Dharmapal Gar Nilphamari

Dharmapal Gar is an archaeological monument located in Gar Dharmapal village in Dharmapal union on the east bank of river Deonai in Jaldhaka upazila of Nilphamari district. Excavations started here in 1990 but were not fully completed. Later in 2016, Dharmapala Garh was discovered during re-excavation under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture.

According to historical sources, after the death of Gopal Pal, the founder of the Pal dynasty, his son Dharmapal Raj ascended the throne and established the capital 20 km away from Jaldhaka Upazila to administer the state. Later, he built a mud wall around the capital to protect it from foreign enemies. Since then this place has been named Dharmapala Gad. 1 mile east of this center are the remains of the Pala capital and an ancient Buddhist temple. Apart from this, the Dighi of Chandanpath, spread over an area of ​​about 33 bighas, still holds the memories of the Pala period. Currently, a housing project named Gardharmapala has been developed near these ruins.

Nilphamari can be reached by road and rail from Dhaka. Direct buses to Nilphamari leave from Collegegate, Gabtali and Mohakhali in the capital. These non-AC buses will cost Tk 800-950. And from Kamalapur railway station you can go to Nilphamari by Nilsagar Express and Chilahati Express trains. The train ticket price is 580-1,996 Tk per person. If you want to go from Dhaka in less time, you can reach Nilphamari by going to Syedpur by domestic airlines. You can go to Jaldhaka upazila by bus/CNG from Nilphamari district town and take an auto rickshaw to see Dharmapal Garh via Garh Hat which is about 15 km away.

Among the residential hotels in Nilphamari district, Hotel Premier, Ronnie Dream, Shishir Hotel, Avakash Hotel, R Rahman and Navana Rest House etc. are notable.

Nilphamari has some good food hotels and restaurants including Tajin Uddin Grand Hotel, Daruchini Cafe, Hotel Tip Top, Hotel Star, Hotel Akbaria and Hotel Rahmatiya.

Railway Factory, Nile Sagar, Teesta Barrage and Chini Masjid are among the places of interest in Nilphamari.

Feature Image: Md Sarwar Ul Islam Fakir