Palace Of Queen Mainamati

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).

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Few of the attractions in Bangladesh are as stately, large and beautiful as the Tajhat Zamindar Palace. This historical palace was built near the beginning of the 20th century. It is situated roughly three kilometers south east of Rangpur’s city center and currently serves as a museum for the public.

The front of this impressive edifice is about 76 meters long and two stories high. A ribbed conical dome supported by a tall octagonal neck is located in the center of the roof and crowns the palace. These are just some of the extraordinary features that continue to attract visitors from around the world to this small corner of the globe. The incredible architectural skill that went into the building and design of this 100-year-old palace is truly something special and visitors often find themselves stunned by the craftsmanship that is found in this amazing structure. It is hard to believe that all this, and the surrounding city, all started as a simple bit of trade involving hats.

Sometime during the 18th century a man by the name of Manna Lal Roy traveled from Punjab in India as a cap or hat merchant.There was a massive cap bazaar where trade was regularly conducted about half a kilometer southwest of Mahiganj and this was where he set up shop. The area was known appropriately as taj (cap) hat (bazaar) and the name has always stuck. Manna Lal Roy was a shrewd businessman who managed to amass quite a bit of wealth through his cap sales. In fact he became so rich that he was able to loan many of the viceroys in the region money during the famine of 1770-1790. This gave him immense power and influence and eventually led to him becoming the founder of the Tajhat dynasty. In the 1900s, one of his indirect heirs, GobindaLal Roy, became the last viceroy and Raja of Tajhat. GobindaLal Roy was the most educated viceroy to ever take his position and under his authority Tajhat flourished. It is thought that the Tajhat Palace was built under his rule.

There are a number of features of the palace that testify to the incredible wealth of the Lal Roy viceroy. Apart from the building’s immense size, the wide stairs that climb to the second story on the front of the building are made of marble. Beautiful pictures can be found on doors and windows.

Dhanbari Nawab Manzil (ধনবাড়ি নবাব মনজিল) is locally known as Nawab Bari (নবাব বাড়ী). This is now owned by the descendants of Nawab Ali Chowdhury (নবাব আলী চৌধুরী). They have been taking a good care of this palace and also built several cottages inside the premise for the tourists for staying. This is the only heritage resort from our Bangladesh. This is also known as Dhanbari (ধনবাড়ী) Royal Resort. Inside the premise is very much neat and clean, adequate amount of stuffs and guards are around there to take care of everything.

Most of the Zamindar (জমিদার) mansions from Bangladesh were owned by the Hindu Zamindar (জমিদার). After the division of the country during 1947, and also later 1971, most of those powerful owners were coerced to leave the country, or cringed away to avoid the secular vandalism. Which results their mammoth mansions left unprotected. Later government has taken control of few of those buildings and used as their official purpose (which are still in a presentable state). But others are in total ruin by now a days for lack of care.

But this Nawab (নবাব) Palace is totally different from those. As it was owned by the Muslim landlords, they didn't have to leave the country or had nothing to fear. They were powerful during their ruling period. And yet still they are powerful on that region now a days. That's why this palace is still in a very good condition and has been taken proper care to maintain its state.

This palace was built by the Nawab Ali Chowdhury (নবাব আলী চৌধুরী) during 1919 to invite the British Lord Ronaldshay. He Came near Koyra (কয়ড়া) using the Steamer and had a reception with 30 elephants. [Reference: www.dctangail.gov.bd].

One of the decedents from the Nawab (নবাব) Family named Nawab Hasan Ali Chowdhury (নবাব হাসান আলী চৌধুরী) was the Industrial Minister during the reign of East Pakistan. Also he was a member of the Parliament during 1978. Later, after his death, his daughter Saiyeda Asheka Akbar (সৈয়দা আশেক আকবর) was the member of the Parliament during 1981. This information will give you an idea about their power and now you understand why the palace is still in a good condition.

You'll require to buy a ticket for 30 Taka to enter inside the palace premise. Each ticket is valid for 2 hours of visiting. The area is highly secured and the stuffs and guards around there are very much friendly. No unauthorized entries are entertained there. So no one will bother you while you are enjoying the surroundings.

ধনবাড়ি নবাব মঞ্জিল স্থানীয়ভাবে নবাববাড়ি নামে পরিচিত। বর্তমানে নবাব আলী চৌধুরীর উত্তরসূরিরা এই রাজবাড়ির দেখাভাল করছেন এবং পর্যটকদের অবস্থানের জন্য তারা এখানে কয়েকটি কটেজও নির্মাণ করেছেন। বাংলাদেশের একমাত্র ঐতিহ্যবাহী রিসোর্ট এটি। পরিষ্কার পরিচ্ছন্ন এই রাজবাড়িতে বেশ কয়েকজন কর্মচারী সবকিছুর দেখাশোনা করছে।

বাংলাদেশের বেশীরভাগ জমিদারবাড়ির মালিক ছিলেন হিন্দু জমিদারেরা। ১৯৪৭ সালে দেশ বিভাগের পর এবং ১৯৭১ সালে মুক্তিযুদ্ধের পর এদের মাঝে বেশীরভাগ প্রভাবশালী জমিদারেরাই দেশত্যাগ করতে বাধ্য হন অথবা ধর্মীয় গোঁড়ামির কারনে তাঁদের একঘরে করে দেওয়া হয়। এর ফলে এসব জমিদারবাড়ি অরক্ষিত অবস্থায় থেকে যায়। পরবর্তীতে কিছু জমিদারবাড়ি সরকার অধিগ্রহন করে তাঁদের দাপ্তরিক কাজে ব্যবহার করলেও বাদবাকি জমিদারবাড়িগুলো অযত্ন এবং অবহেলায় ধ্বংসের মুখে রয়েছে।

ধনবাড়ি নবাব মঞ্জিল অন্যান্য জমিদারবাড়ির চেয়ে ভিন্ন। মুসলিম জমিদার এই বাড়িটির মালিক হওয়াতে তাঁদের দেশত্যাগ করতে হয়নি। তাঁরা তাঁদের শাসনকালে যেমন ক্ষমতাধর ছিল তেমনি এখনও নিজ নিজ অঞ্চলে তাঁদের প্রভাব বিদ্যমান। আর এ কারনেই তাঁদের মালিকানার জমিদারবাড়িগুলোর অবস্থা এখনও বেশ ভাল এবং এসব জমিদারবাড়ির যথাযথ যত্ন ও রক্ষনাবেক্ষন করা হচ্ছে।

১৯১৯ সালে ইংরেজ লর্ড রোনাল্ডশ্যকে আমন্ত্রন জানাতে নবাব আলী চৌধুরী এই জমিদারবাড়িটি নির্মাণ করেন। লর্ড রোনাল্ডশ্য স্টিমারে করে কয়ড়ার কাছে এসেছিলেন এবং তাঁকে ৩০টি হাতির মাধ্যমে অভ্যর্থনা জানানো হয়েছিল। [সূত্র: www.dctangail.gov.bd];

নবাব পরিবারের একজন উত্তরসূরী নবাব হাসান আলী চৌধুরী পূর্ব পাকিস্তানের শিল্প মন্ত্রী ছিলেন। এছাড়া ১৯৭৮ সালে তিনি একজন সংসদ সদস্যও ছিলেন। নবাব হাসান আলী চৌধুরীর মৃত্যুর পর ১৯৮১ সালে তাঁর কন্যা সৈয়দা আশেক আকবর সংসদ সদস্য নির্বাচিত হন। উপরোক্ত তথ্য আপনাকে এই নবাব পরিবারের প্রভাব ও ক্ষমতা সম্পর্কে ধারনা দেবে এবং আপনি বুঝতে পারবেন আজও কিভাবে এই নবাবমঞ্জিল এতোটা ভাল অবস্থায় রয়েছে।

ধনবাড়ি নবাব মঞ্জিলে প্রবেশ করতে আপনাকে ৩০/- টাকা দামের টিকেট কাটতে হবে। প্রতিটি টিকেট নবাব মঞ্জিলে প্রবেশ করার দুই ঘণ্টা পর্যন্ত কার্যকর থাকবে। নবাব মঞ্জিলের নিরাপত্তা ব্যবস্থা বেশ কঠোর এবং এখানকার কর্মচারীরা বেশ সাহায্যপরায়ন। এখানে বাইরের কাউকে প্রবেশ করতে দেওয়া হয় না তাই আপনি নির্বিঘ্নে নবাব মঞ্জিল ঘুরে দেখতে পারবেন।

Natore Rajbari (also known as Pagla Raja's Palace, Natore Palace) was a prominent royal palace in Natore, Bangladesh. It was the residence and seat of the Rajshahi Raj family of Zamindars. Famous queen Rani Bhabani lived here and after the death of her husband, expanded both the estate and the palace.

Natore Zamindars was one of the largest Zamindaris of Bengal. The originators of this Zamindari were Ramjivan and Raghunandan both sons of Kamdev. Ramjivan's daughter-in-law was Rani Bhabani (1716-1795), a legendary name in Bengal politics in the 18th century and an endearing personality in every home of the country due to her boundless generosity and public spirit. After becoming Zamindar Ramjivan built his Rajbari at Natore occupying a huge area of 50.42 acres of land and it is enclosed within two rings of defensive moats-one within the other. The moats are now dotted with large tanks, orchards and flower gardens surrounding the derelict ruins of the seven surviving detached palaces. Of these only four deserve description while the rest are in advanced stage of disintegration and are of no architectural significance.

After the death of the great queen, her adopted son Ramkrishna ruled the area. After his death, his two sons Sibnath and Vishwanath became the co-sharers of the Natore Zamindari in 1778. The whole Zamindari was divided between them, and the part of the eldest son was known as "Boro Taraf" and the part of the youngest son was known as "Chhoto Taraf". The Rajbari was protected on all sides by ditches. There were nine buildings in this Rajbari. They are the palace of Boro Taraf, The palace of Choto Taraf, Kachari Bhavan and Guard House of Boro taraf, Kachari Bhavan of Choto Taraf, Rani Bhavan, Guest House, Madhu Rani Bhavan etc.

The main palace block (Boro Torof), now housing the newly created deputy commissioner's office, faces a large open lawn to the south. Two other single-storied blocks, placed on the west and the south, look over the lawn and are laid out in the form of an English "U" with the open side on the east. The main northern block, facing south, has a frontage of about 100'-0" with a prominently projecting porch in the middle and two slightly projecting bays at either end, all carrying triangular pediments above. The elegant central porch is supported on a series of Corinthian columns and semi-circular arches in the typical classical Roman style and the veranda in front of the apartments are also similarly relieved. The whole facade is tastefully decorated with geometric and floral panels in plasterwork. This block contains twelve spacious apartments, disposed on either side of the large reception hall (7.47m × 16.01m) which is located in the middle. The access to the reception hall (60'-0"x 30'-0") is gained through another large hall and is backed by a 10'-0" wide veranda on the north.

The lofty ceiling of the central hall, rises to a height of 30'-0" and is lit by eighteen clerestory windows, originally fitted with colored glass panes, whilst the roof of the other rooms are considerably lower in height. The entire floor of this block is laid in black and white imported marble. The back veranda is supported on twenty pairs of Corinthian columns, the capitals of which contain within its acanthus leaves, some classical nude female figures. The western block, placed at right angles to the main block, has about a 200'-0" frontage and faces the lawn on the east. It is also a single-storied building with an arched projecting bay in the middle. A strip of veranda, supported on a series of paired Doric columns, runs the entire length of the block. Entering through the arched central bay there is access into an open of longed court, occupied by typical 'nat-mandap'. Beyond and further to the west, is a Krishna temple. This family shrine has a 50’-0” wide frontage, backed by a 10’-0” wide veranda which carried on a series of double Corinthian columns.

This ‘nat-mandap’ has a humped tin roof supported on a series of iron pillars. Placed at right angles to this block is another north facing single-storied building, which is about 150’-0” long and has central projecting porch. The porch entrance leads on to a long veranda running the entire length of the building behind which there are a series of apartments of varying sizes, somewhat similarly disposed as the former. A long veranda to the rear of this building overlooks a large tank. A series of Corinthian columns, which support veranda, projects as a semi-circle in the middle. The rear of this handsome block is tastefully decorated in plasterwork. The building at present is occupied by the office of the superintendent of police.

To the south-west rears of the second block a couple of very ruined single-storied residential buildings overlook a large tank from its northern bank. The smaller of these two structures presenting a 50’-0” frontage with a veranda, is relieved with a series of paired Doric columns while the larger adjacent block has a 100’-0” frontage with a veranda carried on a row of double Corinthian columns. Sadly both these ruins are now thickly covered with encroaching thickets and accumulating debris. However, the main palace block of the ‘Chhota-Taraf’, perched picturesquely on the western bank of this large tank and now occupied by the District Judge’s Court, is an imposing structure. The 70’-0” long façade has a prominently projecting central triple-arched portico.

The central part of the building, occupied by the reception hall projects above the flanking wings and is crowned by a pyramidal roof with clerestory windows. The parapet of the porch is decorated in plasterwork with two short projecting bays at either end of the building, each decorated with two pairs of Corinthian columns, which are topped by triangular pediments. Entering this palace block though the porch one encounters a long 10’-0” wide veranda with a black and white marble floor. Behind the veranda there is a row of apartments which lead on to the vast reception hall, measuring 7.32 meter x 15.55meter.

The lofty ceiling of reception hall is another hall measuring 50’-0”x20’-0” with a projecting balcony at the far end which overlooks the encircling moat. Although there are fifteen apartments including the central hall. The rear of the building also is tastefully relieved with Ionic capitals, floral motifs and bearded human heads in stucco. The two large halls of the palace, probably flagged in marble, are now devoid of their original floor, but the other apartments have white and black marble floors. Curiously the capitals most of the columns are of composite character with acanthus leaves intertwining Ionic roundels.

নাটোর রাজবাড়ি পাগলা রাজার প্রাসাদ বলেও বহুল পরিচিত যেটি রাজ জমিদার পরিবারের বাসস্থান হিসেবে ব্যাবহার করা হত। রানী ভবানী এখানে বাস করতেন এবং মৃত্যুর পর তাঁর স্বামী এখানকার চা বাগান ও প্রাসাদের উন্নয়ন করেন। সাতটি আলাদা প্রাসাদের পরিত্যাক্ত ধ্বংসাবশেষ ঘিরে থাকা পরিখাগুলোতে এখন দেখা যায় ট্যাংক, অর্কিড এবং ফুলের বাগান। এই প্রাসাদগুলোর মধ্যে মাত্র চারটি এখন টিকে আছে কিন্তু বাকিগুলো ধ্বংসের দ্বারপ্রান্তে। রানীর মৃত্যুর পর তাঁর দত্তক পুত্র রামকৃষ্ণ এই এলাকা শাসন করেন। রামকৃষ্ণের মৃত্যুর পর তাঁর দুই পুত্র শিবনাথ এবং বিশ্বনাথ নাটোর জমিদারবাড়ির যৌথ মালিক হন ১৭৭৮ সালে। পুরো জমিদার বাড়ি তাদের তাঁদের মধ্যে ভাগ করে দেওয়া হয়। এরপর রাজবাড়িতে বড় পুত্রের অংশকে বলা হত “বড় তরফ” এবং ছোট পুত্রের অংশকে বলা হত “ছোট তরফ”।

রানী ভবানীর বড় পুত্র বড় তরফ নামে এবং ছোট পুত্র ছোট তরফ নামে পরিচিত ছিলেন। রানীর মৃত্যুর পর তাঁর দুই পুত্রের মধ্যে জমিদারী ভাগ হয়ে যায়। এখানে অনেক স্মৃতি স্তম্ভ আছে।

বাংলার অন্যতম বৃহত্তম জমিদারী ছিল নাটোরের জমিদারী। এই জমিদারীর সূচনা করেছিলেন কামদেবের দুই পুত্র রামজীবন এবং রঘুনন্দন। রামজীবনের পুত্রবধু ছিলেন রানী ভবানী। ১৮শ শতকে বাংলার রাজনীতিতে রানী ভবানী ছিলেন এক কিংবদন্তি। তাঁর জনপ্রিয়তা ও উদারতার কারনে দেশের প্রতিটি ঘরে তিনি আকর্ষণীয় ব্যাক্তিত্তে পরিণত হয়েছিলেন। জমিদার হবার পর রামজীবন ৫০.৪২ একর জায়গার ওপর দুই স্তরের পরিখার মধ্যে এই রাজবাড়িটি নির্মাণ করেন।

রাজবাড়িটির চতুর্দিক পরিখার মাধ্যমে সুরক্ষিত ছিল। রাজবাড়িতে নয়টি ভবন ছিল যেমনঃ বড় তরফের প্রাসাদ, ছোট তরফের প্রাসাদ, বড় তরফের কাচারি ভবন ও প্রহরী কক্ষ, ছোট তরফের কাচারি ভবন, রানী ভবন, অতিথিশালা, মধু রানী ভবন ইত্যাদি। ছোট তরফের প্রাসাদটি ১৯৮৪ সালে নাটোরের জজ কোর্ট হিসেবে ব্যাবহার করা হয়েছে। এখানে বেশ কিছু পুকুর আছে যার মধ্যে একটি ছিল ছোট তরফের এবং আরেকটি বড় তরফের।এখানে রানীমহল নামে একটি পরিত্যাক্ত প্রাসাদ আছে যেখানে রানী বাস করতেন।