Rajbari’s heritage gems beckon Eid travellers

As the long Eid-ul-Azha holidays approach, travellers seeking a short escape can set their sights on several historic and cultural attractions in Rajbari, widely known as the “Gateway of Bengal”.

Located in central Bangladesh under the Dhaka division, Rajbari boasts a rich blend of archaeological heritage, folklore, natural beauty and historical landmarks. Visitors can comfortably explore four of the district’s most notable attractions within a single day, making it an ideal whistle-stop tour during the festive break.

Kalyan Dighi

Kalyan Dighi, situated beside Rajdharpur village in Nawabpur union, is one of the region’s largest historic ponds. Although much of the vast waterbody has gradually turned into flat wetland over time, its enormous expanse still catches the eye.

Local folklore suggests the pond was excavated in the 18th century by Raja Sitaram Ray, who was also credited with digging several other large reservoirs, including Ram Sagar and Krishna Sagar. According to popular tales passed down through generations, the king maintained a 200-member excavation force to tackle water shortages during peacetime.

Kalyan Dighi, excavated in the 18th century by Raja Sitaram Ray, is located at Rajdharpur village under Nawabpur union in Baliakandi upazila of the district. Photo: TourTodayBD

Another belief links the excavation to the renowned Muslim saint and administrator Khan Jahan Ali, who undertook numerous public welfare projects after establishing the Khalifatabad state in the 15th century.

Travellers can reach Rajbari from Dhaka by bus via the Padma Bridge or by train from Kamalapur Railway Station. From Rajbari town, local transport and easy bikes are readily available to reach Kalyan Dighi.

Jor Bangla Temple

Nestled in Nalia village under Baliakandi upazila, the Jor Bangla Temple stands as one of Rajbari’s most treasured archaeological landmarks. The twin-temple complex was established in 1655 in the traditional Gaudiya architectural style of Odisha by Raja Sitaram Ray.

Jor Bangla, or Keshta Raya temple, of Bishnupur was built by Raghunath Singha in 1655 AD. Photo: Suvadip Sanyal/Wikipedia 

One of the temples still retains its spire, while the other has partially fallen into disrepair with the passage of time. Historical accounts suggest that Sri Krishna Ram Chakraborty later took responsibility for maintaining the temple and its idols at the request of Raja Sitaram Ray.

The site can easily be reached from Rajbari town or Baliakandi by bus, easy bike or other local transport.

Jamai Pagol Mazar

Located in Aladipur village under Rajbari sadar upazila, the shrine of Jamai Pagol remains a popular spiritual destination, drawing visitors from far and wide.

According to local accounts, a mysterious wandering man wearing minimal clothing arrived in the area during the 1960s and took shelter beneath a sheora tree. Over time, numerous miraculous stories became intertwined with his name.

The shrine of Jamai Pagol remains a popular spiritual destination for tourists from home and abroad. Photo: Collected

One widely circulated legend says a wealthy man from Pabna married his mute daughter to a mentally unstable man. On their wedding night, the bride suddenly regained her speech, but the groom vanished into thin air. The family later traced him to Aladipur, where he refused to return to ordinary life. Since then, locals began referring to him as “Jamai Pagol”.

Residents also believe he helped cure people during a cholera outbreak in the area. Following his death, devotees established a shrine complex that now includes a large mosque and separate graves for Jamai Pagol, Nur Bakar Shah and Gouri Pagli.

The shrine is located only around six kilometres from Rajbari district town and can easily be reached by rickshaw or easy bike.

Mir Mosharraf Hossain Memorial Centre

The memorial centre dedicated to renowned Bengali novelist Mir Mosharraf Hossain is another major attraction in Rajbari.
Best known for his epic novel Bishad Sindhu, Mir Mosharraf Hossain was born in 1847 and had ancestral roots in Padamdi village of Baliakandi upazila.

To preserve his literary legacy, the memorial centre was established in 2001 and opened to visitors in 2005. Built on nearly two acres of land, the complex houses a museum, library, seminar hall, guest rooms, reception area, dining facilities and administrative offices.

The entrance to the Mir Mosharraf Hossain Memorial Centre. Photo: TourTodayBD

The centre continues to attract literature enthusiasts and tourists throughout the year. However, it remains closed on Fridays, Saturdays and government holidays.

Visitors can hire an autorickshaw directly from Rajbari town to reach the memorial centre.

As Eid holidays draw near, these heritage attractions offer travellers a chance to soak up Rajbari’s history, folklore, architecture and cultural traditions, all within a short and convenient getaway.