Judge Bari and Ukil Bari

Type: Building / Skyscraper

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Brief

Traveling Nawabganj without paying a visit to Judge Bari and Ukil Bari (জজ বাড়ি এবং উকিল বাড়ি) (formerly known as Brojo Kutir) is nearly incomplete trip. Originally it was built as the residence of a Zamindar over a century ago, the Brojo Niketan was acquired by a judge in 1984, and henceforth became known locally as the judge bari, the residence of the judge.

Next door to the judge bari, on a corner of a sprawling playground made famous by the sheer attendance of Mahatma Gandhi in 1940, is another Zamindar’s house, which has been acquired by a lawyer, and thus taken the new name Ukil Bari.

In a small shrine between these two old palatial houses, one will come across a statue whose head has been knocked down, allegedly by the Pakistan Army during our Liberation War in 1971, supposedly of Gautama Buddha.
A little inside the Ansar controlled areas, one would come across the Brojo Kutir – the older palace of the Zamindar, and yet another palatial house of Kokil Peyari. It has now turned into a local picnic spot.

How to go

It’s just few steps away from Kolakupa Bus stop. It’s southward from the Bus stop. One can reach there by foot or riding on a Rickshaw from Kolakupa Bus stand.

How To Reach: Nawabganj Upazila

Once you are determined to get there at Nawabganj, then it’s not something to plan for a long journey from Gulistan or Sayedabad Bus stop. Just take a Bus moving towards Nawabgaj or Dohar area, You will find yourself reach there within 45-60 minutes after departing, if the traffics is in your favor.

By Road

There are several buses moving towards Nawabganj from Dhaka. Among those

N-Mollik and
Jamuna Relax are very popular public buses available all the day long from Gulistan Bus stop.

Where to Stay

There are a couple of options available to stay at Nawabganj. Among those-

1. Shamim Guest House, Kolakopa
2. Kolakhopa Guest House, Kolakopa
3. Nawabganj Residential Hotel, Just at the other side of Jontrail bridge Proprietor: Sayed Mahfuzul Karim
Address: Nawabganj, Dhaka.
Cell: 01798831170

Things to do

This is one of the few places in Nawabganj Upazila belonging enormous beauty as a classical architecture. This palatial house is a very attractive location for tourist. Observe the beauty of this architecture.

Eating Facilities

Referred to where to eat at Nawabganj, click here

Map

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Previously, the actual color of Khelaram Datar Kotha (খেলারাম দাতার কোঠা) was reddish (first three photographs added). But after a renovation done by the Department of archaeology, it is colored white now.

Possibly the most intriguing, interesting and uniquely confusing archeological structures of Nawabganj is the Khelaram Daata’r Kotha, which has recently been renovated. Yet they have not put up a sign board describing the building.

It is confusing, who was Khelaram? What was he known for? What is this building all about? What is the story behind it? When was it built? One could come up with several such questions, but apparently there isn’t much available documentation. It’s hardly possibly to rely on local folklore, as that is far more fiction than facts. To start with some confusion, some say the name of the founder of this structure was Khelaram Dutta, Banglapedia mentions him as Khelaram Dada, while the locals say he was known as Khelaram Daata.

According to Banglapedia he was a Zamindar, but the locals claim he was a dacoit. Since Banglapedia mentions nothing about him apart from naming him as Zamindar Khelaram Dada. So, there isn’t any other way except relating oral history along with the information of Banglapedia.

Some 200 years ago, there lived a ferocious dacoit named Khelaram, who was dreaded by the rich, but loved by the poor, because similar to Robin Hood, he generously donated much of his spoils from each mission amongst the poor people. Hence he was known as “Daata” the beneficent. But he still retained quite a bit and needed to store the loot. So he built this structure consisting of many rooms just overnight (within a short time). The building had five floors (it now has only two) and the roof had a large tank. There still is a large pond nearby. Poor people had to come to this pond to bathe, and anything they asked for was granted.

Oral History Or Myth :

Khelaram was extremely obedient to his mother. She once wanted to drink some milk and eat some ripened bananas, so Khelaram arranged the rooftop tank to be filled to the brim with ripened bananas and pure milk, so she could swim there and eat and drink to her heart’s content. But one day something Khelaram did severely angered his mother. She sternly rebuked and cursed him and then left for a bath in the pond. But as soon as she left the building, three floors of the building simply sank into the ground, leaving only the top two floors to be seen over the surface. Khelaram was not seen any more from then. Some believe he got trapped in one of the lower floors. Some believe he drowned in the pond, trying to save his mother. Within a short time, all his belongings got stolen, leaving behind just an empty house.

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Tajmahal of Bengal (বাংলার তাজমহল) is a scaled copy of the original Tajmahal (a Mughal mausoleum located in Agra, India) located 10 miles east of Sonargaon. Unlike the original, work on the building took only five years. Ahsanullah Moni, a wealthy Bangladeshi film-maker, announced his 'Copycat version of Tajmahal' project in December 2008. The project cost about USD$ 56 Million, and was built to the northeast of Capital Dhaka. This caused complaints from Indian officials that copying Historical Monument is Illegal. Founder explained that he built this replica of the Tajmahal so that the poor people of his nation can realize their dream of seeing neighboring India's famed monument.

) [2] => Array ( [name] => {:en}Rabindranath Complex{:}{:bn}রবীন্দ্রনাথ কমপ্লেক্স{:} [post_id] => 1829 [post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/rabindranath-complex/ [thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Rabindranath-Complex-12-225x300.jpg [post_content] => {:en}

Rabindranath Complex, house of Bishwa kabi (poet of the universe) Rabindranath Tagore, established at Fultala Upazila under Khulna district. The name of his wife was Mrinalini.

[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}খুলনা জেলার ফুলতলা উপজেলার দক্ষিনদিহীতে রবীন্দ্রনাথ কমপ্লেক্স অবস্থিত। বিশ্বকবি রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুরের শ্বশুরবাড়ি এখানে অবস্থিত। রবীন্দ্রনাথের স্ত্রীর নাম ছিল মৃণালিনী।{:} ) [3] => Array ( [name] => The Central Cooperative Bank [post_id] => 15727 [post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/the-central-cooperative-bank-2/ [thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/The-Central-Cooperative-Bank10-300x225.jpg [post_content] =>

The Central Cooperative Bank was established in 1921 during the British Period, under the then British Lord [Lawrence John Lumley Dundas, 2nd Marquess of Zetland]. All the transactions of his area where held and maintained by this bank. From the architectural point of view, undoubtedly this building holds the year old history. It is considered to be the oldest bank in Natore region. The foundation of the bank was laid by The Honorable Nawab Saiyed Nawab Ali Chowdhury Khan Bahadur C. I. E. on 15th February 1921.

The condition of this building is not good, as this years old structure has not been renovated yet and remain forsaken or excluded. Also, the government has not been any precautions to preserve this building. Now, it is being using by local people for some other purposes. The local government authority should take steps to save this historical attraction.

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