Balihar Rajbari Naogaon

Ancient Balihar Rajbari is located in Balihar Union, 14 km away from Naogaon district town. Bolihar zamindar built this palace after getting the land by Emperor Aurangzeb. Which is now well known as an important archaeological site of the country. In front of the two-storied zamindar house there is a huge toran and inside there is a natmandir, Raj Rajeshwari temple, twin Shiva temples and 2 shivlings. The precious relief craftsmanship on the walls of the temple adds to the beauty of the temple. In 1823, Rajendra, the zamindar of Bolihar, had installed a beautiful brass idol of Raj Rajeshwari Devi in ​​the Durga Temple of the Bolihar Rajbari before his conversion. Also, in ancient times, each room in the temple building was considered to be a temple.

At different times some zamindars were in charge of the zamindari of Bolihar in Naogaon district of Rajshahi division. During the last partition of Bolihar, Raja Bimelendu Roy, the zamindar of Bolihar, left for India, and other servants of the royal family took over the care of the Bolihar Rajbari. There were once 330 dighis/ponds under the Bolihar zamindari, but only a few remain today. During the liberation war in 1971, miscreants looted many valuable items including various artifacts and furniture of the Rajbari. Some time ago a building in Bolihar Rajbari was used as a local school classroom but now it is abandoned. However, regular worship is performed in the shrine inside the palace.

Naogaon can be reached by SR, Shyamoli, Hanif Bar and Mau Enterprise AC/Non-AC buses from Dhaka's Kalyanpur, Gabtali, Abdullahpur. The AC/Non-AC bus fare will be from Tk 680 to Tk 1400 depending on the bus. From Baludanga bus stand in Naogaon you can go to Bolihar by bus bound for Rajshahi via Naogaon-Mahadevpur road. Bolihar Rajbari is located north of Bolihar College.

Naogaon has residential hotels like Hotel Plaban, Hotel Yamuna, Hotel Avakash, Mallika Inn, Hotel Faryal and Hotel Raj.

Baludanga bus station has normal food stalls. Besides, you will find some good restaurants at Gosthati intersection in Naogaon.

Altadighi, Dana Park and Paharpur Buddhist Vihara are some of the places to visit in Naogaon.

Feature Image: Iftekhar Azam Khan