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] => Hussaini Dalan [post_id] => 7309 [post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/hussaini-dalan/ [thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/hussaini_dalan1-300x225.jpg [post_content] =>

Hussaini Dalan (হোসেনী দালান), some people pronounce as Hosaini Dalan, is another edifice from Dhaka. This is located beside the Nazimuddin Road of Old Dhaka. It is believed as a Shia Shrine, and was built during 17th century. There is a pond in front of the building.

It was built by Syed Murad during the governorship of Shah Shuja to commemorate the martyrdom of Al-Hussain, the grandson of our holly prophet Muhammad. Shah Shuja was a Sunni Muslim, but he had a predilection for Shia and patronized several such institutions.

This building has gone through several renovation and none of its antiquity left for the visitors. People only used to visit this place for its historical value. During the British period it was repaired heavily at 1807 and 1810. Also during the massive earthquake of 1897 caused a severe damage over this edifice. Now a days it just looks like a modern day's building covering with rich tiles with heavy ornate. The Photograph was taken by Fritz Kapp in 1904 with a view of the Imambara Hussaini Dalan in Dacca (now Dhaka), overlooking the tank.

During the first 10 days of Muharram, Shia people used to gather at this place to mourn for Al-Hussain. Though it’s a festival of Shia people, but local Sunni people used to join with them and bemoan with them. This ends at the day of Ashura. More about this building and festival is available at Wikipedia.

) [1] => Array ( [name] => Naldanga Zamindar Bari [post_id] => 5068 [post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/naldanga-zamindar-bari/ [thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/DSC085911-300x225.jpg [post_content] =>

Naldanga Zamindar Bari (নলডাঙ্গা জমিদার বাড়ি) is a very significant historical place of Gaibandha. It was the birth place of Tulshi Lahiri, a great artist, actor as well as writer. Surendrochandro, father of Tulshi Lahiri, decorated this colorful Zamindar Bari. Cheratar is one of the dramatic book of Tukshi Lahiri which is still included in books in the intermediate standard level in Kolkata.

At British period, Naldanga Zamindar Bari was one of the vital center for collecting revenue of North Bengal. Shibchandra and Shomvochandra were the two brothers who first came to Naldanga and founded the Zamindar Bari. Shibchandra was the grandfather of Tulshi Lahiri. Back of the Zamindar Bari, a relics of Mandir is still seen here. In front of the wall of Zamindar Bari, many valuable sculptures had been hooked, but most of them were stolen or snatched by the local people. Only one sculpture was rescued and still unharmed.

) [2] => Array ( [name] => Balapur Zamindar House [post_id] => 17404 [post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/balapur-zamindar-house/ [thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Balapur-Zamindar-House-2-200x300.jpg [post_content] =>

In different location of Narsingdi district there are a number of Archaeological sites which attract traveler and explorer to visit these places recurrently. Balapur Zamindar House (বালাপুর জমিদার বাড়ি) is one of the old palatial buildings in this district. If someone interested to visit the oldest buried civilization area in Bangladesh named as Wari-Bateshwar, then it would be better to take a glance at Balapur Zamindar House while moving there. It’s situated at Balapur village, Madhabdi Upazila of Narsingdi district.

This Zamindar House was built by local Zamindar named 'Nobin Chandra Saha' in 1906. It is also known as Zamindar Kali Babur Bari (কালী বাবুর বাড়ি). It’s a complex of buildings scattered in a particular zone. Basically, most of the buildings are three storied and some are one or two storied. Dept. of Archaeology in Bangladesh doesn’t announced it as a protected site yet. So like many others old houses in Bangladesh it is on the way of ruining.

No matter how decorative and ornamented this house is, it’s almost abandoned and some people who living in this house are so called ancestor of Zamindari estate at Balapur. Some local people are selling all the floor tiles made by white stone desperately.

But, Still today this beautiful palace standing with its own identity and spreading the essence of colonial palatial architecture in Bengal. If proper steps being taken this structure can be preserved & conserved for the future exhibiotion.

) [3] => Array ( [name] => Gouripur Lodge [post_id] => 22266 [post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/gouripur-lodge/ [thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/P_20151014_090510_1_p-300x169.jpg [post_content] => Gouripur Lodge (গৌরীপুর লজ) is a signature of golden Zamindari period and an old edifice in Mymensingh town. This archaic building is located near the main town. One can go there using rickshaw easily. It is very near to the Boro Bazar. Though, the purpose and time of establishment is not known to all; however, it can be discovered if further research is conducted there. It was made using iron, tin and wood. Structure of the building is similar to the Zamindar Mansion of that period. History tells that it was built by Brozendra Kishor Ray Chowdhury (ব্রজেন্দ্র কিশোর রায় চৌধুরী). Now it is being used as Sonali Bank Corporate office of Mymensingh city. Government officers and few of their subordinates are currently living at that mansion. It has around 20 rooms inside. Anyone can visit there at anytime. You may not have the permission to enter inside, but easily can get access to the mansion premises. ) )

Similar Places

Hussaini Dalan

Hussaini Dalan (হোসেনী দালান), some people pronounce…

Naldanga Zamindar Bari

Naldanga Zamindar Bari (নলডাঙ্গা জমিদার বাড়ি) is a…

Balapur Zamindar House

In different location of Narsingdi district there…

Gouripur Lodge

Gouripur Lodge (গৌরীপুর লজ) is a signature of golden…

Talk to Us

Questions, issues or concerns? I'd love to help you!