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Pancharatna Govinda Temple in Puthia, Bangladesh.

Where to go in Bangladesh

Dhakeshwari National Temple

Dhakeshwari National Temple

The Dhakeshwari National Temple is a very popular Hindu temple that can be found in Dhaka, particularly at the southwest of the Salimullah Hall of Dhaka University. The meaning of Dhakeshwari is “Goddess of Dhaka.” This temple has become knwons as the “National Temple” of Bangladesh because the temple is owned by the state.

Dhakeshwari National Temple has been recognized as the most important Hindu place of worship in the country since the Ramna Kali Mandir, which used to hold the title, was destroyed in 1971 during the Bangladesh Liberation War.

This temple serves as host to the puja, or worship, of the goddess Durga. This is an event that happens annually. The main temple hosts the statue of the goddess Durga, while four identical structures found to the west is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Aside from religious activities, there are other events that are staged at this temple. These include concerts and charity drives such as the blood drives and inoculation programs that held in the temple every year and are open to all those who live in the city of Dhaka.

Teesta River

In the rainy season, on the outskirts of Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, all fields are filled with water Teesta River is a river situated at the northern part of the country. Its total length spans up to 315 kilometers.

Teesta River serves as the lifeline of the Indian state of Sikkim. The river flows along nearly the whole length of the said state and carves out the green Himalayan tropical river valleys.

This is a nice place to view the sunrise or witness the sunset.

Sonargaon

Sadarbari (Sardar Bari) Rajbari palace, Folk Arts Museum in Sonargaon town, Bangladesh Sonargaon is known as the ancient capital of the kingdom of the great ruler Isa Khan in Bengal. The place is filled with art relics, mosaic ornaments, and historical places.

Panam City, which used to be the center of action for the upper middle-class men of the 19th century Sonargaon, is linked to the main city area by three vital bridges that still exist up to this day. It was vacated in 1965, during the Indo-Pak war, but you can still view its ruins to this day.

You will also find in Sonargaon the Musa Khan Mosque, which is situated at the gravesite of Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah. This very notable structure is said to have been built either by Isa Khan or by his son, Musa Khan.

Another historical treat in the area is known as the Hajiganj Fort, which used to be Isa Khan’s main tactical fort.

Many of the historically and culturally rich spots in Sonargaon face many threats, which include vandalism and flooding. Fortunately, in 2008, Sonargaon was placed on the watch list of the 100 Most Endangered Sites in this planet by the World Monuments Fund. Hopefully, this action will aid in this valuable site’s preservation.

Chittagong

Ship breaking yard in Chittagong, Bangladesh

One of the most vital industries in Bangladesh is shipping, and one of its busiest seaports is the Port of Chittagong. This is located near the city of Chittagong, at the estuary of the Karnaphuli River, which can be found in Patenga.

Aside from its economic importance, though, the port also holds sights that a tourist would love to see. One of these is the Chittagong Hill Tracts, where the largest concentration of Bangladesh’s different ethnic groups can be found.

The man-made Foy’s Lace holds an amusement park, where you can get water rides, follow scenic walking trails, and watch concerts on floating stages.

Right next door to the lake is Chittagong Zoo.

For culture buffs, you can visit the Heritage Park and the Chittagong Ethnological Museum.

Shait Gumbad Mosque

Shait Gumbad Mosque The Shait Gumbad Mosque is a famous mosque that has existed for nearly 600 years.

Also referred to as the Sixty Dome Mosque, it is situated in Bagerhat in southern Bangladesh. The Shait Gumbad Mosque is one of the largest historical mosques in the country of Bangladesh. In the Indian subcontinent, it is praised for its impressive Muslim architectural structures.

The structure was built back in the 15th century by Khan Jahan Ali. The walls are unusually thick, made from tapered brick. There are 77 low domes inside and one dome on every corner.

There are many aisles that serve as divisions in its interior. Terracotta was used to decorate most of its parts.

The structure looks like a fortress, and there are three smaller mosques that can be found near it. These are Bibi Begni’s Mosque, which is found on its western side; the Chunakhola Mosque, located half a mile northwest of Bibi Begni’s Mosque; and the Singar Mosque, which is a single-domed mosque like the Chunakhola, located nearly half a mile southeast of Shait Gumbad.

The Town of Pabna

The Town of Pabna There are many theories as to how Pabna was named. One historian, Radharaman Saha, says the town was named after the Paboni branch of the Ganges River.

Others say Pabna is a corruption of panmbah, which is the Persian word for cotton, because once upon a time, a number of the town’s residents wove cotton for a living. There is also a legend that a robber named Pobana once lived here. He was known for helping the poor, and so the people named the town after him.

From just the stories on the origin of the town’s name, you can see that Pabna is a town full of culture and tradition. That culture is seen not just in its folklore but in its infrastructures as well.

At Jor Bangla Paara, you will find the Jor Bangla, a Hindu temple. It is one of Pabna’s biggest archaeological attractions. Sadly, though, the temple has never been used because while it was being made, a desecration took place on its site.

The town also houses two of the most spectacular Hindu temples in the northern portion of the country, one of which is the Jagannath Temple at Chatmohar Upazila. The other is the Varara Moshjid, a Mughal-era mosque found at the southeastern portion of the town.

Saint Martin’s Island

Saint Martin’s Island Saint Martin’s Island is a small island found at the northeastern part of the Bay of Bengal. For the local people, the place is often referred to as Narikel Jinjira. Around the main island, there are tiny islets, which are locally called Chheradia, or Siradia, which translates to “separated island.”

There are bazaars, schools, and fish-landing sites in the place. There are also up to 182 species of wildlife that thrive in the island.

People flock to St. Martin’s Island because of its natural beauty. A lot of tourists like to bring home coral souvenirs from the island. As a result, the island’s corals are being harvested to be sold to tourists. This has resulted in the island’s losing around a quarter of its coral reefs in less than a decade.

Should you visit St. Martin’s Island, be sure not to engage in the coral trade and, as a result, contribute to the area’s degradation. Do not buy coral souvenirs. Take nothing but pictures from the island.

Cox’s Bazar

Saint Martin’s Island of Bangladesh Cox’s Bazar features one of the world’s longest natural sandy beaches.

The term Cox’s Bazar was derived from Captain Hiram Cox, an officer who served in British India and died in 1799. The captain was known as a compassionate man, earning him the hearts and admiration of the locals.

This beach is actually one of the most visited tourist spots in the country, but due to lack of publicity, it has yet to be recognized as a major international tourist destination.

What can be found here? It has a huge port and a health resort. Its main attraction, though, is the beach. There are hotels surrounding the area, so lodging won’t be a problem.

There are other nice spots that can be found near the town. There is the big Buddhist monastery known as the Aggmeda Khyang. People also flock to the Ramu village, which is popular for its homemade cigars and various handicrafts.

There is also the Dulhazra Safari Park, which serves as a sanctuary to numerous native elephants and other kinds of animals, including crocodiles, bears, lions, Bengal tigers, and a lot more.

The District of Munshiganj

The district of Munshiganj was historically known as Bikrampur. It is part of the Dhaka Division in Bangladesh.

This district used to be the political and cultural center of ancient Bengal (that is, during the time when the district was still called Bikrampur).

There are various places of interest that can be found here. At the Munshiganj town, for instance, you will find the sixth friendship bridge of Bangladesh and China, known as the Muktarpur bridge. This is situated at the river of Dhaleswari. The bridge also serves as link between Munshiganj and Dhaka.

At the town of Sirajdikhan, you can feast your eyes on various mosques and temples, including the single-domed Talukdar-bari Mosque.

Munshiganj is also known for being one of the largest producers of potatoes in the country. In addition, it also produces many different kinds of vegetables, as well as bananas and sugar cane.

Kantanagar Temple

Pancharatna Govinda Temple in Puthia, Bangladesh. Kantanagar Temple, also known as the Kantaji Temple, can be found at the Dinajpur district in Bangladesh.

This amazing block of religious artwork is hailed as one of the most impressive Hindu monuments in the country.

This three-storey edifice was built in 1722 by the son of Maharaja Pran Nath, named Ram Nath. Even though it was hit by an earthquake during the 19th century, it remained standing because it was constructed using only the best types of bricks and terracotta.

The wall of the temple has paintings that convey the story of Krishna-Lila, Ramayan-Mohabharat, and Dev-Devies.

While in Dinajpur, you may also want to check out nearby attractions such as the Dinajpur Rajbari and Rajbari Kali Temple.