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Kal Bhairab Temple, Brahmanbaria

At Medda, Shiva is worshipped as Kal Bhairab in a very large statue. It is a major pilgrimage site for Shaivites in Bangladesh.

Last checked: 2 Nov 2026 · 1 sources

Where and whose

The temple is at Medda in Brahmanbaria district. Before Brahmanbaria city grew, Medda was a market beside the Titas river, described as about 300 years old. (Source: Wikipedia, Kal Bhairab Temple)

The temple is dedicated to Shiva as Kal Bhairab, the main attraction. Goddess Kali's statue stands to his right and Parvati's to his left. It is a major pilgrimage site for Shaivites in Bangladesh. (Source: Wikipedia, Kal Bhairab Temple)

The dream story

About 200 years ago a sculptor named Durgacharan Acharjee reportedly had a dream and built the statue from soil, first on the riverbank. Noor Muhammad, a landlord of Sarail, donated the land. Local devotees held regular prayers there until 1971. (Source: Wikipedia, Kal Bhairab Temple)

1971 and the rebuilding

During the Liberation War Pakistani soldiers damaged and looted many Hindu temples including this one. They used dynamite on parts of the statue. (Source: Wikipedia, Kal Bhairab Temple)

Rebuilding took four years and the restored statue is 24 feet. The present statue is made of stone. Wikipedia describes a 28-foot Shiva statue as 'assumed to be the largest in the world'. (Source: Wikipedia, Kal Bhairab Temple)

Worship and upkeep

Regular and annual prayers are held and people travel from various regions. It is a tourist attraction in Brahmanbaria. Management committees look after the temple and the Government of Bangladesh covers maintenance costs. The giant Shiva statue is usually kept locked for maintenance. (Source: Wikipedia, Kal Bhairab Temple)

💡 The statue is usually locked, so contact the local management committee before you go.

💡 Take off your shoes before entering, and ask before taking photos.

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