Hidden Talatal Ghar cells on ASI radar

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, May 16: The Archeological Survey of India has taken up a project to explore some concealed cells of the Talatal Ghar in Sivasagar.

The so-long "closed" cells are located on the right wing of the monument.

"We have begun exploring the closed cells from April end. The work will take some time as the structures are very fragile. We have to ensure that there is no harm to the monument. Later, on the ASI plans to conserve it," said Conservation Assistant Bikash Chandra Das.

So far, the ASI team has explored around seven-ten feet of the closed passage.

“Till now we haven’t come across any other structure in the closed cell. We have found brick-bats, mud, stones etc. It will take some time before we can explore all the closed cells,” Das said.

ASI officials felt that the closed tunnel could be “quite long”. The tunnels in the rest of the structure of the monument lead to chambers.

When it comes to this closed passage, nothing definite can be said whether there are more chambers or whether it leads to something else.

Talatal Ghar, about 3 km away from the Sivasagar town, is the largest of all the monuments built by Ahom kings on the bank of river Dikhow.

Historical chronicles rrate that Rudra Singha (AD 1696-1714) founded the city of Rangpur in 1698 AD and constructed a palace made of wood and other locally available impermanent materials. However, the present edifice of brick masonry was built by his successor Rajeswara Singha (AD 1751-1769).

Talatal Ghar had three storeys underground and four storeys above ground.

Top levels of the palace having wooden works are completely destroyed.

It is said that the royals used to put in at the top floor, while their sentries were housed in the ground floors.