Bithangal Bara Akhara Habiganj

Bithangal Bara Akhara (Bithangal Bara Akhara) or Bithangal Akhara is located in Bithangal village in Baniachong upazila of Habiganj district. Known as one of the pilgrimage sites for Vaishnava devotees, this arena was built by Ramakrishna Goswami in the 16th century. Built in the medieval architectural style, Bithangal Bara Akhara has separate rooms for 120 Vaishnavas. Various religious festivals are organized here with due solemnity. Various festivals include Rath Yatra in the second week of Ashar month, Pancha Dol Utsav 5 days after Dol Purnima in Phalgun month, Kirtan on Bhola Sankranti on the last day of Kartik month, Punyasnan on Ashtami Thithi of Chaitra and Baruni Mela etc.

Some of the landmarks of Bithangal Bara Akhara include well-decorated chariots, brass thrones, white stone chowki weighing 25 maunds, silver vessels and golden crowns. Every day a large number of tourists come to visit the historically and religiously important Bithangal Bara Akhara, which is 12 km from Baniachong Upazila Sadar.

Distance from Dhaka to Baniachang is 181 km. After reaching Habiganj or Shaistaganj, you can go to Baniachong by autorickshaw, CNG or bus. The distance from Habiganj to Baniachang is 24 km and the distance from Shaistaganj to Baniachang is 36.2 km. If you want to use the railway, you can only come to Shaistaganj from Dhaka.

Bithangal can be reached in one and a half to two hours by an engine driven boat from Haor area of ​​Kishoreganj district next to Habiganj (such as Itna, Mithamin, Ashtagram, Nikoli, Bajitpur) during monsoon. However, during the dry season, from Habiganj Kamrapur bridge, you have to come to Sujatpur by jeep or go to Akhara by boat or on foot.

Local boat departure time from Habiganj: 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM and 12:00 PM. And the last boat to return leaves at 2 pm.

There is no overnight stay here. However, overnight accommodation is arranged during the festival.

There are some food hotels at the local level. If you want to eat your favorite food, you have to go to Baniachang or Habiganj.

Feature Image: Abbas Tarafdar