Achin Tree Kurigram

In Rajarhat Upazila of Kurigram District, a huge Achin Tree stands as a witness of time. Although the mysterious tree is more than 500 years old, everyone has heard different stories about the tree from their fathers and grandfathers. Locals can't tell anything about the origin or identity of this tree except in myths. According to experts, this tree belongs to Pakur species. It is said that a group of museum visitors from Kamrup-Kamakhya in the state of Assam, India planted this Achin tree here in the blink of an eye. And because no one knows the name of the tree, the locals named it as Achin tree. And according to many, a Pir brought seedlings of this unknown tree from the far west and planted it. That is why it is known as Achin tree. Due to such mystery, there is no lack of interest of curious people around Achin tree.

The Achin tree spreads its branches and occupies about 10 percent of the area. The dead leaves of this plant, similar to fig leaves, are transformed into new leaves by themselves and the shape of the leaves on each side is different. In the past, locals used to dry paddy and jute regularly under the shade of the tree and every evening Sanatana devotees came to the root of the tree and offered vows. With the evolution of time, the branches of the tree have reduced a lot, but for ages, the custom of worshiping around the tree by the local ancestors still remains. Every two years Sanatan devotees perform pooja around the Achin tree in grandeur. At present, one branch of this tree has been planted in Banshtali village of Kaliakair upazila of Gazipur district and another on Manik Mia Avenue in front of Jatiya Sangsad Bhawan.

Kurigram can be reached by buses like Nabil, Haque Special, Hanif, Tanjila and Ena from Asadgate, Kalyanpur and Gabtali in the capital Dhaka. AC/Non-AC buses will cost Tk 950-1400 per person. Again from Kamalapur railway station you can take Kurigram Express or Rangpur Express train directly from Dhaka to Kurigram. The ticket price of these trains is Tk 640-2197 depending on the class. You can go to Achin tree by local transport from Kurigram.

There are several residential hotels of different quality near Ghoshpara and Central Bus Terminal in Kurigram city. Among the residential hotels are Hotel Arnab Palace, Hotel DK, Hotel Smriti, Hotel Nivedika and Hotel Mehdi.

The food at Nanna Biryani and Asia Hotel located at Shapla Mor in Kurigram is very good. Apart from this, one of the popular dishes of Kurigram is Sidal Bharta and Bairati fish of Teesta river.

Among the other places of interest in Kurigram are Ulipur Munsibari, Shaheed Muktijoddha Memorial Plaque, Dharla Bridge, Bhooraband Zamindar Bari and Chandamari Mosque .