নববর্ষ-১৪১৮



দারুন একটা দিন কাটলো ১৩ এপ্রিল থেকেই মনটা উড়ু উড়ু বসন্তের শেষ বিকেলের বাতাস জানিয়ে গেল তার বিদায়ী সূর তপ্ত কোকিল আকাশের দিকে তাকিয়ে ঝড়ের জন্য ব্যকুল হয়ে বসে ছিল কচি আমের গন্ধ মনকে নাচিয়ে গেল বার বার প্রকৃতির ভিতর কেমন যেন একধরনের অস্হিরতা,নতুন কে পাবার জন্য ? নগরীর পথে প্রান্তরে বয়ে গেল রং-এর বন্যা প্রাণের টানে ভোর সকালে চলে গেলাম রমনা বটমূলে বর্ষবরণ অনুষ্ঠানেগানের সূর-লহরী ছড়িয়ে পড়ছিল দিকে দিকে লাল পান্জাবী আর লাল-পেড়ে সাদা শাড়ি মনের ভিতর রং ছড়িয়ে দিল পান্তা ভাতে ডুবন্ত ইলিশ আর সুন্দরী তরূণীদের লাস্যময়ী হাসি মিশে একাএকার হয়ে গিয়েছিলনারীদের এত খুশীর দিন যেন আসেনি আগে ! ক্যামেরা বন্দী করলাম কিছু সুন্দর..



রমনা বটমূলে ছায়ানটের বর্ষবরণ


মংগল শোভায়াত্রা

মংগল শোভায়াত্রা





Khagrachhari :The Land of Sun,Green and Hills


Bird's view:Khagrachhari Town






Watch Tower

The Changee River




Wild flowers











Working people of Khagachhari








Inside the mysterious alutila cave....the thrill began....

Alutila Cave:The cave is situated in Alutila Hills and was created naturally by the stream of water.The cave is 100 meter long and very adventurous .There is no extra tickets for entering the cave.Alutila Hills entry fee is only 5 taka(which included entrance fee for the cave) .You may buy a torch made of local materials from the main gate of the alutila hills.Many people visit alutila hills and the cave every year but many people return without entering to the cave,because entering to the cave depends on courage.It is very energetic work.The cave is situated on the foot of the alutia hills.We had a guide and he lead us (Yead,Shantu and me) to alutila cave.We went down of the hills by steep stairs.The outside of the cave is rounded and there is a narrow stream of water running inside of the cave.The weather inside the cave was cool and very refreshing..It is said that,Pythons and bats are seen in the cave occasionally..but we did not find any creature there.....there may be some snakes are seen in the rainy season..I think.We felt very thrilled when entering to the cave.we lightened our torches and follow our guide.It was completely dark inside the cave. at first we could not see any thing.Our eyes adjusted the light and we could see a narrow passage through the cave.The cave is rocky and a narrow and shallow stream of water was running.When I reach the middle of the cave i found that there was nobody on front of me ...but I did not stop...after 10 to 15 minutes I saw a ray of light in front of me and I realized that I have came to end of the cave at last...it was really a wonderful adventure that I made after a long time....

A Traditional Tribal House



Parjatan Motel,Khagrachari




The Resung fountain,Alutila,khagracchari






Sun set over the New Zea land(locally called),Khagrachhari

'System'-A favorite chakma resturant at pankhai para in khagrachhari town

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Khagrachhari (Bengali: খাগড়াছড়ি) is a district in south-eastern Bangladesh. It is a part of the Chittagong Division and the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Its local name is "Chengmi". Khagrachari is also known as Phalang Htaun or the Mong Circle (of the rest of the three hill districts Rangamati is the Chakma Circle and Bandarban is the Bohmong Circle).

Khagrachari town is the home town of the Mong Chief (currently King, or Raja, Saching Prue Chowdhury who is the head of the Arakanese descendants living in the circle. It also is the administrative headquarter of Khagrachari district-source:wikipedia

প্রকৃতি অকৃপণভাবে সাজিয়েছে খাগড়াছড়িকে। স্বতন্ত্র করেছে বিভিন্ন অনন্য বৈশিষ্ট্যে। এখানে রয়েছে আকাশ-পাহাড়ের মিতালী, চেঙ্গী ও মাইনী উপত্যকার বিস্তীর্ণ সমতল ভূ-ভাগ ও উপজাতীয় সংস্কৃতির বৈচিত্র্যতা। মহালছড়ি, দীঘিনালা, পানছড়ি, রামগড়, লক্ষ্মীছড়ি, মানিকছড়ি, মাটিরাঙ্গা যেদিকেই চোখ যায় শুধু সবুজ আর সবুজ। জেলা সদরের নিকটবর্তী আলুটিলা পাহাড় আর চেঙ্গী নদীর এঁকেবেঁকে চলার অপরূপ দৃশ্য বিমোহিত করে প্রকৃতি প্রেমীদের। উঁচু-নীচু পাহাড়, পাহাড়ি পথ, ছোট ছোট ছড়া, পাহাড়ের বুক চিরে গড়িয়ে পড়া পাহাড়ি ঝর্ণা, ঐতিহ্যময় পাহাড়ি জনতার নির্মোহ চলন, পাখির কূজন, ফুলের সুবাস, বৃক্ষের রকমতা কিংবা পাহাড়ের ঢালে গভীর গিরিখাদে সেগুন-গামারির বিশাল বাগান, পাহাড়ের চূড়া চুম্বনরত মেঘমালা খাগড়াছড়িকে করেছে অনন্য। প্রাকৃতিক সৌন্দর্যে আর রহস্যময়তায় ঘেরা খাগড়াছড়ি পার্বত্য জেলা প্রকৃতিপ্রেমী, অ্যাডভেঞ্চার প্রিয় বা ভ্রমণবিলাসীদের জন্য আদর্শ স্থান।প্রকৃতির অনন্য সৌন্দর্য ছড়িয়ে আছে এ জেলার আনাচে-কানাচে। এ সৌন্দর্যের কথা পার্বত্যবাসীরা ছাড়া বাইরের জেলার অনেক অধিবাসীর আজো অজানা। উত্তর ও উত্তর-পশ্চিমে ভারতের ত্রিপুরা রাজ্য, পূর্ব ও দক্ষিণ-পূর্বে রাঙ্গামাটি পার্বত্য জেলা, দক্ষিণ-পশ্চিমে চট্টগ্রাম জেলা এবং পশ্চিমে ফেণী নদী ও ভারতের ত্রিপুরা রাজ্য জেলাকে ঘিরে রেখেছে। এ জেলার বৈচিত্র্যময় জীবনধারা ও প্রাকৃতিক সৌন্দর্য সবাইকে বিমোহিত করবে। source:http://www.dckhagrachhari.gov.bd/






How to get there:Bus:Bus is available from Dhaka to Khagrachari.Total Distance from Dhaka is 266 Km.There are some non ac bus service to Khagrachari such as S.Alam Service(Start from Kamalapur Bus station,Phone.-8315087,),Shamoli Paribhahan(BRTC Kamalapur Bus Depot, Dhaka Tel: 9333803, 8124881, 9124139),Shanti Paribahan,Saudia,Star Line etc.)ou can go to Khagrachari from Chittagong.Distance from Chittagong is 120 km.

Where to stay:

Parjatan Motel,Khagrachari(which is located at entrance of Khagrachari town),we stayed at this hotel.Hotel fare:non-ac double bed-Tk.1200 per night,ac double bed Tk.2000 per night.Contact-0371-62084,0371-62085

Hotel Shailow Shuborna,Price (Tk.200-1000) ,VIP,AC/Non-AC,Contact:0371-61436
Hotel Ziran,Price (Tk.150-700),AC/Non-AC,Contact:0371-61071
Hotel Lobiyat,Price (Tk.70-120),Contact:0371-61220
Chowdhurry Boarding,Price(Tk.70-120),Contact:0371-61176
Three Star,Price(Tk.50-120),Contact:0371-62057
Four Star,Price(Tk.80-250),Contact:0371-62240
Upahar,Price(Tk.60-120),Contact:0371-61980
Raju Boarding,Price(Tk.40-300),Contact:0371-61161
Changee Hotel,Price(Tk.180-200),Contact:0371-61254
Shobuj Boarding,Price(Tk.30-60),Contact:0371-91983
Bhai Bhai Boarding,Price(Tk.30-60),Contact:0371-61461

Government Rest Houses:Circuit House,Road and Highways,LGED,Forest,Development Board,Red Crescent,BISIC,Mass Health etc.



baliati zamindar bari













Baliati Zamindarbari is situated about 35 miles northwest of Dhaka and 5 miles east of Manikganj district headquarters. There were two great periods of palace construction in India: the first corresponded to the period of Mughal supremacy from the mid-16th century to the mid-18th century and the second to the British Raj.

In both cases, the provision of an overriding central authority kept rulers in check and accelerated the growth of a provincial elite who gained both power and prestige as local representatives.

During the post-Mughal period, the British weren't the only ones who were changing the construction style. Magnificent palaces were also being built by local feudal chiefs -- Zamindars -- in a style to which was unique in the history of Bengal architecture. The families like Rags of Taras (Pabna), Mitras of Sitlai (Pabna), Chakrabartis of Balihar, Rags of Dubalhati (Naogaon) and Sahas of Baliati (Manikganj) were all Zamindars.

Though Manikganj has lost much of its past glory, its remarkable Zamidnarbaris like the Tosta, Dhankora, Terosri, Pakutia and Baliati and other historic relics, both religious and secular, bear testimony to its rich heritage. Since Manikganj was within Dhaka district, it was more populous and developed than other subdivisions. Moreover, in the early periods of Muslim rule, great Sufis and saints came here for their religious preaching and became famous for their activities. Manik Shah, one of the early Muslim saints, who came to Manikganj, was so famous that it is believed that the district was named after him.

Baliati Zamindarbari is one such remarkable example of the 19th century palaces of Zamindars in Bangladesh. A fascinating set of buildings of their Zamindarbari extended the reputation of the splendour and prosperity of the Saha family throughout undivided Bengal.

The Baliati Zamindarbari originally consisted of five similar but separate blocks. The south facade of grand palace presents an attractive frontage of about 400 feet. Of the extant four blocks of the palace, the two central blocks are two-storied and the other two terminal ones are three-storied. The lofty encircling walls of the imposing Zamindarbari complex is pierced by three superb gateways, identical in their architectural features. Each imposing gateway is spanned by semi-circular arch surmounted by an attractive stucco figure of a lion. The lion gate was a common feature of the feudal palaces in colonial architecture and considered a symbol of pride and strength. The broad facade of the palace with its impressive array of lofty fluted Corinthian columns lining a wide continuous corridor creates a grand consequence.

The vast complex of the Zamindarbari occupies an area of over 20 acres of land that is now beyond verification, while the block situated at the east-end of the building complex has now completely disappeared. The complex comprises over 200 apartments of varying sizes and shapes.

At present, the palace has four inner blocks or 'Mahals'. Each of the blocks situated around an oblong open courtyard behind the front line buildings. On the north there is a big excavated water tank with landing masonary ''ghat'' that leads long succeeding steps towards the water below. On the other side of the tank there are outhouses, servant quarters and stables.

The imposing central block with corridors on both sides is given highest importance. The broad staircase leading to the upper storey is a distinguishing feature of the palace complex around the reception hall dotted with artefacts, odd bits of art and crafts overlooked by a hanging chandelier from top of the ceiling.

In front of the Baliati Zamindarbari there is a temple in a comparatively good state of preservation and an old school and some beautiful fruit trees. Nearly one mile to the south of the palace an artificial tank (dug by the Zamindars) in the middle of which there is a 50 feet high tower set on a square 'Airy Lodge' or 'hawakhana' with four attractive masonry landing 'ghats', one with screenwall that are reserved for women.

The buildings of Zamindarbari are gradually falling apart and in a pitiable condition of neglect. The Department of Archaeology that can still save a large number of these impressive Zamindarbaris from destruction should immediately initiate some efforts.

These Zamindar palaces in outlying areas of Bangladesh that were erected during the British period represented renaissance style derived from the aspirations of the local zamindars to European ideas and consciously cultivated European social habits. This led so significant changes in their palace architecture, featuring classical columns, attractive triangular pediments, semi-circular arches, slender Corinthians columns with acanthus, staircase with flights of steps, hall room in the centre with subsidiary rooms on both sides and elegant stacco decorations. But it is interesting to note that the geographical and social conditions of the region influenced and enriched the architecture by combining European Renaissance elements with some architectural features of Bengal. The individuality of Bengal's architecture comes from such an ultimate resolution of a series of stylistic experiment in a blend of eastern and western architecture that produced an extraordinary heritage of palaces unparalleled anywhere outside Bangladesh. The Baliati Zamindarbari undoubtedly is one of the finest examples of feudal palace architecture developed in the 19th century.