Uttara Gonobhaban is perhaps the least visited tourist destination in Bangladesh. However, its rich historical background, popular heritage, and beautiful surroundings have made it a favorite destination for vacationers to plan their holiday trip. From the late seventeenth century until the mid-twentieth century, it served as the residence for seven generations of kings. The picturesque narrative of this site makes it one of the most sought-after tourist attractions, where visitors can spend quality time with their family and friends. It is commonly known as the Dighapatia Rajbari.
History:
Dighapatia Rajbari is commonly referred to as Uttara Gonobhaban in Natore, North Bengal. This nearly three-hundred-year-old palace was first built by Raja Dayaram Roy, the founder of the Dighapatia dynasty. However, at the beginning of his life, he served as the dewan for Raja Ramjivan Roy, the first Raja of the Natore Raj family. In 1716, he led the army of Ramjivan Roy and, with the help of the Nawab of Bengal, successfully defeated the rebellious Raja Sitaram Ray, a zamindar (landlord) of the neighboring Bhusna state. Because of his loyalty, diligence, and efficiency, Ramjivan rewarded him with a substantial amount of land in the Rajshahi, Bogra, and Jessore districts. Utilizing these land grants, he established the Dighapatia estate in 1734.
In 1897, the Uttara Gonobhaban was reduced to ruins after being hit by a devastating earthquake that lasted almost 18 minutes. Pramada Nath Roy, the sixth king of the dynasty, then restored and reconstructed the Rajbari of Dayarampur, a process that spanned 11 years from 1897 to 1908, with the help of foreign experts, engineers, artists, and local craftsmen.
The last king of the Uttara Gonobhaban Palace, Protiva Nath Roy, left for Kolkata following the partition of 1947 and the abolition of the zamindari system under the East Bengal State Acquisition and Tenancy Act of 1950, a law passed by the newly formed democratic government of East Bengal in the Dominion of Pakistan.
On July 24, 1967, Abdul Monem Khan, then Governor of East Pakistan, declared it to be the official residence of the governor. On February 9, 1972, after the independence of Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the Nation, declared it Uttara Gonobhaban, an official residence of the Prime Minister in northern Bangladesh.
Opens
to visitors:
Prior to its public opening, the palace served as the official residence of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. The current administration has since decided to open it to the public. On October 25, 2012, State Minister for Youth and Sports, Ahad Ali Sarkar, inaugurated Uttara Gonobhaban for visitors. It is now open daily from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. Guests must purchase tickets priced between Tk 10 and Tk 20, allowing 30 minutes inside the palace compound. For security, local authorities have installed CCTV cameras and a metal detector.
Main
attractions:
The entire Uttara Gonobhaban Palace is a testament to architectural excellence. Many visitors from across the world come to this historical site to admire its beautiful structural design. Upon arrival, visitors are bound to be amazed by its serene atmosphere and the chirping of various bird species. The ancient palatial houses and other installations, which indicate the dominance of past rulers, arouse joy and a sense of nostalgia for long-gone days. Without a doubt, many beautiful features of the site will inspire visitors to return for a second visit.
Arched
entrance gateway:
The first thing that draws visitors’ attention is its arched entrance doorway, positioned at the center of the eastern outer wall. This three-story pyramidal gateway features equally shaped rooms connected internally on both sides. On each side of the entrance path, there are coiled wooden staircases that provide access to the first and second floors. At the top of the structure, there is a large clock accompanied by two circlets. This clock resembles a replica of ‘Big Ben’ in the UK. It is said that King Dayaram imported this clock from England. Beside the clock, there is a large bell. In the past, the sound of the bell could be heard from far away. The chauchala structure atop the gate gives it a pyramidal look. The exterior of the front gate, which extends over a hundred feet, has been painted red.
Main
palace building:
The entrance gateway, adorned with greenery and gardens, guides visitors to the main palace building. This single-story building has nine bedrooms, a conference room, a reception hall, a dining room, and a dance room. The reception hall stands out from the other rooms because on top of it is a large dome built in 1967. The entire dome is decorated with a star design. Aside from this feature, the roof of the palace is flat and constructed with iron beams to support the weight of the roof. Notably, the steps of the veranda and the floors of the rooms are made of white and black geometric shaped marble stones. Perhaps the most aesthetically pleasing arrangement is the flower garden with a water fountain situated in front of the southern veranda of the main palace. There are four vessel motifs on both sides of the fountain, with two on each side. On the four corners of the garden, there are four marble statues of women that imitate ancient Greek architecture. The height from the ceiling to the floor of the reception hall is more than 25 feet, making it much taller than the adjacent rooms. A painted floral motif decorates the ceiling, enhancing the beauty of the palace. Additionally, there is a single-story ‘Rani Mahal’ (Queen’s Palace) located to the south of the main palace block.
Kumar Palace:
The literal meaning of the word ‘Kumar’ is ‘Prince.’ The Kumar Palace, also known as the Yellow Building, is a two-story structure located to the southeast. It stands between the entrance gateway and the main palace compound. The ground floor contains several rooms. These were apparently used as storerooms. The first floor consists of five rooms, including four main bedrooms and a dressing room. A notable aspect of its construction is the use of mosaic on the floors of the rooms and verandas. The central hall is an exception. For safety and durability, the roof is enclosed by a parapet wall. Another distinctive feature is the floral design on a broad frieze. It runs below the cornice of the outer walls on the north, west, and south sides.
Khazanchi
Khana:
The term refers to the Treasury Lobby, which is positioned directly behind the Kumar Palace. Specifically, this single-story structure stands between the Main Palace and the Kumar Palace. The building is arranged around an open courtyard and features twenty-six rooms distributed along its sides. On the north façade, a corridor stretches from east to west, fronted by a veranda with an arcade of five pointed arches. Additional verandas are located on the east, west, and north sides of the central courtyard, giving the building both functionality and symmetry.
Italian Garden:
The most remarkable feature of this palace is the Italian Garden. King Dayaram imported much of its furniture from Italy, which is why it is known by this name. Within the garden, visitors can see five marble statues, a fountain, and a sitting bench. Interestingly, the benches were brought from Kolkata, and the word “Kolkata” is still inscribed on their surface. Among the statues, one titled “The Daughter of the Mountain” has a broken hand. According to local accounts, looting occurred during the Liberation War of 1971. The statue’s wrist, once adorned with gold, was broken by Pakistani soldiers who stole the ornament.
Temples:
So far, you have read vivid descriptions of palaces and monuments. Building upon these, a large Mandir Bari (temple complex) of the Dighapatia Raj lies about half a kilometer southeast of the Rajbari. This complex includes four temples: Durga Mandir, Kali Mandir, Radha-Krishna Mandir, and Dhulan Mandir. The architectural design of these temples differs from that of the more ancient ones. Their flat-roofed architecture suggests they are less than 100 years old. The complex is also widely known as the Dighapatia Raj Debottar Estate.
Although the palace grounds were ravaged several times throughout history, some exquisite remnants still exist, such as neo-classical bronze Greek sculptures, flower pots, chandeliers, engraved wooden bedsteads, princely furniture, and light fixtures. There are also two armored knights in the main entrance hall.
The Uttara Gonobhaban is three kilometres away from Natore town in North Bengal under the Rajshahi division. It is located to the east of the Natore-Bogra highway. The approximate distance from Dhaka via the Rajshahi highway is 205.8 kilometers. It may take 4–5 hours to reach the spot.
Transportation:
Direct
bus service is available from different points in Dhaka. Locations from where
you can get a direct bus to Natore are Kallyanpur (Mirpur Road), Panthapath
(Kalabagan), Gabtoli (Mirpur), and Abdullahpur (Uttara).
It is also possible to go there by train. All you have to do is get on the
Dhumketu Express train from Kamalapur Railway Station and get down at Rajshahi
or Natore.
List
of hotels, boarding and rest houses:
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