Raja Viratnagar

Type: Palace

Contributed By: Nayeem

Brief

Raja Viratnagar (রাজা বিরাটনগর) palace is the most valuable historical place of Gaibandha. Raja Virat and Panchopandob (পঞ্চপাণ্ডব) whose name are seen in the play Mahabharat. In 1960, Major Sherwill mentioned this as a “Brad Rajar Ghar”. Once upon a time, there was a huge fort in this place.

Great historian Rakhaldas Bondopaddhay (রাখালদাস বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়) published a report in 1925-26 where he mentioned five bronze sculptures and 4-5 mound which were discovered in during the year 1910. Raja Virat had a huge barns (গোশালা) and about 60000 cows were about. The two younger brother of Panchapandob, namely Nakul (নকুল) and Shodeb (সহদেব), had the responsibility to take care of that barns. For that reason, the word Gaibandha came from the word barns.

How to go

First you have to go to Gobindaganj and then hire a CNG for going to Shorgachi. Finally you can hire a van or rickshaw to reach the Biratnagar.

Dhaka and Gaibandha is linked by road. You can take a bus from Dhaka to reach Gaibandha district. Some of the bus services have been listed below for your assistance.

1. S R Travels,
Counters:
Gabtoli, contact: 02-8011226,
Kollanpur, contact: 02-8013793, 01711-394801,
Abdullahpur, contact: 0171944023,
Uttara, contact: 01552315318

2. Shah Fathe Ali,
Moakhali, Contact: 01193-221 085,
Uttara, Contact: 01193-221 084

3. Alhamra Travels,
Gabtoli, Contact: 88-02-9005612, 01721-802 031

4. Alhamra Paribahan,
Gabtoli, phone : 02-9005612, mobile : 01721802031

5. SR Travels
Gabtoli, contact: 02-8011226

There is one intercity train available that has one stoppage station at Gaibandha. Necessary information of the train service has been given below for your assistance:

1. Lalmoni Express:
Train operates every day except Fridays.
It may take 8 hours 17 minutes to reach the destination.

Where to Stay

There are some notable hotels In Gaibandha. Some of the hotel services have been listed below for your assistance:

1. Hotel Al-Saiful
Shahid Suhrawardy Road,
Moddhopara, Gaibandha.
Mobile: 01962-615415, 01764-990822, Phone: 0541-62090

2. Hotel R-Rahman
Shaheed Anwar Hossen Sarak, Gaibandha
Phone: 0541-61481, Mobile: 01713-270283, 01715464748

3. Hotel Rajmahal,
DB road, bus stand, Gaibandha
Mobile: 01737805563

Things to do

1. You may capture a lot of pictures of Viratnagar. It will obviously surprise you that how such a big area had been used for the governance.
2. You may be charmed the village area of Viratnagar.
3. Local foods items are very tasty to eat. So do not miss to take these food items such as puri, gorom misty etc.

Eating Facilities

Viratnagar is not very far away from Gobindaganj. Gobindaganj has a lot of restaurants with good facilities. Moreover, you may be attracted with local food items. Referred to where to eat in Gaibandha, click here

Map

Array ( [0] => Array ( [name] => Tahkhana Complex [post_id] => 3614 [post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/tahkhana-complex/ [thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Tahkhana-Complex42-300x225.jpg [post_content] => Tahkhana Complex is located on the bank of a pond called Zahedulbala at a distance of 500m. towards north-west of Chhoto Sona Mosque. Two-storeyed in plan, the building called Tahkhana measures 35.35 x 11.58 m. On its first floor, there are 17 rooms of which two are octagonal. The octagonal room on the north-west was used for performing Salah, while the rest for different purposes, viz-saloon, recreation, dining, meeting hammam etc. The hammam complex proper is located on the south if the Tahkhana. There is a staircase in the south-east corner which leads down to the water level of the pond. There were provisions of supplying both cold and hot water following a channel of terracotta pipe, to the hammam complex. The entire building was constructed with small bricks laid in lime mortar. The wall of the building is decorated with niches and different kind of art motifs at its different points. There are two views regarding the construction of this building. Firstly, Shah Shuja used to come and stay here for his administrative visit, rest and recreational purpose and to meet his spiritual guide Shah Niamatullah (R). Secondly, to provide residential accommodation to Shah Niamatullah (R) during the year 1655 AD. A mosque and tomb of Shah Niamatullah (R) are located on the north-west and north of the building respectively. At present, these buildings are protected monuments by the Department of Archaeology. ) [1] => Array ( [name] => Haturia Zamindar Bari [post_id] => 5290 [post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/haturia-zamindar-bari-%e0%a6%b9%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%9f%e0%a7%81%e0%a6%b0%e0%a6%bf%e0%a7%9f%e0%a6%be-%e0%a6%9c%e0%a6%ae%e0%a6%bf%e0%a6%a6%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%b0-%e0%a6%ac%e0%a6%be%e0%a7%9c%e0%a6%bf/ [thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Haturia-Zamidar-bari-1-300x210.jpg [post_content] =>

Haturia is the birth place of Zamindar Sekander Ali Chowdhury who was the Recognized Muslim Zamindar in British Period. Haturia is the place in Gosairhat Upazila where once upon a time, there was Stimar Station. The old structure of Haturia Zamindar Bari is now destroyed for lack of caring. If Government or any other not care it or take any steps, it will be distinct as soon as possible.

) [2] => Array ( [name] => Chakma Rajbari [post_id] => 756 [post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/chakma-rajbari/ [thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Chakma-Rajbari-Rajib-Bangladesh-1-300x169.jpg [post_content] =>

Chakma Rajbari is one of the most beautiful Rajbari, which is located in Rangamati. This Rajbari was constructed by Raja Tridiv Roy, father of Raja Devasish Roy in 1960 when the earlier palace went under water due to commissioning of Kaptai dam. It has been learnt that Raja Devasish Roy is in Thailand. Every year number of visitors are come here to see this beautiful House. Chakma Rajbari is one of the major visiting attractions in Rangamati. This royal house represents the tradition and culture of Chakma (চাকমা).

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrCHfXy_if0[/embed] ) [3] => 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. ) )