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Khan Mohammed Mirdha’s Mosque
Some 500m west of Lalbagh Fort is Khan Mohammed Mirdha’s Mosque . Erected in 1706, this Mughal structure is stylistically similar to Lalbagh Fort. It is built on a raised platform, up a flight of 25 steps. Three squat domes, with pointed minarets at each corner, dominate the rectan
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Hussaini Dalan
A block north of the central jail is Hussaini Dalan, looking more like a Hindu rajbari (landowner’s palace) than an Islamic building. It was built in 1642 as the house of the imam of the Shi’ia community. Though the architecture seems baroque in inspiration, the original building w
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Jor Bangla Temple
Built in the 18th century in the form of two traditional village huts intertwined and standing on a platform, this temple, 2km east of the town centre, is the best remaining example of the jor bangla (twin hut) style. However, the once-beautiful terracotta plaques carved with scene
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Paharpur Museum
The small museum gives a good idea of the range of cultures that have used this site. Stucco Buddha heads unearthed here are similar to the Gandhara style of Indo-Hellenic sculpture from what is now northwestern Pakistan. Sculptural work includes sandstone and basalt sculptures, bu
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Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection
This small area is known as Armanitola, and is named after the Armenian colony that settled here in the late 17th century. The white- and lemon-painted Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection, dating from 1781, is the soul of this now almost extinct community, and is a tranquil sp
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Dhatu Jadi
Perched on a hilltop about three kilometres north of town, in a village called Bala Gata, is the large glowing Dhatu Jadi, also known as the Golden Temple (shorna mondir) because of its beautiful golden stupa. The monastery complex, Arakanese in style, was only built in 2000, but v
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Bhawal National Park
Located at Rajendrapur, and only one hour north of Dhaka, Bhawal National Park is where the citizens of the city come to remember what a lungful of fresh countryside air feels like. While it certainly cannot be described as an untouched wilderness, its forest walks, angling and lak
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Aggameda Khyang
Founded in 1812, the current structure of this monastery – Burmese in style – was built in 1898. The main sanctuary is built around massive timber columns. The teak flooring adds an air of timelessness to the place. Behind the monastery, and hidden among the trees is Maha Thin Daw
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Osmani Museum
In Nur Manzil, near the centre of town and east of Noya Sarok Rd, is the Osmani Museum . This small, colonial-era house is dedicated to General Osmani, a key figure in the Liberation War. As it’s one of the few tourist sights in town, you should visit, but be warned – it’s slightly
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Varendra Research Museum
Founded in 1910 with the support of the maharaja of Dighapatia, the Varendra Research Museum is managed by Rajshahi University (RU), and is the oldest museum in the country. The predominantly British-style building has some interesting Hindu–Buddhist features, including a trefoil a
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Suhrawardi Park
Beginning near the Old High Court and stretching all the way to the National Museum, Suhrawardi Park covers an enormous area. This was once a racecourse, where both the Bangladeshi Declaration of Independence and the surrender of Pakistani occupation forces took place in 1971. At n
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Old Town Area
The original alleyway-riddled core of the town, located between the train station and the waterfront, is a fascinating place in which to get lost. It’s filled with market stalls selling all manner of food and goods. Keep an eye open for the gold workshops, huddled away in the mess
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Shankharia Bazar
A crash of drums, a cloud of incense and a bursting paintbox of colours signal a welcome to so-called Hindu Street . Lined on either side with old houses, garlands of lurid orange marigolds, and dark doorways leading to matchbox-sized shops and workshops, this can be an extremely p
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Goaldi Mosque
Built in 1519, and now virtually hidden behind thick bamboo groves and clusters of mango and jackfruit trees, the graceful, single-domed Goaldi Mosque is the most impressive of the few extant monuments of the original capital city. Its a fine example of pre-Mughal architecture and
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Kean Bridge
The more central of the two bridges which span the Surma River, Kean Bridge, repaired after being damaged by Pakistani bombers during the Liberation War, is no architectural wonder, but crossing it is an experience in itself, not only because it’s unrelentingly chaotic but also bec
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Shait Gumbad Mosque
Built in 1459, the same year Khan Jahan Ali died, the famous Shait Gumbad Mosque is the largest and most magnificent traditional mosque in the country. Shait Gumbad means ‘the Temple with 60 Domes’ – a misnomer given that there are actually 77. This fortresslike structure has unusu
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Mymensingh Rajbari
Built between 1905 and 1911, this well-kept former mansion in the middle of the city is now occupied by an organisation that trains female teachers, but much of the original structure remains. An ornamental marble fountain with a classical statue of a semi-nude nymph lies just beyo
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Bibi Begni’s Mosque
Around Shait Gumbad are two other smaller mosques, both single-domed, in reasonably good condition and a lot of fun to get to. Bibi Begni’s Mosque has some interesting floral motifs is located behind Shait Gumbad and makes a lovely walk. To get to Bibi Begni, walk anti-clockwise ar
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Nawab Syed Abdus Sobhan Chowdhury Memorial Museum
Two blocks east of Sat Mata, the Nawab Syed Abdus Sobhan Chowdhury Memorial Museum is one of only a handful of furnished rajbaris in Bangladesh. The mosaic ceiling of the audience hall is impressive, and the rooms have mannequins dressed to impress in both Bengali and British fashi
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Mainimati Museum
Just past Salban Vihar, and probably the best place to start your visit, is the Mainimati Museum. The collection includes terracotta plaques, bronze statues, 4th-century silver and gold coins, jewellery, kitchen utensils and votive stupas embossed with Buddhist inscriptions. The ma
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