Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[name] => {:en}Natore Rajbari{:}{:bn}নাটোর রাজবাড়ি{:}
[post_id] => 3706
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/natore-rajbari/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/IMG_20150723_053634-300x225.jpg
[post_content] => {:en}
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.
{:}{:bn}
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।
{:}
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[1] => Array
(
[name] => {:en}Shoilo Propat{:}{:bn}শৈলপ্রপাত{:}
[post_id] => 1035
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/shoilo-propat/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Bandorban-158-300x225.jpg
[post_content] => {:en}
The waterfall named Shoilo Propat at Milanchhari, is 4 km away from the town on the road to Thanchi. Shoilo Propat is one of the most visited natural falls in Bangladesh. During the rainy season the flow of this fall becomes vigorous. The water of this fall is chilly and transparent. Near the Shoilo Propat 2-3 villages have grown up for the availability of water. It is a good source for drinking water and household use for the local community. There is a small market near the Shoilo Propat for trading local people’s handicrafts, hand loom products and food. You can closely see the struggling lifestyle of this regions community.
{:}{:bn}
বান্দরবান শহর থেকে ৪ কিলোমিটার দূরে থানচিমুখী সড়কে শৈলপ্রপাত নামক এই ঝর্ণাটি অবস্থিত। বাংলাদেশের প্রাকৃতিক ঝর্ণাগুলোর মধ্যে শৈলপ্রপাত অন্যতম যেটি দেখতে প্রচুর পর্যটক এসে থাকে। বর্ষাকালে এই ঝর্ণায় পানির প্রবাহ তীব্র আকার ধারন করে। শৈলপ্রপাতের পানি স্বচ্ছ এবং ঠাণ্ডা। এই ঝর্ণার পানি ব্যবহার করতে পারার কারনে শৈলপ্রপাতের কাছে কয়েকটি গ্রাম গড়ে উঠেছে। স্থানীয়রা এই ঝর্ণার পানি পান করা এবং গৃহস্থলীর কাজে ব্যবহার করে। স্থানীয়দের তৈরি হস্তশিল্প সামগ্রী, হাতে তৈরি পোশাক এবং বিভিন্ন খাদ্য বাজারজাতকরনের জন্য শৈলপ্রপাতের কাছে একটি ছোট বাজার গড়ে উঠেছে।
{:}
)
[2] => Array
(
[name] => Bepin Park
[post_id] => 21983
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/bepin-park/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Bepin-Park-8-300x169.jpg
[post_content] =>
Mymensingh (ময়মনসিংহ), situated beside the Brahmaputra river was formerly called as Nasirabad. It is a city in Mymensingh District in central region of Bangladesh. This city is clearly marked by the old Brahmaputra river flowing along its north. Shambhuganj (শম্ভুগঞ্জ) is situated on the other side of the Brahmaputra, connected by the Shambhuganj Bridge. From the very beginning of the urbanization of this city, it was enriched with many features that made this city fulfilled. Bepin Park (বিপিন পার্ক) is one of the well known features among those.
Bepin Park (বিপিন পার্ক) is a common place to go around in Mymensingh City, very close to Brahmaputra River. It is a small park near Bara Bazaar area, built as a recreation center for child, youths and age old people. Sitting in the brick benches inside the park an explorer can get the whole view of Brahmaputra river. From the dawn to dusk it is open for all visitors. This park owns so many rides for kids which has made this park unique from others. Besides, it also has sitting arrangement for public.
To enhance the beauty of city, Bepin Park was first Inaugurated by DC M Sayful Islam on 1st January, 1980. Later, its beauty was developed & Inaugurated by the city Mayor Ikramul Haque Titu. A lot of people come here everyday with Child and senior members for wondering around and refreshment.
)
[3] => Array
(
[name] => Naf River
[post_id] => 7073
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/naf-river/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Naaf-nodi-bangladesh-11-300x225.jpg
[post_content] =>
Naf River (নাফ নদী) is the only river that is shared between Myanmar and Bangladesh. The eastern coast of the river is Arakan, state of Burma, and the western coast is Teknaf of Bangladesh.
Naf River is originated from the Arakan Hills of Myanmar and after flowing as a trans-boundary river, it finally falls into the Bay of Bengal. The river is having 1-3 kilometer width between the two countries at some places and the depth of the river is having 130 ft. an average depth and highest depth is 400 ft.
Being near to the ocean, the water of the river is salty. Also the water level has an ups and downs based on the high and low tide from the sea. Keeping similarity with the Bay of Bengal, the river has almost same color of the ocean.
Tourists of St. Martin's island are being carried by the ship over the river. During the cruising, you can see lot of boats were floating over the river. Boatmen from the both country use to catch fish on a regular basis.
)
)
