‘THENGAL MANOR’ - A HERITAGE HOME IN JORHAT WITNESSES THE FIRST ASSAMESE DAILY NEWSPAPER ‘DAINIK BATORI’

Thengal Manor - Front View

By Archana Konwar

A graceful abode designed resembling to colonial Indian architecture; ‘Thengal Manor’ was built in the year 1929 by Rai Bahadur Siva Prasad Barooah who was scion of the Khongiya Barooah and regarded as a pioneer native tea planter, an Assamese entrepreneur during the last half of the 19^th century.

A man of multi-faceted personality as journalist, planter, politician, litterateur, humanist and philanthropist, Rai Bahadur Siva Prasad Barooah made his mark in each field of his like and left incredible imprint upon the society.

Thengal Manor side view The love and concern for his birth place promoted him venturing in the uncertain area of journalism as at that time it was in its infancy, but even in counters he brought out the first Assamese daily newspaper ‘Dainik Batori’ from ‘Thengal Manor’ on 12th August, 1935 inserting a record in the history.

Rai Bahadur Siva Prasad Barooah was a son of Bisturam Barooah. After his

Photo Gallery

untimely death in 1938 at the age of 57, his wife Kamal Kumari Barooah played the role of torchbearer of the Khongiya Barooah family. His two sons were Late Dr. Hemenda Prasad Barooah and Late Rame Barooah. Dr. Hemendra Prasad Barooah was awarded ‘Padmashree’ by the President of India on 5^th April, 2013.

This regal mansion is situated at the village Jalukonibari, 15 kms from Jorhat town through Na-Ali towards Titabor. The construction of ‘Thengal Manor’ was meant for

Namghar - Prayer House

accommodation of their joint family of two brothers, namely, Siva Prasad Barooah and Sashi Prasad Barooah. It is stated that when both the brothers with their families were living in ‘Thengal Manor’, there used to be about 100 people for lunch and dinner including guests every day.

In the year 1943, a severe earthquake badly damaged the building structure and hence, it was abandoned temporarily till repair completed. After repairing the families started again living till 1950, but same occurrence happened in that year; the biggest earthquake so far in the North-East India

In-campus Children Park

damaged the building structure severely. As a result, the house was abandoned completely and family members moved to different places like Kolkata, Jorhat town, tea gardens, etc.

It is stated that at the village Jalukonibari, the Thengal community people used to live and Rai Bahadur was the popular person socially. When problem faced by the villagers was resolved by the Rai Bahadur. As the time passed, being Jalukonibari is the inhabitation of Thengal people, the house was named as ‘Thengal Bahwan’ or ‘Thengal Manor’.

Pond inside

From the year 1950 to 1963, for long 13 years, the house was unused till repair work was started by Dr. Hemendra Prasad Barooah and by that time, the ancestral properties of the family were partitioned and ‘Thengal Manor’ fell to the share of him. The repair of the house was completed in the year 1965, but it was not used to live. In the meantime, Dr. Hemendra Prasad Barooah had built his own house - Villa Club Road at Jorhat town.

Water Fountain

Therefore, some approaches were made by the public to the Barooah family to convert it into a Museum or Hospital or Library or College, etc. But it was felt by the family that this house was meant for residential purpose, did not lend itself for conversion into a Museum, Hospital, Library, College, etc.

Keeping in view for continuing as residence, the house was again renovated in the year 1999 and formally opened to visitors on 16^th April, 2000 on the occasion of the birth centenary celebration of Kamal Kumari Barooah.

Family Memorial

How to reach ‘Thengal Manor’

The majestic ‘Thengal Manor’ is situated at the village Jalukonibari, Jorhat district of Assam, India. The Manor is at a distance about 15 kms from Jorhat town through Na-Ali towards Titabor. The logistics facility to the Manor is well connected. A distance of 15 kms from I.S.B.T. (Inter-State Bus Terminus), Jorhat town. The Nearest Railway Station - Jorhat town is at 13 kms. The distance from the Rawriah Airport, Jorhat is 15 kms only. On the other hand, staying at ‘Thengal Manor’ tourist may plan to visit some of the famous

To reach Thengal Manor

locations like historic Sivasagar, Kaziranga National Park, Majuli - the largest river island in the mighty Brahmaputra river, etc. Following are some of the nearer places worth to visit from the ‘Thengal Manor’.

• 19 km to Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary
• 84 km to Kaziranga National Park
• 17 km to Nimati River Port heading Majuli
• 20 km to Burra Sahib’s Bungalow
• 15 km to Khanguja Barooah clan settlement

Facilities and Services at ‘Thengal Manor’

Sitting room

There are four Double Deluxe Rooms and one Single Superior Room. Accommodation for Deluxe will cost INR 5600-6500 approximately per day and the Single Superior will cost INR 4000 approximately per day. Entire Manor can be booked at the cost INR 28000 approximately. The tariff mentioned above may vary on the decision of the managing authority.

The interior features are well designed like colonial time style architecture with colonnaded veranda, covered chandeliered sit-out, overlooking the lush lawns, fireplace and Louis XV furniture in the sitting area. Besides attached bath and dressing, the suites of the Manor provides sitting room, dining room, lounge, kitchen and pantry which serves Indian, Continental and Chinese cuisines.

Deluxe

Facilities at a Glance at ‘Thengal Manor’

• Round the clock room service
• Information on travel plans and personal travel guide
• Swimming Pool and a Baby Pool
• Colour TV in all Rooms with DTH service
• Indoor games - Carom, Chess, Chinese checkers, Scrabble, Solitaire, Computer video games
• Croquet
• Fishing
• Hot & Cold Water - Running Hot & Cold Water/Shower for 24 hours
• AC Rooms
• Parking Space available

Facilities at additional cost

Swimming pool and Baby pool

• Airport Pick-up & Drop
• Tea Tour - Witness plucking of tea leave and tea manufacture in the factory followed by tips on tea tasting.
• Cycling
• Services of a Tour Guide.
• Conference Facility with LCD Projector, OHP, white board, screen etc.
• Telephone – at cost for STD and ISD calls
• Laundry
• Doctor on Call
• Indian, Continental and Chinese cuisine served. Also specially prepared traditional North-Eastern cuisine

The Thengal Manor

Thengal Manor: An Antique property

An antique property ‘Thengal Manor’ is unique in kind built at the typical Assamese village of Jalukonibari which gives to the visitor a never before experience, a unique kind of pleasure in the lap of the mother nature, from where one can peep green nature including tea garden, homely artisans, master weavers and so on. The Manor offers relaxed ambiance with a sense of feeling of the then colonial days. It also pervades to realize the lifestyle of the pioneering Indian businessman.