Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[name] => Sreefaltali Royal Palace
[post_id] => 3546
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/sreefaltali-royal-palace/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Sreefaltoli-Zamindar-Estate2-300x225.jpg
[post_content] => Sreefaltali Royal Palace, also named as Sreefaltoli Zamindar Estate was built in 1300A.D.
)
[1] => Array
(
[name] => Tokani Pal House
[post_id] => 8643
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/tokani-pal-house/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/TPP-12-300x200.jpg
[post_content] =>
Munshiganj, or Bikrampur as it was formerly known as home to a number of rich landlords and merchants, who lived in palatial houses, built on large estates. Most of these perished in course of time as the mighty Padma River devoured most of Bikrampur. Of all that remain in today’s Munshiganj, the largest is the house at Abdullahpur, known as Tokani Pal House (টোকানী পাল বাড়ি). There isn’t enough source to know about who built this house, but Tokani Pal, an elderly merchant from Barisal, bought this 7 acre estate and moved in here sometime in the early 1890s. His second wife Nabanga Sundary and all six sons from his two marriages accompanied him.
The estate now consists of 11 buildings and six ponds. The sprawling gardens have hundreds of trees – fruit bearing, medicinal, or for wood itself. And there were once several hundreds of flowering plants. But when Tokani arrived, the estate was in a mess. Kamini Pal, the eldest son of Tokani,took charge of cleaning up the estate. He chose a place to set up a temple, dedicated to Radha-Shyam, of whom they had been followers for generations. By this time, the masons of Abdullahpur had made a name in craftsmanship and expertise, and Arfan Ostagar was the most revered of all. He was hired, for a daily fee of five quarters and a pack of tobacco. His designer had to be paid an additional three quarters. A 15X6 feet room was planned to build, with a wide sprawling varanda, where followers could sing devotional songs every evening. The room would have a large platform, on which would rest a large metal statue of Radha-Shyam. The exterior wall would be decorated with fine ceramic designs. Once completed, the temple became a marvel, people from far and wide came over to see.
The Pal’s principal business was surrounded around the Kamala river port of Bikrampur, which was known as the Second Kolkata. Betelnuts, mustard, lentils etc would arrive from Barisal or Chandpur, and would be traded with Kolkata. Almost 20,000 laborers worked daily at this port, where the second largest wholesalers were the Pals. They set up warehouses at places as far as Barisal, Jhalokathhi or Shwarupkathhi, or Chandpur. Kamini Pal also became the most prominent money-lender. Dwarkanath became a prominent dealer in Kerosene oil. Other brothers also chipped in here and there. Business for the Pals was running well.
After the Partition of India, a large section of the family moved to Kolkata. Those who remained to protect the family businesses, soon found it difficult, as business with Kolkata became complicated. They had to explore new business avenues, but that wasn’t too easy.
In 1971, Hindus were being tortured or killed, their businesses were being shut down, their houses were being torched. The Pal estate being protected with a strong high boundary wall became a safe refuge, not only for members of this family, but for members of extended families, and also for friends and their families. About 500 people had found safe shelter here, until one dark night, when the Pakistani Army entered the compounds, killed several family members, and set the main houses of fire. The entire clan moved to India through Agartala.
Almost two years later, Shashadhar Pal, the second son of Dwarkanath Pal, who by then was head of the clan, returned with his family. But by this time major parts of the estate had been grabbed and taken over by others. He tried to revive some of the businesses, but did not quite succeed. His family members went back to Kolkata, but he decided to stay back, reminiscing his childhood memories, and gradually selling off part of their properties. He lived either in one of the houses within this estate, or in the other Pal House, which also was built by his uncle Kamini Pal several decades ago. He passed away in the late 1990s.
)
[2] => Array
(
[name] => {:en}Hemnagar Zamindar Bari{:}{:bn}হেমনগর জমিদার বাড়ি{:}
[post_id] => 5284
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/hemnagar-zamindar-bari/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Hemnagar-Zamindar-Bari2-LonelyTraveler1-300x225.jpg
[post_content] => {:en}
Hemnagar Zamindar Bari (হেমনগর জমিদার বাড়ি) is a less highlighted edifice from Bangladesh. Not that much tourists use to travel here despite of having everything to become a promising tourist attraction from Bangladesh. Only local people from around use to visit here. It was built by the prominent Hindu Zamindar (জমিদার) from Tangail (টাংগাঈল) district named Hemchandra Choudhury (হেমচন্দ্র চৌধুরী) at 1890.
The Main building at the front side has two small statues of angel at the top. That's why local people know this as Porir Dalan (পরীর দালান) which means a Palace of Angel. Main building of this Zamindar Bari (জমিদার বাড়ি) is currently using as an administrative building of Hemnagar (হেমনগর) Degree College, but the other buildings at the back side is empty right now. There it has approximately 25 rooms inside.
Front side of the building is having the best styles from the whole premise. It is highly ornate at the walls using colorful glasses. Every inches of the walls, pillars, and the archways are flourished with flowers, vines, stars, etc formed using those colorful glasses.
The Zamindar (জমিদার) was slight cruel and rude on the peasants. They were coerced to follow few rules. For example, if anyone wanted to pass this palace premise, he/she must had to continuously keep vowing and walking backwards with bare feet. Such things must have poured the heart of locals with hatred and grief. That's why the powerful Zamindar (জমিদার) had to escape from the place during the country's separation. Along with the buildings, the whole premise was having 7 massive ponds (only few are right now available). Local people say those 7 ponds are for the seven ladies (daughters and sisters of the Zamindar). Dhonbari Zamindar Bari is very near from this place.
{:}{:bn}
বাংলাদেশের অন্যতম আকর্ষণীয় পর্যটনস্পটে পরিনত হওয়ার সকল যোগ্যতা থাকার পরও হেমনগর জমিদার বাড়ি খুব একটা সুনাম অর্জন করতে পারেনি এবং খুব বেশি পর্যটকও এখানে আসেন না। মূলত এখানকার আশেপাশে স্থানীয় বসবাসকারীরা এখানে আসেন। ১৮৯০ সালে টাঙ্গাইলের বিশিষ্ট হিন্দু জমিদার হেমচন্দ্র চৌধুরী এই জমিদারবাড়িটি নির্মাণ করেন।
জমিদারবাড়ির মূল ভবনের সামনে দুটি পরীর ছোট মূর্তি রয়েছে আর এ কারনেই স্থানীয়রা এই জমিদারবাড়িকে বলে থাকে পরীর দালান। এই জমিদারবাড়ির মূল ভবনটি বর্তমানে হেমনগর ডিগ্রী কলেজের প্রশাসনিক ভবন হিসেবে ব্যবহার করা হচ্ছে তবে এখানকার পেছনদিকে অবস্থিত ভবনটি বর্তমানে খালি পড়ে আছে। জমিদারবাড়ির অভ্যন্তরে প্রায় ২৫টি কক্ষ আছে।
জমিদারবাড়ির সামনের দিকটি সবচেয়ে দৃষ্টি নন্দন। রঙ্গিন কাচ দিয়ে ভবনের দেয়ালে নকশা করা হয়েছে। জমিদারবাড়ির দেয়াল, পিলার, ফটকের প্রতিটি ইঞ্চিতে রঙ্গিন কাঁচ ব্যবহার করে ফুল, তারা, গাছ ইত্যাদি সৃষ্টি করা হয়েছে।
জমিদার তার এলাকার মানুষকে কঠোর হাতে শাসন করতেন এবং তাঁদের কিছু নিয়ম মানতে বাধ্য করা হত যেমনঃ কাউকে জমিদারবাড়ির মধ্যে দিয়ে অতিক্রম করতে হলে তাঁকে খালি পায়ে ক্রমাগত মাথা ঝুঁকিয়ে আনুগত্য প্রকাশের পাশাপাশি উল্টো হয়ে হাটতে হত এবং এ কারনে স্থানীয়দের মনে জমিদারের উপর চরম ক্ষোভ ও ঘৃণার সৃষ্টি হয়। এই ঘৃণা এবং অসন্তোষের পরিপ্রেক্ষিতে জমিদার দেশবিভাগের সময় জমিদারবাড়ি থেকে পালিয়ে যান।
মূল জমিদারবাড়ির পাশাপাশি এখানে সাতটি বিশালাকারের পুকুর ছিল যেগুলোর মধ্যে মাত্র কয়েকটি বর্তমানে টিকে রয়েছে। স্থানীয়রা বলে থাকে যে সাতটি পুকুর ছিল জমিদারের সাত ছেলে মেয়ের জন্য। ধনবাড়ি জমিদারবাড়ি এখান থেকে বেশ নিকটে অবস্থিত।
{:}
)
[3] => Array
(
[name] => Ghoshal Bari Zamindar Palace
[post_id] => 11775
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/ghoshal-bari-zamindar-palace/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IMG_20150527_135541718-300x169.jpg
[post_content] =>
Ghoshal Bari Zamindar Palace, About 150 years old (now rebuilt) zamindar bari is located just nearby the Radha-Krisna temple with its outstanding view at Khilpara, South Betka village, Tongibari Upazila, Munshiganj District.
[This spot needs more information. If you have information, please be advised to add in our website. Your name will be published as a Content Contributor]
)
)
