Attractive Places of Bangladesh

Lots of colourful and ornamental pagodas and temples located in different areas of the country attract tourists from home and abroad. Among the temples Kalinarayana Temple (Joydevpur), Kantaji temple (Dinajpur), Dhakeshwari temple (Dhaka), Joy Kali Mandir (Dhaka). Adinath temple (Moheshkhali) and so on are noteworthy.

In the western part of the country there are several 3 to 4 centuries old temples. Jessoreswari of Khulna is the most famous among them. In addition there are Raghunath mandir and Gopinath mandir of Abhoynagar, Ganesh mandir of Jhenaidaha, Krishna and Durga mandirs of Moh­ammadpur, Shiv mandir of Magura, Kodala Moth of Khulna, Lakhsminarayan and Jorhbangla mandirs of Jessore, Pancha-Rotno mandir or Noldanga, In Kushtia, Shilaidaha, which is associated with Rabindranath, Lalon's tomb and Mosharaf Hossain's homestead are a must-see for all.

There are several temples and ashrams in Coastal Bengal/ Jal Bangla. The names of the Kali temple. Sugandha pith in Barisal are noteworthy. A few miles north is the 400-year-old Maha-Bishnu temple at the Lakhsman kathi village, east of Batajore, In Madaripur one will find the Pronob Mott, the former headquarters or the Bharat Sevasram Sangha at Bajitpur village, founded by the nationalist and reformer saint, Swami Pranavananda Maharaj.

In Southeast Bengal there are at least 50 famous temples and viharas in Chittagong city alone. Some of the well-known ones are: Raj­rajeswari Kalibari, Chatteswari Kalibari, Panchanan dham, Nandan-kanan Buddhist Mandir, Brahmo mandir, Koibalya-dham, Jagatpur ashram, Sitakunda, Pancha-batika of Swami Vivekananda fame, etc. In and around Comilla there are Abhoy Ashram. Iswar Pathshala. Gandhi Ashram of Noakhali, the half-­a-millennium old Chandi-mura temple, the 10^th century Maynamati Vihara and many more.

Sylhet has hundreds of famous temples dedicated to Lords Kali, Shiv and Sri Krishna. Bagala Matar Mandir of Habiganj and Kalibari of Jaintiapur are known throughout the subcontinent.

In North Bengal kings and zamindars (landed gentry) have built many temples, Mosques, palaces and ashrams. One of the most famous temples is the terra cotta Kantaji Mandir of Dinajpur. In addition, Bogra's Karatoa Tott tirtha, the Bardhan-Kuthi Mandir of Rangpur, the Shiv and Gobindo mandirs of Putia deserve special mention.

Besides Paharpur and Mahasthangarh, other noteworthy Buddhist religious establishments include Bhasu Vihar, Halud Vihar, and Sitakot. There are many khyang or pagodas in Ramu upazila of Cox's Bazar and Chittagong.

the reign of Sultan Alauddin Husain Shah (1493-1519). Originally it was roofed over with 15 gold-gilded domes including the 3 Chauchala domes in the middle row, from which it derives its curious name.

Puthia has the largest number of historically important Hindu structures in Bangladesh. The most amazing of the village’s monuments is the Govinda Temple, which was erected between 1823 and 1895 by one of the maharanis of the Puthia estate. It’s a large square structure crowned by a set of miniature ornamental towers. It’s covered by incredibly intricate designs in terracotta depicting scenes from Hindu epics, which give it the appearance of having been draped by a huge red oriental carpet

The ornate Siva Temple is an imposing and excellent example of the five-spire Hindu style of temple architecture common in northern India. The ornate temple has three tapering tiers topped by four spires. It’s decorated with stone carvings and sculptural works, which unfortunately were disfigured during the War of Liberation. The village’s 16-century Jagannath Temple is one of the finest examples of a hut-shaped temple: measuring only 5m (16ft) on each side, it features a single tapering tower, which rises to a height of 10m (33ft). Its western facade is adorned with terracotta panels of geometric design.

Puthia is 23km (14mi) east of Rajshahi and 16km (10mi) west of Natore.

Located at a distance of about 7 km. from the town of Meherpur. First provisional revolutionary government of Bangladesh was declared here on 14 April during the liberation war in 1971. A monument has been built to commemorate the historical occasion. Facilities department is also constructing a tourist facilities centre there in favour of BPC.

Located at Mirpur, the memorial was built to commemorate the intellectuals who were killed in 1971 by the Pakistan's occupation forces just two days ahead of the Victory Day.

Named in honor of an Islamic saint, the Shrine of Hazrat Bayazid Bostami is located on the stop of a gently sloping hill at Nasirabad, near Chittagong in Bangladesh. The dargah, or shrine, complex consists of the tomb that has been enclosed in a modern structure, along with an ancient mosque believed to date back to the time of the last great Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb (1658-1707). While locals acknowledge that the body of Hazrat Bayazid Bostami is not in fact buried there, the tomb is nonetheless the object of veneration for the many worshippers who visit there each day.

A tank located in the stretch of ground in front of the tomb is home to a large number of a rare and critically endangered fresh-water black soft-shell turtles known as Bostami Kasim (Aspideretes nigricans). Legend has it that these turtles are the descendents of evil spirits that incurred the wrath of the renowned saint, or prophet (Hazrat) Bayazid Bostami, when he was visiting the area more than a thousand years ago. The evil spirits are believed to have been transformed into turtles as a punishment and are doomed to spend eternity in this pool. However, this confinement is not such a hardship for the turtles, as in addition to being cared for and protected by the Chittagong Endowment Committee overseeing the Shrine of Hazrat Bayazid Bostami, they are fed bits of banana and fried rice by visitors. The tank is surrounded by steps leading down onto a platform just below the surface of the water. The turtles are so accustomed to the presence of people that they gather on this platform when called, each one trying to stretch its neck longer than its neighbor’s in an attempt to be the first to receive a tasty tidbit. Sheltered nesting grounds within the enclosure create an environment favorable for the turtles to produce offspring.

The tomb with sarcophagus was originally discovered in 1831, and at the time was enclosed by a wall with protective pillars. This has been replaced by a modern structure. The ancient three-domed mosque, however, remains unchanged. The central dome is larger than the other two and the building has an octagonal tower, capped and decorated with cupolas, at each of the four corners. The interior of the mosque is sparsely decorated, while the mihrab on the qibla wall (indicating the direction of Mecca) has an identical projection on the opposite side.

Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer (e.g. an oratory) as well as the domestic quarters and workplace(s) of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone (hermits).

The earliest extant use of the term monastērion is by the first century AD Jewish philosopher Philo (On The Contemplative Life, ch. III).

Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only a hermit, or in the case of communities anything from a single building housing only a one senior and two or three junior monks or nuns, to vast complexes and estates housing tens or hundreds.

In English usage, the term "monastery" is generally used to denote the buildings of a community of monks, while "convent" tends to be used for the buildings accommodating female monastics (nuns). The term "nunnery" for the latter is outmoded. Various religions may use these terms in more specific ways.

In mid-15th century, a Muslim colony was founded in the inhospitable mangrove forest of the Sundarbans near the seacoast in the Bagerhat district by an obscure saint-general, named Ulugh Khan Jahan. He was the earliest torchbearer of Islam in the South who laid the nucleus of an affluent city during the reign of Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah (1442-59), the city was known as 'Khalifatabad' (present Bagerhat). Khan Jahan built numberous mosques, tanks, roads and other public buildings, the spectacular ruins of which are focused around the most imposing and largest multidomed mosques in Bangladesh, known as the Shait-Gambuj Masjid (160'x108'). The serene and imposing monument, stands on the eastern bank of a vast sweet-water tank, clustered around by the heavy foliage of a low-lying countryside. The mosque roofed over with 77 squat domes, including 7 chauchala or four-sided pitched Bengali domes in the middle row. The vast prayer hall, although provided with 11 arched doorways on east and 7 each on north and south for ventilation and light, presents a dark and sombre appearance inside. It is divided into 7 longitudinal aisles and 11 deep rows by a forest of slender stone columns, from which spring rows of endless arches, supporting the domes. Six feet thick, slightly tapering walls and hollow and round, almost detached corner towers, resembling the bastions of fortress, each capped by small rounded cupolas, recall the Tughlaq architecture of Delhi.

Armenian church (1781 A.D.), St. Mary's Cathedral at Ramna, Church of Bangladesh or former Holy Rosary Church (1677 A.D.) at Tejgaon.

Lots of colourful and ornamental pagodas and temples located in different areas of the country attract tourists from home and abroad. Among the temples Kalinarayana Temple (Joydevpur), Kantaji temple (Dinajpur), Dhakeshwari temple (Dhaka), Joy Kali Mandir (Dhaka). Adinath temple (Moheshkhali) and so on are noteworthy.

In the western part of the country there are several 3 to 4 centuries old temples. Jessoreswari of Khulna is the most famous among them. In addition there are Raghunath mandir and Gopinath mandir of Abhoynagar, Ganesh mandir of Jhenaidaha, Krishna and Durga mandirs of Moh­ammadpur, Shiv mandir of Magura, Kodala Moth of Khulna, Lakhsminarayan and Jorhbangla mandirs of Jessore, Pancha-Rotno mandir or Noldanga, In Kushtia, Shilaidaha, which is associated with Rabindranath, Lalon's tomb and Mosharaf Hossain's homestead are a must-see for all.

There are several temples and ashrams in Coastal Bengal/ Jal Bangla. The names of the Kali temple. Sugandha pith in Barisal are noteworthy. A few miles north is the 400-year-old Maha-Bishnu temple at the Lakhsman kathi village, east of Batajore, In Madaripur one will find the Pronob Mott, the former headquarters or the Bharat Sevasram Sangha at Bajitpur village, founded by the nationalist and reformer saint, Swami Pranavananda Maharaj.

In Southeast Bengal there are at least 50 famous temples and viharas in Chittagong city alone. Some of the well-known ones are: Raj­rajeswari Kalibari, Chatteswari Kalibari, Panchanan dham, Nandan-kanan Buddhist Mandir, Brahmo mandir, Koibalya-dham, Jagatpur ashram, Sitakunda, Pancha-batika of Swami Vivekananda fame, etc. In and around Comilla there are Abhoy Ashram. Iswar Pathshala. Gandhi Ashram of Noakhali, the half-­a-millennium old Chandi-mura temple, the 10^th century Maynamati Vihara and many more.

Sylhet has hundreds of famous temples dedicated to Lords Kali, Shiv and Sri Krishna. Bagala Matar Mandir of Habiganj and Kalibari of Jaintiapur are known throughout the subcontinent.

In North Bengal kings and zamindars (landed gentry) have built many temples, Mosques, palaces and ashrams. One of the most famous temples is the terra cotta Kantaji Mandir of Dinajpur. In addition, Bogra's Karatoa Tott tirtha, the Bardhan-Kuthi Mandir of Rangpur, the Shiv and Gobindo mandirs of Putia deserve special mention.

Besides Paharpur and Mahasthangarh, other noteworthy Buddhist religious establishments include Bhasu Vihar, Halud Vihar, and Sitakot. There are many khyang or pagodas in Ramu upazila of Cox's Bazar and Chittagong.

Sabarmati Ashram also known as Gandhi Ashram, Harijan Ashram, or Satyagraha Ashram) is located in the Ahmedabad suburb of Sabarmati adjoining to famous Ashram Road, at the bank of River Sabarmati,4 miles away from the city Town Hall. This was one of the residences of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. This ashram is now converted in to the national monument by the Government of India due to its significance in Indian independence movement in the form ofDandi March in 1930.

The ashram was originally established at the Kocharab Bungalow of Jivanlal Desai on 25 May 1915. The Ashram was then shifted on 17 June 1917 to a piece of open land on the banks of the river Sabarmati. Reasons for this shift included: Gandhi wanted to do some experiments in living (e.g. farming, animal husbandry, cow breeding, khadi and related constructive activities for which he was in search of this kind of barren land.) It was believed that this was ancient ashram site ofDadhichi Rishi who had donated his bones for a righteous war;, but his actual ashram lies in Naimisharanya, near lucknow , u.p, it is between a jail and a crematorium and he believed that a satyagrahi has invariably to go to either place. Mahatama Gandhi said, "This is the right place for our activities to carry on the search for truth and develop fearlessness, for on one side are the iron bolts of the foreigners, and on the other the thunderbolts of Mother Nature."

While at the Ashram, Gandhi formed a tertiary school that mainly focused on manual labour, agriculture, and literacy to advance his efforts for nation's self-sufficiency. It was also from here on the 12 March 1930 that Gandhi marched towards Dandi,241 miles from the Ashram with 78 companions in protest of theBritish Salt Law , which taxed Indian salt in an effort to promote sales of British salt in India. This mass awakening filled the British jails with 60 000 freedom fighters.

Later the government seized their property, Gandhi, in sympathy with them, responded by asking the Government to forfeit the Ashram. Then Government, however, did not oblige. He had by now already decided on 22 July 1933 to disband the Ashram, which later became asserted place after the detention of many freedom fighters, and then some local citizens decided to preserve it. On 12 March 1930 he vowed that he would not return to the Ashram until India won independence. Although this was won on 15 August 1947, when India was declared a free nation, Gandhi was assassinated in January 1948.

This is another tourist spot, which is in Jessore district, under Khulna Division. Sagordari is famous for the residence of Great poet Michael Modhusudon Datta, famous for his wonderful composition of sonnets. He was born in the year 1824 and died in 1873.

This two-storied residence, which is known as Michel Modhusudon museum, is now under the custody ofBangladesh Archeological Department, where you can see the daily usage materials of the great poet. Every year from 25-30 January a great mela (exhibition) is organized here, which is called Modhumela need after our beloved poet. A huge crowd comes to Shagordari every year for the occasion of this mela.

Second World War warrior’s graveyards are in this Cemetery. There are 755 graves in this graveyard of the great warriors who died d in world war from1939 to 1945 in Chittagong and Comilla areas.




In this well-preserved cemetery at a quiet and picturesque place within the city lie buried in eternal peace over 700 soldiers from British, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, India, Myanmar, East and West Africa,


The Netherlands and Japan who laid down their lives on the Myanmar front during the World War II. Every year a number of tourists come here to visit this Cemetery.

Located at Savar, about 35 km from Dhaka, the national memorial was designed by architect Moinul Hossain. It is dedicated to the sacred memory of the millions of unknown martyrs' of the war of liberation in 1971.

The fort was built in 1678 by Prince Mohammad Azam, son of Mughal emperor Aurangozeb. The fort was the scene of a bloody battle during the first war of independence (1857) when 250 soldiers stationed here backed by people revolted against british forces. Besides the main structure, Lalbagh Fort also has a number of other buildings and monuments such as the tomb of Pari Bibi, Lalbagh mosque, audience hall and hammam khana (bathing place) of Nawab Shaista Khan now housing a museum.

Symbol of Bengali nationalism, this monument was built to commemorate the martyrs' of the historic language movement on 21st February, 1952. The day is also now observed as International Mother Language Day across the world. Hundreds and thousands of barefooted people with floral wreaths and bouquets gather at this monument from the first hour of 21st February every year to pay homage to the martyrs.