Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[name] => Betila House: The Forgotten Palace of Manikganj
[post_id] => 17193
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/bn/places/betila-house/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Betila-House-2-300x163.jpg
[post_content] =>
The Betila (বেতিলা) House in Manikganj was built about a century ago by Jyoti Babu (জ্যোতি বাবু) and Satya Babu (সত্য বাবু), a couple of affluent merchants involved in the trade of Jute, the golden fibre of Bangladesh. This palatial house is located in a remote area named Betila which is within the parameters of the modern day Manikganj proper. Explorers/travelers searching for heritage sites in Manikganj over the internet may come across several links of the famous Baliati Zamindar’s Palace but never find any links on Betila. This is primarily because the Betila House was not a Zamindar’s (Land Owner) palace, and secondly since it is located in such a remote area, people hardly know about it. Rich people of those era are known to build such palatial houses in remote areas and live lavish lives, even though they were not 'Zamindars' or royalty.
For someone looking for heritage sites, the Betila Mitra Union of Manikganj would be a fabulous one to come across. It’s situated in semi rural setting (being not too distant from urban areas) and doesn't seem particularly unique on first impression but once you begin to explore it's culture and heritage, beautiful places like the Betila House amongst several others begin to surface. The seemingly tame Betila Canal runs across the area, connecting two major rivers Kaliganga (কালিগঙ্গা) and Dhaleshwari (ধলেশ্বরী) but like most waterways of Bangladesh, one can anticipate its ferocity in full monsoon season when rising water levels which is also evident in the way it has eroded both its banks, specially at the lone bridge that was constructed some time back.
On both the banks one will come across a series of heritage buildings, the pinnacle being on the eastern bank, the Betila Palatial house surrounded by rich foliage. It’s a combined structure of two separate buildings both of which are two-storied, standing almost intact, side by side and with an expansive open field before them.
)
[1] => Array
(
[name] => {:en}Rayerkati Zamindar Bari{:}{:bn}রায়েরকাঠি জমিদার বাড়ি{:}
[post_id] => 1102
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/bn/places/rayerkati-zamindar-bari/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Rayerkathi-jomidar-bari-012-300x225.jpg
[post_content] => {:en}
Around 300 years ago, a landlord family established this Zamindar bari by their name. Parliament, ball-room, guest house and many Hindu temples were constructed near that landlord house. The number of places were amounting to almost 200. Among them, 40-50 were large. In 1658, Kaali (Hindu God) Mandir or temples were established here and The biggest Shiva Linga is also located here, weight is around 1000 kg.
Though this is a Zamindar Bari, but these days there is nothing left behind. Only few temples around (or probably there were few remnants). These are old temples which are in ruin, probably carrying the mark of 300 years or more. As per the reference, it should have the largest phallus of lord Shiva. There is a newly temple built beside the old ones and few people go there for the prayer. As per their information, it is an Iskon Temple (ইস্কন মন্দির).
[This spot needs more detail. If you have more information and photos, please be advised to add in our website. Your name will be published as a Content Contributor]
{:}{:bn}৩৫০ বছর পূর্বে এখানে একটি জমিদার পরিবার বাস করত। এখানে আইনসভা, বলরুম, অতিথিশালা, বেশকিছু হিন্দু মন্দিরসহ প্রায় দুইশর অধিক স্থাপনা নির্মাণ করা হয়েছিল। যেগুলোর মধ্যে চল্লিশ থেকে পঞ্চাশটি স্থাপনা ছিল বিশালাকৃতির। ১৬৫৮ সালে এখানে কালী মন্দির নির্মাণ করা হয়। দেশের সবচেয়ে বৃহৎ শিবলিঙ্গটি এখানেই অবস্থিত, যার ওজন প্রায় ১০০০ কেজি।{:}
)
[2] => Array
(
[name] => Pal Bari
[post_id] => 8538
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/bn/places/pal-bari/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/PB-2-300x225.jpg
[post_content] =>
Pal Bari (পাল বাড়ি) is one of the renowned historical places in Munshiganj. According to the current inhabitants of the Pal House at Abdullahpur, Kamini Pal and Dwarkanath Pal, the eldest two sons of Tokani Prasad Pal, possibly one of the richest business persons of Bikrampur, established this house around the end of the 19th century.
They added a few more blocks to the house over the years, but lived within the compounds of their father's house, several miles away.
During the liberation war, many of their family members were brutally tortured and killed, prompting the entire clan to leave for Kolkata,India. A few years later Dwarkanath returned, to wind up his businesses here. Dwarkanath Pal, therefore chose to spend his last few years at this house. He decided to stay back in Munshiganj, but could not live in his own house. Many others had occupied most of that property.
)
[3] => Array
(
[name] => {:en}Palace Of Queen Mainamati{:}{:bn}রানী ময়নামতির প্রাসাদ{:}
[post_id] => 1369
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/bn/places/palace-of-queen-mainamati/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/moynamoti-ranir-biharpalace2-300x225.jpg
[post_content] => {:en}
Locally the place is known as Moynamoti Ranir Kuthi or Moynamoti Ranir Banglo. According to Bengali textbook, the name is Moynamoti Ranir Bihar.
Mainamati’s Palace Mound is the largest and highest mound in the northern extremity of the ridge near Mainamati village, just east of Brahmanbaria road. The Gumti River, identified with the ancient river Ksiroda, has now shifted a few hundred yards to the east, but once flowed along its eastern edge, partly washing its northern and southern foot as well. Its old silted up bed is still very clearly traceable.
The site has been traditionally associated with the legendary Chandra Queen, Mainamati, mother of the last known Chandra King, Govinda Chandra, and is popularly regarded to have been the last seat of that dynasty.
Limited excavations here for a season or two have uncovered part of a massive defense wall round different parts of the site, probably a citadel, and the corner of a substantial structure, probably a palace at the center of the site. Scholars widely regard it as the center of Devaparvata, the capital of Samatata.
Written by-[M Harunur Rashid]
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স্থানীয়ভাবে এই রাজপ্রাসাদটি ময়নামতি রানীরকুঠি এবং ময়নামতি রানীর বাংলো নামেও পরিচিত। তবে, পাঠ্যবইয়ে এই প্রাসাদটির নাম হল ময়নামতি রানীর বিহার।
{:}
)
)