of rice and eggs as mortar for their construction.They also made use of powdered mixed lime & bricks,to cover the surface of the inner walls.It is said that
this layer of powder used to keep the inside of Ranghar Cool.Rang ghar occupies a place of great
sentiment in the hearts of the people here.It is a glorious reminder of the days gone by.If you
happen to visit the Sankardev Kalakhsetra at Gauhati,you will find the entrance to the cultural centre is a gate made more or less as a replica of the Rang ghar.
The Rang Ghar was the logo of the recently concluded 33rd National Games that was held from 9 to 18 February, 2007 in Guwahati
Guwahati
Guwahati, Pragjyotishpura in ancient Assam formerly known as Gauhati is a metropolis,the largest city of Assam in India and ancient urban area in North East India, with a population of 963,429. It is also the largest metropolitan area in north-eastern India...
, Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
.
About a kilometer towards the north east of Rangh Ghar,the Jay Sagar Pukhuri is located.It is a manmade tank,encompassing an area of about 120 Bighas of land.It was made in memory of Rani Joymati, Mother of Rudra Singha,the most illustrious king of Ahom Dynasty.Sati Joymati is considered an ever enduring example of supreme love & sacrifice for her husband & also of undying
love for her country.