“Hawa Khana” (হাওয়া খানা) is an Urdu word whose literal translation is “Air Chamber”. Hawa Khana is one of the archaeological sites situated in Rajshahi division of Bangladesh. It is one of the 17 historical sites of Rajshahi.
Description:
The famous Char-Ani king of Puthia built this installation. Now, the question is- “What is this Hawa Khana, and why was it built?”. Hawa Khana is a two-storied building positioned in the middle of a large pond or lake. This two-storied building was made in the middle of a 10-acre lake for entertainment during leisure time. Kings and members of the royal family would take a small boat to reach Hawa Khana. Aside from cold weather, they enjoyed the scenic beauty of the lake. For the convenience of the visitors, a road has been constructed filling soil in the middle of the lake, which divided the lake. Now, you do not have to take a boat to go to Hawa Khana. You can go there on foot.
Infrastructure:
Hawa Khana is constructed with thin brickwork, lime, and brick. The length, width, and height of this building are 45 feet, 42 feet, and 34 feet respectively. This building has no door and window. The first floor of this building is located under water. On the second floor, there is a total of 10 doors- one on the west wall and three on each wall. There is a six feet wide verandah around the building. There is a three feet wide staircase to go up to the third floor. The ground floor of the red-colored two-storied building sports an arch. There is a staircase on the south side to go up to the second floor of this building. Though there are three doors on three sides of the third floor, it has no door on the west wall.
History:
Members of the royal family went to the lake either by horse-drawn carriage or elephant. They went to Hawa Khana by boat to spend their leisure time enjoying the cold weather. According to local people, throwing foods into the water, the king of Puthia observed the fish. In the afternoon, the king himself went to the lake on a horse. He then reached Hawa Khana by boat to enjoy the cold weather. Sometimes he traversed the entire lake on a small boat. There was a time when Ratha Jatra fair (রথযাএা মেলা) was held around the lake. The name of the king who last used this building is Naresh Narayan Roy (নরেশ নারায়ন রায়), who converted to Islam while marrying a Muslim woman named Kamar Begum (কমর বেগম) and took the name Nurunnabi Ray (নূরুন্নবী রায়). There king used to have fun, play chess, card, and dice along with his companions. According to some people, it is a temple, where the priest used to go there and worship during Ratha Jatra (Chariot festival).
During the partition of the country, King Naresh Narayan Roy alias Nurunnabi Ray when leaving Puthia for Kolkata leased the Hawa Khana lake to his two employees named Gani Mandal (গনি মন্ডল) and Deljan Mandal (দেলজান মন্ডল). As a result, the lake was divided from the middle causing an aesthetic deterioration to Hawa Khana and the lake. Besides, the bathroom on the first floor has been filled with soil. The local people are of the opinion that Hawa Khana at Tarapur in Puthia will be one of the tourist destinations in the northern part of the country if the dam in the middle of the lake is removed and four banks are repaired by the government or private initiative and small boats are floated and Hawa Khana building is renovated. Apart from this, local tourists think that the tourist spot will play a big role in improving the socio-economic condition of the place. The Hawa Khana building needs immediate renovation.
Location:
Hawa Khana is located at Tarapur village, which is 3 kilometers from the Palace at Puthia Upazila and 3 kilometers west from Puthia Bazar. If you want to see this historical installation, you will have to go to Tarapur village in Puthia Upazila of Rajshahi division. At the turning point near Tarapur on Dhaka-Rajshahi Highway, you have to go 1 km by foot or a take rickshaw or van.
Location:
Village- Tarapur, Union- Puthia, Upazila- Puthia, District: Rajshahi.
