Paharpur
Paharpur is a small village 5 km. west of
Jamalaganj Railway station in the greater Rajshahi district where the remains of the most
important and the largest known monastery south of the Himalayas has been excavated. This
8th century archaeological find covers approximately an area of 27 acres of land. The
entire establishment, occupying a quadrangular court, measuring more than 900 ft. and from
12ft. to 15ft. in height with elaborate gateway complex on the north, there are 45 cells
on the north and 44 in each of other three sides with a total number of 177 rooms. The
architecture of the pyramidal cruciform temple is profoundly influenced by those of South
East Asia, especially Myanmar and Java. It had taken its name from a high mound, which
looked like Pahar or Hillock. A site museum built recently houses the representative
collection of objects recovered from the area. The excavated findings have also been
preserved at the Varendra Research Museum at Rajshahi. The antiquities of the museum include terracotta plaques, images of different
gods and goddesses, potters, coin inscriptions, ornamental bricks and other minor clay
objects.
Interested tourists may avail Package Tour offered by
Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation to visit most of the interesting places in the northern
Bangladesh. For details please contact Manager (Tours), BPC Head office, 233 Airport Road,
Dhaka-1215.
Phone: 817855-9 or any Tourist Information Centre.
Dinajpur
The northern most district of the country offers
a number of attractions to the visitors. The Ramsagar (great sea) lake with rest-houses is
a good picnic spot having facilities for fishing and rowing in a serene and quiet green
countryside atmosphere.
Kantaji temple, the most ornate among the late
medieval temples of Bangladesh is situated near Dinajpur town. It was built by Maharaja
Pran Nath in 1752 AD. Every inch of the temple surface is beautifully embellished with
exquisite terracotta plaques, representing flora, fauna, geometric motifs, mythological
scenes and an astonishing array of contemporary social scenes and favourite pastimes. The
Maharaja's palace with relics of the past centuries and local museum are worth a visit. |
