Explore the enchanting town of Rangpur,Bangladesh

Rangpur is both a city and a district in the Rajshahi division. The district is quite large and has three municipalities, eight upazilias, 33 wards and 84 union parishads. There are approximately 1519 villages in the district.

The town of Rangpur is situated on the banks of the river Ghagat and is home to one of the three district municipalities. Rangpur city is perhaps best known for its role in the tobacco industry as it serves as the administrative center for all the tobacco-growing in the district and is responsible for the manufacture of cigarettes and cigars. Rangpur city is also renowned for its cotton carpets, which are of an outstanding quality. The city has eight colleges that are affiliated with Rajshahi University, but only just more than half the population is literate.

There are quite a lot of historical attractions to see in the Rangpur district that make it well worth visiting. The Keramatia Mosque is a good place to start. However the three domed Jami Mosque from the Mughal period, the four domed Taraganj Mosque and the spectacular nine domed Radhanagar Mosque, which is also from the Mughal period, are much more impressive. On a more morbid note, there are a number of tombs that are popular with visitors; these include the tombs of Islamic thinker Maulana Keramat Ali Jainpuri, Shah Jalal Bokheri, Ismail Ghazi and Kutub Shah. If you visit these places with a knowledgeable guide you will have the opportunity to find out how these various individuals made an impact on the lives of those around them. For more conventional attractions you can visit the Rangpur Museum, the Rangpur Town Hall and the Rangpur Public Library. The palace remnants of Raja Nilambar, Hari Mandir and Mitha Pukur are also quite amazing to see.

There are many other historical and archaeological treasures to be found in here as well as a lot more to learn about Rangpur. Merely listing all the attractions here will not do any of them any justice as you simply have to see them for yourself. Book your ticket for Rangpur today to enjoy the historical mysteries of this stunning region and its friendly people.

Scuba diving in Bangladesh

Not many people view Bangladesh as being a great location to go scuba diving. However more and more people are discovering the natural wonders that St Martin's Island has to offer. This small island is located just off the coast of Bangladesh and it is already quite a national treasure.

Scuba diving in Bangladesh is still relatively under-developed. As a mostly Muslim country many tourist-related developments found in other Asian countries have yet to be found in Bangladesh. There are no discotheques, night clubs or places you can go for a drink. But true nature lovers don’t mind one bit, because when you step on to St. Martin's Island, all that is quickly forgotten

Known locally as Narikel Jinjira (Coconut Island), the island is located just 14 km away from the country’s southernmost town of Teknaf. Its beaches are fringed with coconut palms and visitors can walk the entire island in just one day. Bright, blue waters sparkle with untainted purity. This truly is paradise – and not just to the locals who frequent it. Foreigners who have chanced upon this natural treasure quickly return to share with friends. Filip Engsig-Karup, a Danish tour operator, said: "I enjoy bringing people here and they are pleasantly surprised when they see all the beauty. It's a shame this is not more known to the world yet. When I take people from Denmark to Bangladesh, everybody is amazed because the impression they have got about this country is quite different from the reality."

Government officials have already recognized the immense potential that St Martin's Island has with regards to tourism and increasing local revenue. With this in mind, they recently introduced scuba diving and speedboat sailing as part of efforts to attract more tourists. Before long, visitors should also be able to enjoy water skiing and other sporting facilities when visiting this little piece of paradise. However these changes are also made with a sense of caution; officials know that they will also need to put strict conservation measures in place to prevent people from harming the island’s nesting turtle populations – either from disturbing the nesting process or by accidentally or purposefully destroying nests. They also need to prevent divers from breaking off pieces of the dazzling coral found beneath the surface of the water. However the island is simply too beautiful to be kept a secret and so in the meantime it seems that efforts to build tourism will continue at a spanking pace.

Play a round at a Golf Course in Bangladesh

Golf is a popular sport throughout the world. It is often on golf courses that business deals are struck. Men and women worldwide enjoy a round of golf with friends and associates and Bangladesh is certainly no exception. There are a few golf courses in Bangladesh that will keep golfers occupied and ensure that they have a great time. Picture yourself playing a round of golf in Bangladesh, with beautiful trees surrounding you and birds calling across the green grass.

Kurmitola Golf Club in Dhaka is quite a challenging course. With tree lined fairways, the scenic beauty of this course is amazing. Various well-known golf competitions have been and continue to be held here, including the American Cup Trophy of 2005. Members of the Dhaka Oddball Golf Society are a common sight on this Bangladeshi golf course. They can be seen each week competing for what they refer to as the 'Chief of the Pack'. About an hour drive away from Dhaka is the Savar Golf Club. The golf course in Chittagong is also scenically situated in the hills.

Monu Valley Golf Club often adds a bit of 'excitement' to your round of golf. Situatated amidst rubber groves, banyan trees and quiet paddies, you may be fortunate enough to have a Bengal tiger cross the fairways whilst you look on. Soi Dao Highlands golf course is another unique course. Elephants, deer and wild boar are protected in the area whilst villagers can be seen fishing in bodies of water or searching for food around the course.

When traveling through this fascinating country, be sure to include a round of golf at one of Bangladesh's golf courses on your itinerary.

Kurmitola Golf Club
Dhaka Cantonment
Dhaka
Email: kgcdhaka@hotmail.com, kgcdhaka@yahoo.com
Phone: +88-02-8752520,+88-02-8752526,+88-02-8752523
Fax: +88-02-8752521
Tee off time: 6:00am to 6:00pm (Summer); 6:00am to 5:00pm (Winter)

Bangladesh Travel Attractions

Tourist attractions in Bangladesh abound. Throughout the country there are many fascinating things to see and exciting things to do. Arriving in Dhaka, your adventure can begin straight away. Pay a visit to the Old City where you will also be astounded by the bustling river life of Buriganga and the bright pink palace of Ahsan Manzil.The top attraction in Bangladesh's Dhaka is Lalbagh Fort.

Whilst traveling through the city of Chittagong, visitors will come across the lovely structures of Qadam Mubarak Mosque and Shahi Jama-e-Masjid as well as the intriguing Ethnological Museum.

Bangladesh's Mainimati Ruins, a renowned seat of Buddhist culture between the 7th and 12th centuries, should not be missed. Visitors should also include the Sompuri Vihara, dating back to the 8th century, on their itinerary. Nature lovers will definitely want to stop at Bangladesh's natural attraction: Sundarbans National Park. This park boasts the world's largest mangrove belt. There are just a few of the wonderful attractions in Bangladesh. You will discover many more when visiting this marvelous country.

Discover the wonderful culture of Bangladesh and it's people

Bangladesh has a rich, diverse culture. Its deeply rooted heritage is thoroughly reflected in its architecture, dance, literature, music, painting and clothing. The three primary religions of Bangladesh (Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam) have had a great influence on its culture and history.

Bangalees have a rich fictional legacy, with the first available form of literature being over a thousand years old. Bengali literature developed considerably during the medieval period with the rise of popular poets such as Chandi Das, Daulat Kazi an Alaol.

The traditional music of Bangladesh is very much the same as that of the Indian sub-continent. The music in Bangladesh can be divided into three main categories: classical, modern and folk. Both vocal and instrumental classical music is enjoyed in Bangladesh. Ustad Ayet Ali Khan and Ustad Alauddin are two famous classical instrumental players that are internationally known. Modern music is becoming more popular and is practiced widely. Contemporary, pop songs and bands are also enjoying more widespread fame, but are mainly popular in the regions of Dhaka City.

Tribal dances are very popular among the Bangalees. The countryside girls are in the habit of dancing to popular folk music. Their dances require no regulations as such, just a small amount of courage and a big amount of rhythm. Popular songs like Shari and Jari are presented with the accompanying dance of both male and female performers.

Drama and theatre is an old tradition that is very popular in Bangladesh. More than a dozen theater groups in Dhaka City have been regularly staging locally written plays for hundreds of years. Many have also started adopted some plays from European writers. Baily Road in Dhaka is known as “Natak Para” and this is one location where drama shows are regularly held. Many shows are also held at the Dhaka University.

Another important aspect of the culture of Bangladesh is clothing. Bangladeshi woman usually wear Saris, made of the world famous and expensive, finely embroidered quilted patchwork cloth produced by the village woman. Woman will traditionally wear their hair in a twisted bun, which is called the “Beni style”. Hindus will traditionally wear Dhuty for religious purposes. These days most men of Bangladesh wear shirts and pants.

Tourism in Bangladesh(Historical Places)

National Memorial
Located at Savar, about 35 km from Dhaka, the national memorial was designed by architect Moinul Hossain. It is dedicated to the sacred memory of the millions of unknown martyrs' of the war of liberation in 1971.
Central Shahid Minar
Symbol of Bengali nationalism, this monument was built to commemorate the martyrs' of the historic language movement on 21st February, 1952. The day is also now observed as International Mother Language Day across the world. Hundreds and thousands of barefooted people with floral wreaths and bouquets gather at this monument from the first hour of 21st February every year to pay homage to the martyrs.
Lalbagh Fort
The fort was built in 1678 by Prince Mohammad Azam, son of Mughal emperor Aurangozeb. The fort was the scene of a bloody battle during the first war of independence (1857) when 250 soldiers stationed here backed by people revolted against british forces. Besides the main structure, Lalbagh Fort also has a number of other buildings and monuments such as the tomb of Pari Bibi, Lalbagh mosque, audience hall and hammam khana (bathing place) of Nawab Shaista Khan now housing a museum.
Martyred Intellectual Memorial Located at Mirpur, the memorial was built to commemorate the intellectuals who were killed in 1971 by the Pakistan's occupation forces just two days ahead of the Victory Day.
National Poet's Grave
Revolutionary poet Kazi Nazrul Islam died on 29th August 1976 and was buried here. The graveyard is adjacent to the Dhaka University Central Mosque.
Old High Court Building Originally built as the residence of the British Governor, the High Court Building illustrates a fine blend of European and mughal architecture. The building is situated North of the Curzon Hall of Dhaka Universiry.
Sonargaon
About 29 km. from Dhaka, Sonargaon dating back to 13th century is one of the oldest capitals of Bengal. A folk-art and craft museum has been established here. Among the ancient monuments still intact are the tomb of Sultan Abdul Alla and a beautiful mosque in Goaldi village.
Natore - Dighapatiya Rajbari (Palace) Natore lies about 40 km. from Rajshahi and is an old seat of the Maharajah of Dighapatiya, now serving as the Uttara Ganabhaban (The Official northern region residance of the President of the Republic). The palace has large, spacious grounds and is surrounded by a fine moat. The palace has well-equipped guest-house, an imposing gateway and a fine garden decorated with statues of white marble. World War II Cemetery In this well-preserved cemetery,in Chittagong lie burried over 700 soldiers from Commonwealth countries and Japan, who died during the Second World War. Shilaidaha Kuthibari, Kushtia The beautiful mansion carries memory of nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) who made frequent visit to this place and used to stay here, in connection with administration of his Zamindari and enriched Bengali literature through his writtings during that time. It is located at a distance of about 20 km. from Kushtia town. Sagordari, Jessore The birth place of the celebrated poet Micheal Modhusudan Dutta. by most accounts the first modern poet of Bangla Literature. Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation has built a rest-house and other tourist facilities in the place. Mujibnagar Memorial Located at a distance of about 7 km. from the town of Meherpur. The beautiful memorial dedicated to the first provisional revolutionary government of Bangladesh that was declared here on 14 April 1971 during the liberation war. Trishal It is the place where innumerable boyhood memories of our national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam are found around. It is situated 20 km. away from Mymensingh town. Nazrul was a student of Darrirumpur High School under Trisal police station. Here a cultural organization styled as Nazrul Academy has been established in memory of the great poet. Rebel poet Kazi Nazrul, the shelley of Bangladesh is in eternal sleep besides Dhaka University Central Mosque. Gandhi Asram Situated about 23 km. north-west of Choumuhani town and 2 km. east of Chatkhil at Jayag in Noakhali district. This asram was established in the memory of historic visit of the Mahatma Gandhi to Noakhali and devoted to his ideology. In 1946-47 Mahatma the protagonist of Ahimsa ideology visited this region with a view to preach peace. Historical Charka and other valuables used by Mahatma are preserved in this asram and those evoke deep respect to the unique memories of the great soul. Ahsan Manzil Museum, Dhaka On the bank of river Buriganga in Dhaka the Pink majestic Ahsan Manzil has been renovated and turned into a museum recently. It is an epitome of the nation's rich cultural heritage. It is the home of Nawab of Dhaka and a silent spectator to many events. Today's renovated Ahsan Manzil a monument of immense historical beauty. It has 31 rooms with a huge dome atop which can be seen from miles around. It now has 23 galleries in 31 rooms displaying of traits, furniture and household articles and utensils used by the Nawab. Shahjadpur Kuthibari About 75 km. from Pabna town. It is also a historical place connected with the frequent visits of poet Rabindranath Tagore.

Tourism in Bangladesh(Archaeological Sites)

Mainamati The seat of lost dynasties About eight km to the west of Comilla town and 114 km South-east of Dhaka lies the low hills known as Mainamati-Lalmai ridge an extensive centre of Buddhist culture. On the slopes of these hills lie scattered a treasure of information about the early Buddhist civilization (8th to 12th century). At Salban in the middle of the ridge, excavations laid bare a large Buddhist Vihara (monastery) and imposing central shrine. It has revealed valuable information of the rule of the Chandra and Deva dynasties which flourished here from the 8th to 12th century A. D. The whole range of hillocks run for about 18th km. and is studded with more than 50 sites. A site museum housed the archaeological finds which include terracotta plaques, bronze statues and casket, coins, jewellery, utensils, pottery and votive stupas embossed with Buddhist inscription. Museum is open Sunday-Friday and closed on Saturday.

Mahasthangarh The oldest archaeological site Located at a distance of 18 km north of Bogra town, Mahasthanragh is the oldest archaeological site of Bangladesh on the western bank of river Karatoa. The spectacular site is an imposing landmark in the area having a fortified long enclosure. Beyond the fortified area, other ancient ruins fan out within a semi circle of about 8 km. radius. Several isolated mounds, the local names of which are Govinda Bhita Temple, Khodai Pathar Mound, Mankalir Kunda, Parsuramer Bedi, Jiyat Kunda etc. surround the fortified city. This 3rd century B. C. archaeological site is still held to be of great sanctity by the Hindus. Every year (mid-April) and once in every 12 years (December) thousands of Hindu devotees join the bathing ceremony on the bank of river Karatoa. A visit to the Mahasthangarh site museum will open up for one a wide variety of antiquities, ranging from terracotta objects to gold ornaments and coins recovered from the site. Also noteworthy are the shrine of Shah Sultan Bulkhi Mahisawary and Gokul Medh in the neighbourhood of Mahasthangarh.

Paharpur The largest Buddhist seat of learning Paharpur is a small village 5 km west of Jamalganj railway station in the greater Rajshahi district where the remains of the most important and the largest known monastery, south of the Himalayas has been excavated. This 8th century A.D. archaeological find covers approximately an area of 27 acres of land. The entire establishment, occupying a quadrangular court, measuring more than 900 ft. and from 12 ft to 15 ft in height with elaborate gateway complex on the north, there are 45 cells on the north and 44 in each of other three sides with a total number of 177 rooms. The architecture of the pyramidal cruciform temple is profoundly influenced by those of south-east Asia, especially Myanmar and Java. It had taken its name from a high mound, which like Pahar or hillock. A site museum houses the representative collection of objects recovered from the area. The excavated findings have also been preserved at the Varendra Research Museum at Rajshahi. The antiquities of the museum include terracotta plaque, images of different gods and goddesses, potteries, coins, inscriptions, ornamental bricks and other minor clay objects. It has been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Interested tourists may avail package tours offered by Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation to visit Bangladesh. For details please contact Manager (tours) for prices and booking. Phone:(880 - 2) 9899288-91, 8811109, 8821548 Fax: (880 - 2) 8811150 e-mail : info@bangladeshtourism.gov.bd or any Tourist information Center.

Sitakunda Chandranath Hindu Temple It is approximately 37 km far from Chittagong city. This is famous for Chandranath Hindu Temple - one of the oldest temples in the subcontinent. There is also Buddhist Temple having a footprint of Lord Buddha. These places particularly the hilltops are regarded as very sacred by the hindus and buddhist. Shiva Chaturdashi (14th) festivals is held every year in February when thousands of pilgrims assemble which lasts for ten days. There is also a hot-water spring 5 km to the north of Sitakunda.

Sri Chaitanya Temple Hindu Temple About 500 years old famous temple of Sri Chaitanya Dev is located at Dhaka Dakhin nearly 45 km south-east from Sylhet town. The place is revered for being the ancestral home of the famous Vaishnava saint. Yearly fair is organized on the fullmoon day of the bangla month Falgun. Hundreds and thousand of devotees from home and abroad attend this colorful fair.