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Travel Essentials

Uttara Ganabhaban

Uttara Ganabhaban, which was known as Estate Rajbari during the British and Pakistan period, was the palace of the Maharajas of Dighapatia. The government is now using the palace as the official residence of the head of the government of Bangladesh in the northern region. This is a historic place widely visited by tourists.


History

There has been a house on the site since the early 18th century when the Nawab of Bengal rewarded Dayaram Roy for suppressing a rebellion. Roy was awarded the title of Jagirdar and given the zamindari of vast tracts of land in Jessore, Rajshahi, Bogra, and Mymensingh. When the British Empire enforced the permanent settlement in Bengal, the Roys were recognized as landed Maharajas. They were avid followers of European influence, fashion, art, and culture. Their palace was developed on the outskirts of Natore in the 19th century. The town of Natore served as the headquarters of the Rajshahi Division in the Bengal Presidency and thus was an important administrative center. Following Partition in 1947, the estate was formally abolished during major land reforms in East Bengal.

On 24 July 1967, it was designated as a gubernatorial residence by Abdul Monem Khan, the Governor of East Pakistan. The palace was used by President Ayub Khan as a retreat when Bangladesh was a part of Pakistan as its eastern wing. After the independence of Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of the Bangladeshi republic, declared the palace as his official residence in northern Bangladesh on 9 February 1972. It has since been used by successive Bangladeshi heads of government for holding cabinet, political and diplomatic meetings outside the capital.


How To Go

By using road/train/air from any places to Rajshahi then By local transport to Destination. Rickshaws or autorickshaws can be added directly from anywhere in the city of Natore. Rickshaw fare from Madrasa Junction to Uttara Ganobhaban is 30 TK. It is better not to reserve a rickshaw or auto-rickshaw for travel. Because all the places in the city of Natore have enough local vehicles.

 

Source: Bangladesh National Portal, Wikipedia