Palace Of Queen Mainamati

Type: Palace

Contributed By: Nayeem

Brief

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]

How to go

It is very easy to access this place. It’s just a kilometer away from the Moynamoti War Cemetery. If you are not familiar with the cemetery, then consider the Comilla Cantonment. This place is 10 TK or less auto rickshaw fare distance from the cantonment gate. If you come from Dhaka, then drop at the cantonment gate from the bus. From there you take a rickshaw to go to there.

How To Reach: Comilla District

Comilla has excellent transport and communication system. Comilla and Dhaka are linked by both road and railway. There is also an airport in the district, but it is not currently being used.

By Road

The road distance of Comilla from Dhaka is 97 kilometers. You can take a bus from Dhaka to reach Comilla. Some of the bus services are listed below for your assistance:
1. Upakule Royal
Komolapur Bus stand
Contact: 01981-002 932, 01981-002 942
2. Tisha
Sayedabad
Contact: 01731-217 322
3. BRTC
Komolapur Bus stand
Contact: 01770-493 775
4. Prime Service
Hatchel Road
Contact: 02-9554496
Buses leave from Dhaka every fifteen minutes starting from 6:15am until 8pm.

Where to Stay

Some of the hotels/motels in Comilla are listed below for your assistance.
1. Ashik Residential Resthouse
Address: 186 Nazrul Avenue, Comilla
Contact: 68781

2. Hotel Abedin
Address: Station Road, Comilla
Contact: 76014

3. Hotel Noorjahan
Address: Dhaka-Chittagong Road, Comilla
Contact: 68737

4. Hotel Sonali
Address: Kandirpar Circle, Comilla
Contact: 63188

Things to do

• See belongings of the palace.
• Take pictures for collection.

Eating Facilities

You can find many quality restaurants here to eat.

Map

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Nawab Faizunnesa Choudhurani (1834–1903) was Zamindar of Homnabad-Pashchimgaon Estate in present-day Comilla District, Bangladesh. She is most famous for her campaign for female education and other social issues. In appreciation of her social work, in 1889 Queen Victoria awarded Faizunnesa the title of "Nawab", making her the first female Nawab in South Asia.

Early life and background: Nawab Faizunnesa Chowdhurani was born in 1834 in the village of Pashchimgaon under Laksham in the district of Comilla. Her father was Ahmed Ali Chowdhury, a descendent of the Mughal emperors and zamindar of Homnabad-Pashchimgaon estate. Faizunnessa was raised in a conservative Muslim family, where the women would maintain a strict purdah system. She received no formal education but she educated herself in her library during leisure time. She was proficient in Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit and Bengali language. In 1860, Faizunnesa was married to a distant cousin and neighboring Zamindar, Muhammad Gazi, becoming his second wife. But the couple became separated for an unknown reason and Faizunnesa began to live with her paternal family.

Career and philanthropy: After her mother's death in 1883, Faizunnesa inherited her property and became Zamindar of Pashchimgaon. She became increasingly involved in social work after becoming Zamindar. In 1873, Faizunnesa Choudhurani established a high school for girls in Comilla, which is one of the earliest female schools privately established in Indian subcontinent, which is now called Nawab Faizunnesa Government Girls' High School. She also founded a school at Pashchimgaon that was later upgraded to a college and now named as Nawab Faizunnesa Degree College.

In 1893, Faizunnesa established a charitable dispensary in her village for women in purdah, particularly destitute women. She also built a hospital for women, Faizunnesa Zenana Hospital in Comilla. In addition, she built mosques and contributed towards the development of roads and ponds. Faizunnesa patronized different newspapers and periodicals, including Bandhab, Dhaka Prakash, Musalman Bandhu, Sudhakar, and Islam Pracharak. Before her death in 1903 she donated her entire property to the nation.

) [1] => Array ( [name] => Monu Mia Zamindar House [post_id] => 7799 [post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/monu-mia-zamindar-house/ [thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/10444626_533621976768790_1482189310827828612_n-300x200.jpg [post_content] =>

Monu Mia Zamindar House, a massive Palace with two conjunctive complex located very near to the Ghorashal Bus-stand of Narsingdi. It was reconstructed in the 1335 BE (Bengali Era) by a land lord of this region named Sazda Mia. This Zamindar House is one of the greatest examples of Classical Colonial Architecture in Bangladesh.

At the front view, meticulously designed Corinthian Columns, arch shaped door, decorated Parapet with leaf's motifs will certainly arise the attraction to observe its inner beauty. Inside of this Palace, it is well furnished and decorated with distinguish design. The temperature in the palace always stays little down than the outside yard.

In the front of the house, there is a huge space for porch. Several ponds surrounding the Palace increases its beauty.

) [2] => Array ( [name] => {:en}Kalikhola Zamindar Bari{:}{:bn}কালীখোলা জমিদার বাড়ি{:} [post_id] => 6188 [post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/kalikhola-zamindar-bari/ [thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/1Kalikhola-Jomidar-Bari21-300x225.jpg [post_content] => {:en}

This is locally named as "Shaha Bari", built by someone rich merchant. The owner of the house left the house during the war 1971 with Pakistan. Before leaving the country, he somehow able to sell his properties.

After a few minutes of walking distance from the "Shaha Bari", there is another old house, and this one is much larger. Actually this is the mansion of the local Zamindar of here. This house is currently occupied by the local "Land Survey" section of Madaripur. 4/5 government employees used to work here. Also the old house is using by the families of these employees. From my observation, this building is not that much older compare to other Palaces from Bangladesh. But still this place is worth to visit.

Initially the people from there was apathetic to help me, and was curious about my presence here. But after a short talking with them, they started to provide information about this house. And one of the employee guided me to visit the whole Mansion.

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‘শাহাবাড়ি’ নামে স্থানীয়দের কাছে পরিচিত কোন এক ধনী বনিক এই জমিদারবাড়িটি নির্মাণ করেছিলেন। বাড়িটির মালিক ১৯৭১ সালের মুক্তিযুদ্ধের সময় বাড়ি ছেড়ে চলে যান এবং দেশত্যাগের পূর্বে জমিদারবাড়িটি বিক্রি করতে সমর্থ হন।

শাহাবাড়ি থেকে কয়েক মিনিট হাঁটলে আরেকটি বড় প্রাচীন বাড়ি আপনার চোখে পরবে যেটি স্থানীয় জমিদারেরা ব্যবহার করতেন। বর্তমানে মাদারীপুরের ভূমি জরিপের কাজে নিয়োজিত চার থেকে পাঁচজন সরকারি কর্মচারী সপরিবারে এই ভবনে বসবাস করছে। এই বাড়িটিকে বাংলাদেশের অন্যান্য জমিদারবাড়ির চাইতে পুরাতন মনে হয় না।

এখানকার স্থানীয় মানুষেরা আপনার উপস্থিতিতে প্রথমদিকে বেশ কৌতূহল বোধ করলেও তাদের সাথে কিছুক্ষন কথা বলার পর আপনাকে এই ভবনের ইতিহাস সম্পর্কে অবহিত করবে। এখানে বসবাস করা কর্মচারীরা আপনাকে পুরো ভবনটি ঘুরিয়ে দেখাতে পারে।

{:} ) [3] => Array ( [name] => Cannons of Panga Zamindar Bari [post_id] => 6322 [post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/panga-zamindar-bari-and-cannons/ [thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Court-house-of-Panga-Zamindar-Bari-300x200-300x200.jpg [post_content] =>

There are two cannons of Mughal period in front of the Border Guard Bangladesh office gate at Kurigram. Those cannons were at Panga Zamindar Bari. From there, the two cannons replace here.

[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]

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