Bara Aulia Shrine Panchagarh

Bara Aulia Shrine is located in Mirzapur of Atwari Upazila, 9 km away from Panchagarh district headquarters. Legend has it that 2 tigers and 2 snakes always guarded this shrine and when someone entered the shrine with evil intentions, the two tigers would come out. There are various legends about the spiritual powers of bar auliyas.

It is said that Hemayet Ali Shah (R), Niamat Ullah Shah (R), Keramat Ali Shah (R), Azhar Ali Shah (R), Hakim Ali Shah (R), Mansoor Ali Shah (R), Mominul came from the Middle East in the seventeenth century. Shah (RA), Sheikh Garibullah (RA), Amjad Ali Molla (RA), Farizuddin Akhtar (RA), Shah Moktar Ali (RA) and Shah Aliullah (RA) came to Chittagong city and built the first Asthana. Later they came to North Bengal to spread Islam and established the Asthana of Mirzapur Union. After their death these twelve Sufi saints were buried in Atwari Upazila. And the shrine of Bar Auliya was built around the tomb of Barjan Oli.

In 1990, the Bar Auliya shrine was paved with the initiative of Panchagarh District Administration and Zilla Parishad and gradually, graveyards, ponds, mosques, madrasas and orphanages were constructed in the surrounding area. Every year on the last Thursday of the month of Baisakh, Orsh Mubarak, Waj Mahfil, Qur'an Khani and Tobarak distribution are organized in the premises of Bar Auliar Shrine. Then lakhs of religious devotees came from different parts of the country. Apart from Orsh, many people come to this shrine every day with different vows.

Nabil Paribahan, Hanif Enterprise, Tanjila Travel, Barkat Travel can go to Panchagarh from Dhaka's Shyamoli, Gabtali Bus Terminal and Mirpur. Non AC bus fare from Dhaka to Panchagarh is Tk 1000-1100 and AC bus fare is Tk 1300-1900.

If you want to go by train, you can come to Panchagarh from Kamalapur in Dhaka by Panchagarh Express, Ekta and Hirtyan Express trains. According to the class, the train ticket fare ranges from Tk 695 to Tk 2398 per person.

From Panchagarh by local bus to Atwari Upazila you can go to Bar Aulia Shrine by local transport.

Among the residential hotels for overnight stay in Panchagarh city are Hotel Mouchak, Hotel Raj Nagar, Hilton Boarding, Rokkhana Boarding, Hotel Pritam, Hotel HK Palace and Hotel Islam.

In Atwari Upazila, you will find hotels with standard Bengali food. For good food, you can go to Hotel Karotiya, Hotel Mouchak, Hotel Niribili, Hotel Highway and Hotel Hamza restaurant located in Panchagarh district.

Other attractions in Panchagarh district include Banglabandha Zero Point, Tentulia to Kanchanjankha, Tea Gardens and Rocks Museum.

Feature Image: Mohsin Uddin