Ramgarh (Khagrachhari) Correspondent :
Once there was a palace in Manikchari under Khagrachhari district of hill tracts which belonged to a Mong king.
There were soldiers, feudal lords, elephants and horses. The palace was bustling with royal activities. Now there is a hundred-year-old eye-catching royal throne with tiger claws, there are various artifacts including a carved wooden throne but the king is not there.
The void began thirty-two years ago after the death of Nihar Devi, the last king of the Mong dynasty. Gradually all the royalty, the joy of kingdom is lost. The now defunct palace is cherishing the history of the Mong dynasty for more than two hundred years. Not only that, the contribution of this royal family in the Great War of Independence is undeniable. The then King Mong Prue Sain did not only support the liberation war with weapons, vehicles or money, but directly took part in the war.
Historic Mong Rajbari is situated on an area of about 5 acres. The royal throne is preserved in the main building of the palace. The wooden base of the throne, made in the shape of a tiger’s leg, has tiger claws. Beautifully crafted wooden thrones, huge tusks, swords, guns, bows and arrows, royal robes and other precious artefacts still recalls the memory of a lost kingdom.
The old structures in the Rajbari include the century-old Nanuma Devi Hall, Raj Jetavan Buddhist Vihar, guest house etc. with attractive artistic craftsmanship. Beside the Rajbari, Mohamuni houses the moats of late Mong kings and their family members. There is a hundred year old Buddhist temple here.
Established in 1883, this temple has a huge statue of Lord Buddha made of ashta metal brought from Burma (present day Myanmar). Since then, the traditional Mohamuni fair is held every year on Chaitrya Sankranti. Thousands of people gather in the fair. Earlier every year Rajpunyah ceremony was held at in Rajbari. Now this festival does not even happen.
As far as the history of the Mong Raja family is known, the capital of the Mong kingdom was shifted to Raujan, Hathajari, Fatikchari in Chattogram and finally to Manikchari in 1794-95. After the death of King Khedu in the Manikchari palace, his son Kangjoy succeeded the king in 1796. Manikchari Rajbari became the royal form from his period.
In 201 years from 1795 to 1991, 9 kings Khedu, Kangjoy Dhamai, Kyoja Sain, Narvadhi, Kyo Ja Prue, Neprue Sain, Nanuma Devi, Mang Prue Sain and Nihar Devi ruled the Mong Rajbari in Manikchari. During the reign, various kings established schools, post offices, markets, roads, Buddhist monasteries, temples, etc.
Late member of the royal family Rajib Roy-Unika Devi couple’s son Kumar Sui Cing Prue now supervises and maintains the Rajbari. His initiative brought some life to this lifeless palace. Kumar Sui Ching Prue said, due to the support and direct participation of the Mong king and the royal family towards the independence war, the palace was subjected to extreme anger from the enemy at that time.
Looting of valuable resources and severe destruction is carried out here. Twenty two elephants, 30 horses, 170 buffaloes, 1663 cows, Royal Bengal tiger, giraffe, zebra and other animals of the zoo were not saved from their hands.
Since the death of Queen Nihar Devi in 1991, the ancient heritage palace is still being existed against hundreds of odds. Chairman of Bir Muktijoddha Mong Raja Mong Prue Sain Foundation, Kumar Shue Ching Prue also said that this year, the development and renovation of Rajbari including Nanuma Devi Hall and Raj Jetavan Buddhist Vihara was done with the funding of Khagrachari Hill District Council.
Prior to this, in 2022, the Mahamuni Buddhist Temple and institutions were renovated with the help and support of devotees.