Rang Ghar

2021-08-31T07:19:56Z

2409:4043:4D92:C074:B726:E44:8F28:CF77:

Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox building
|name = Rang Ghar<br>ৰংঘৰ
|image = Rang Ghar Sibsagar.jpg
|caption = View of the Rang Ghar from the gardens
|map_type = India
|coordinates = {{coord|26.9670|94.6190|region:IN-AS|display=inline,title}}
|location = [[Sivasagar]]<br />[[Assam]]<br />[[India]]
|engineer =
|construction_start_date =
|completion_date = Constructed by [[Pramatta Singha]]
|date_demolished =
|cost =
|structural_system = Bricks and Indigenous type of cement
|style = [[Ahom kingdom|Ahom]] [[Architecture]]
|size =
}}
{{Assam History}}
{{multiple image
| width1 = 165
| width2 = 165
| image1 = RangGhar.jpg
| alt1 = Facade of Rang Ghar
| caption1 = <div style="text-align: center;"><small>''Facade of Rang Ghar''</small></div>
| image2 = Rangghar , Sivasagar ,Assam.jpg
| alt2 = Rang Ghar court
| caption2 = <div style="text-align: center;"><small>''Rang Ghar court''</small></div>
}}

The '''Rang Ghar''' ({{IPA-as|ɹɔŋɡʱɔɹ|lang|}})
, ([[Assamese language|Assamese]]: ৰংঘৰ, ''rong ghor'' meaning "House of Entertainment") is a two-storeyed building which once served as the royal sports-pavilion where [[Ahom Dynasty|Ahom king]]s and nobles were spectators at games like buffalo fights and other sports at Rupahi Pathar (''pathar'' meaning "field" in [[Assamese language|Assamese]]) - particularly during the [[Bihu|Rongali Bihu]] festival in the [[Ahom kingdom|Ahom]] capital of [[Rangpur (Ahom capital)|Rangpur]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.assaminfo.com/tourist-places/3/rang-ghar.htm |title=Rang Ghar|publisher=Assaminfo.com |date=2007-02-18 |access-date=2013-06-01}}</ref>

It is 3 km away from the center of [[Sivasagar]] Town. Situated by the side of the Assam Trunk Road, it lies to the northeast of the Rangpur Palace, a seven-storied royal complex comprising the [[Talatal Ghar]] and the [[Kareng Ghar]].

==History==
Said to be one of the oldest surviving amphitheaters in Asia, the building was first constructed during the reign of Swargadeo Rudra Singha with bamboo and wood. It was later rebuilt with brick by Swargadeo Pramatta Singha in AD 1744-1750.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lakhmani |first=Nisarg |url=http://www.demotix.com/news/994547/rang-ghar-historical-monument-assam-india |title=Rang Ghar a historical monument in Assam - India |publisher=Demotix.com |date=2012-01-07 |access-date=2013-06-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vdMNBxOsvrUC&q=Rang+Ghar&pg=PA11 |title=Encyclopaedia of Tourism Resources in India - Manohar Sajnani - Google Books |isbn=9788178350172 |access-date=2013-06-01|last1=Sajnani |first1=Manohar |year=2001 }}</ref>

==Architecture==
The roof of the Rang Ghar is shaped like an inverted royal Ahom [[long boat]]. The base of the monument has a series of arched entrances, while atop the roof sits a decorative pair of carved stone crocodiles.

Many of the arched entrances have retained little more than their brick framework, with mere vestiges of sculptural adornments here and there. The Ahoms, who used special, thin, baked bricks, did not use cement but a paste of rice and eggs as mortar for their construction, a pulse called Maati Maah and a fish named Borali Mach in Assamese. They also made use of powdered mixed lime and bricks to cover the surface of the inner walls. It is said that this layer of powder used to keep the inside of the Rang Ghar cool.

The adjoining field, known as Rupohi Pothar, wore a festive look when games like bull-fight, cock-fight, elephant fight, wrestling, etc., were held on different occasions during the Ahom rule. Rang Ghar, besides standing as the royal pavilion, also contributed in spreading the games to different parts of the kingdom and its neighbouring States.

About a kilometer to the northeast of the Rang Ghar is the [[Joysagar Pukhuri]]. This is a man-made tank, encompassing an area of about 120 bighas of land. It was dug in memory of [[Joymoti Konwari]], mother of [[Rudra Singha]] - the most illustrious of the Ahom kings.

==Architectural Influence of the Rang Ghar==
* The entrance to the [[Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra]] at Guwahati echoes the Rang Ghar.
* The Rang Ghar was the logo of the 33rd National Games held in [[Guwahati]], in February 2007.

==Present condition==
Frequent earthquakes and seismic surveys being undertaken by the [[Oil and Natural Gas Corporation]] are posing a threat to Assam's 18th century amphitheatre Rang Ghar. At least 35 cracks have been noticed at various places on the walls of the historic Rang Ghar.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/07/stories/2008040754660900.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410205150/http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/07/stories/2008040754660900.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-04-10 |title=National : Damage to 'Rang Ghar' causes concern |date=2008-04-07 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=2013-06-01}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Rang Ghar view from the entrance.jpg|Rang Ghar view from the entrance
File:Rang Ghar Signage by ASI.jpg|Rang Ghar signage by ASI
File:Rang Ghar view from pavilion.jpg|View of the gardens from the Rang Ghar pavilion's upper floors
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Ahom Dynasty]]
* [[Kareng Ghar|Kareng Ghar, Garhgaon]]
* [[Talatal Ghar|Talatal Ghar, Sivasagar]]
* [[Sivasagar district]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
A comprehensive History Of Assam by S.L. Baruah. Page 293

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[https://assamjobclub.com/ Rang Ghar, Sivasagar]
*[http://onlinesivasagar.com/tourism/ranghar.htm Rang Ghar]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080312205446/http://www.33rdnationalgames.nic.in/logo.htm National Games logo]
*[http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=sep1511/state05 Rangghar: the oldest amphitheatre in Asia]

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Assam]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Assam]]
[[Category:Monuments and memorials in India]]
[[Category:Ahom kingdom]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1746]]
[[Category:Sivasagar district]]
[[Category:Cultural history of Assam]]

Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]

Rang Ghar