The second largest city in the country, with its population of just under 7 million and the most important overseas port, was once called the “sleeping beauty of mists and waters”. The surrounding area is at least as spectacular as the second-largest city in the country today is more a special economic zone, the largest seaport in the country and one of the fastest growing cities on the planet. Chittagong’s history dates back more than a thousand years. Arabs founded a trading post and port already in the 9th century. It was visited by many historical world travelers such as Ibn Battuta and Niccolo De Conti as well as the Chinese Emperor’s fleet.
In the fishing port, a new cutter diesel and the ship breaking yards on our YouTube channel
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• Ship breaking yards – they are among the largest in the world. Spectacular insights into the slow death of ocean giants. Visits within the shipyards are no longer possible!
• Fish Market – between five and ten fish of all kinds are sold and bought here. If you are not afraid of mud on your feet, you will have fun! Currently right on Karnaphuli.
• Fishery Ghat (Mariners Park) – the traditional ships of the fishermen, the patching of the nets, the ship building directly on the banks of the Karnaphuli fascinate.
• Headquarter of the BD-Railway – visually spectacular (British Raj 1865) with the first steam locomotive in Bengal. As a state enterprise, ask the security guard beforehand and go for a walk in the area!
• Old Trainstation – also the one from the phase of the British Raj of 1865. Is located directly in front of the new main station. Worth seeing!
• Commonwealth War Cemetery – the military cemetery. Chittagong was of some strategic interest in World War II. Accordingly, troops were stationed here.
• Patenga Sea Beach – you can do it if you don’t plan a beach. Chittagong’s city beach offers one thing above all: nags of all kinds.
• Ethnological museum – if a bit old, it is recommended to represent many museums in Chittagong.
• Church of the Immaculate Conception – founded in 1601 by the Portuguese, nothing reminds of the construction of over 400 years ago. Father Jerome is looking forward to you.
• Cathedral of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary – the current church building of Our Lady of the Rosary was built in 1843 and is the episcopal church of the Archdiocese of Chittagong.

150 km south of Chittagong, near the small town of Cox’s Bazar, stretches with 125 km the longest natural beach in the world. The longest well-known, which does not say anything about its beauty. Endless beach hikes are only interrupted by swimming in the sea, sunbathing and enjoying excellent seafood in the beach restaurants. Cox’s Bazar could well be called the international Bangladesh. Here you can “paint the town red” provided that you are in one of the international (means better, bigger, more expensive) hotels/resorts. From party, drinks, pool, jet-ski, surfing, speed boat to parasailing everything is possible.
From Cox's Bazaar to Moheshkhali Island and on Moheshkhali Island - the Shrine of Adinath on our YouTube channel
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• Fish market – not on Friday, the rest of the week at the early morning – it’s certainly the best time.
• Beach market – mussels with (your) name and other nonsense of all kinds. This mostly from Myanmar or China. Nevertheless a quite funny experience.
• Moheshkhali Island – 268 km² of marshland covered with mangroves. In the hills of the island is embedded the Siva dedicated Shrine of Adinath and a pagoda.
• Sonadia Island – a 9 km² small island. The fishermen like to dry their catch in the winter, otherwise there’s nothing there.
• Himchari National Park – owns National Park status!? However – from its hilltops you have a very nice view over the beach.
• Beach – it’s said to be the longest natural beach in the world (125 km). The best way to get an impression is in the sections of Inani- and Himchari-Beach.
• Teknaf – the southernmost point of the country is rather a transit stop on the way to St. Martin. The fields of the sea salt production and the small town are worth a visit.
• Teknaf Game Preserve – the only game reserve in Bangladesh. The last free-living elephants are to be observed on 11,615 ha of subtropical jungle.

The only coral island in the country can be reached by ferry from Teknaf (3h). Please do not expect taxis, tarred roads or electricity (usually only for 4 hours in the evening). The island consists only of a small settlement, sun, sea and palm trees. 250 years ago Arabian sailors founded the first settlement here. The largest part of the approximately 5,500 islanders lives from fishing and trade. Let the soul dangle, here there is nothing that could disturb and thereby serves St. Martin any tropical stereotype. Sandy beaches, coconut palms, turtles, corals (some of these only here) and – depending on the season and the weather – azure water.
From St. Martins Island to Teknaf on our YouTube channel
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• Island hike & Chera Deep – a round trip, of course on foot – 8 km² at low tide, 5 km² at high tide. The mini-island Chera Deep can be visited on this occasion.
• Sea turtle project – nothing great, but an admirable example of personal commitment of a few.
• Boat trip – round St. Martin by boat and Chera Deep visit, also a possibility.
• Swimming – Sunbathing is not a problem, with the sea it is there a bit more difficult. There is an official and 2 other coral-free bathing spots.
• Diving/Snorkeling – depending on tides, weather or season. There are people who catch on this occasion their dinner, lobsters!

The city is considered the tea capital of the country and is located in the middle of the largest and most beautiful tea plantations in the world. A walk through it – which covers over 54,000 hectares – is a duty here, where the air with the aroma of tea, pineapple and lemon plantations is impregnated! Even today tea is the heart of the area. Approximately 60,000 tonnes are produced annually. One half is drunk in the country itself, the other half is exported. Srimangal is one of the deepest tea cultivation areas in the world and one of the hottest. Tea prefers higher and cooler areas, so the extensive plantations are always planted with trees. The idyllic area is perfect for biking.
Train trip to Srimangal, around Srimangal, in the Lawachara National Park and to the HumHum Waterfall on our YouTube channel
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• Lawachara National Park – the last rainforest of Bangladesh (1,250 ha). His undisputed star is the Hoolock Gibbon – the only great ape species of the subcontinent.
• HumHum Waterfall – in the middle of the Rajkandi Sanctuary. The jungle with all adversity wants to be mastered, if you want to the waterfall, and that is a challenge, but worth it!
• Baikka Beel – a Beel is part of a Haor (wetland). Baikka Beel is part of the Hail Haor, which is the domicile of migrating birds and, depending on the season, to tens of thousands.
• Srimangal Town – the center of the small town is definitely worth a walk. Especially in the late afternoon, when bazaars and markets have opened.
• Tea Research Institute – is located in the middle of a tea plantation of Finlay, which is not open to the visitor. The “hoo-ha” around the tea is definitely worth seeing!

Opened in 2005, this 243-hectare national park is located in Habiganj district, 1.5 km east of Srimangal. “Satchari” means “seven rivers” and in fact there are seven small rivers in the national park. About twenty-four Tipra families live in an ethnic village within the national park. In the evergreen mixed forest there are more than 200 different tree species. These are the habitat for a species-rich population of wild animals such as junglefowl, red-headed trogon, Oriental pied hornbill, pygmy-woodpecker, Phayre’s langur, capped langur, hoolock gibbon, moon bear, Bengal slow loris, southern pig-tailed macaque, red-cheeked rope squirrel and Indian muntjac.
In the national park on our YouTube channel
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The area, about 15 km west of Srimangal, can also be reached very well by bike. The evergreen mixed forest is rich in rare plant and animal species. The forest currently houses 37 species of mammals, 167 bird species, 7 amphibian species, 18 reptile species and 638 plant species. Some of the inhabitants are Indian leopard, Phayre’s langur, capped langur, Bengal slow loris, hoolock gibbon, fishing cat, small Indian civet, moon bear, Asian elephant, Indian pangolin and Asiatic jackal. It is one of the few natural forests still in good condition. However, pillage and illegal deforestation is a permanent threat to the conservation area in the immediate vicinity of the Indian state of Tripura. The forest is also well-known for its abundance of birds. To the album

The City of Shrines – meaning the tombs of the Holy Hajrat Shah Jalal and Hajrat Shah Poran. Both have an almost magical attraction. Even today – more than six hundred years after the death of Hajrat Shah Jalal – his shrine is visited by countless pilgrimages to all parts of the country. In Sylhet secular ambitions meet with religious satisfaction and the time seems to be slower here. The inhabitants use every opportunity for a chat and many travelers are often of the opinion that this is the most pleasant city in South Asia. Sylhet is different. It is partly like a village – but in the much too big dress of a city. Nevertheless, due to its proximity to England, it is likely to be the most cosmopolitan of all the cities in the country.
The shrine of Hajrat Shah Jalal on our YouTube channel
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• Kean-Bridge – overhangs the Surma but not an architectural miracle, rather a mis-construction because their steep driveways overcame every rickshaw driver. A worthwhile act.
• Ali Amjad Clock Tower – the unofficial landmark of Sylhet on the north bank of the Surma/Kean Bridge. Built in the late 18th century, it bears the royal seal of the old Bengal.
• Murari Chand College – the “MC College” was the first university in Sylhet from 1892 and was often voted the best educational institution in the country.
• Madhabkunda Waterfall – the most famous of all waterfalls located in Borolekha Thana, about 3 km from Dakhinbagh attracts many tourists.

60 km northeast of Sylhet, right on the eastern border with India, on the Goyain River, in the lap of the Khasia Mountains, framed by rainforest and tea plantations – Jaflon. The Goyain feeds from many smaller rivers, all of which have their origins in the Himalayas. Countless tons of rubble and rock are washed into the Goyain, which in turn deposits them in this picturesque valley and is the hard day's work of the stone fishermen. This enables intensive insights into the working life of people, because the extraction of the raw material takes place under quite adventurous circumstances, which are unlikely to have changed over time.To this day indigenous but already assimilated village communities of the Khasia tribe live in the forests of Jaflon, which can be visited, there is also an idyllic tea plantation.
In Jaflon on our YouTube channel
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• Jaintapur – “Betel, water and women are Jaintapuri” a line of a rhyme about the once wealthy capital of the Jainta empire (7th-16th centuries) 5 km before Tamabil. Witnesses to the turbulent history are rare and rather run down, like the palace and temple of Jainteswari (now more of a dirty public convenience). Nevertheless, some of the remains in Jaintapur are of enormous historical interest: the only megaliths discovered in Bangladesh.
• Tamabil – the border crossing to India (state of Meghalaya) is 10 km before Jaflon. Border traffic, formalities and activities of the countless trucks are interesting here. No visas are issued!
• Sripur – two or three kilometers towards Jaflon. Waterfalls (depending on the season), rainforest, beautiful surroundings and India in sight. Always worth a stop!

Apparently “floating villages” at the end of the rainy season. Lakes as big as seas. Tourists? Wrong! But water, birds and again birds. A “Fly In” for migratory birds of all kinds and a highlight for nature and bird friends. Tanguar Haor is a wet biotope. The north-east consists of one-third of these areas – if you want a seasonal lake plate with huge dimensions but never more than 2 meters deep (depending on the season). These wetlands represent not only a particular geographic feature of the country, but in their entirety they form an immensely important and internationally important ecosystem. A boat trip on the waters is nature and tranquility - only interrupted by the birds’ shindy. To the album

Lalakhal, a small hamlet in the extreme north-east of Bangladesh, nestled on the Jaintia Hills of the Indian state of Meghalaya – the last foothills of the mighty Himalaya. Lalakhal was once a part of the ancient Jaintia kingdom of Jaintiapur. So far, so good – the bang is the area. The Sari, a lively mountain river with crystal clear, emerald green waters, is among the most beautiful in the country, lush green forests, blue sky, clouds and the mountains complete the scenario. There is a perfect panorama as far as the eye can see. During the monsoon, the view becomes spectacular. Countless shades of green, yellow and brown from trees, forests and rice fields can “mesmerize” the visitor. To the album

• Sari River – an absolute “must do”! With your own kayak, or with motocraft, there is hardly a more beautiful river cruise!
• Sylhet – easy to reach from Lalakhal and already described above. The same applies to the next point.
• Jaflon & Tamabil – also good to reach and also described above.

The only freshwater swamp forest in Bangladesh – of which there are very few in the world anyway – is located about 26 km north of Sylhet. During the rainy season, the water is about six to ten meters high, otherwise it fluctuates around three meters, only in winter, the water drains off completely. 73 plant species are native to the swamp forest and 80 percent of its surface is covered by a leafy roof. Snakes and blind snakes, monkeys and water monitors are at home here year-round, mongooses in the dry season. The upper floor offers the habitat, among others, for herons, kingfishers, parrots, hair birds and eagles and hawks. The forest also serves as a winter home for migratory birds and its waters are rich in fish stocks.
The swamp forest on our YouTube channel
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Rangamati, the capital of the district of the same name with 70,000 inhabitants, is located on the western shore of Kaptai Lake and is a popular national holiday destination due to its scenic beauty, the lake and the indigenous groups. With 6,116 km², it is the largest of the three Hill Tracts districts, in which around 700,000 people of all tribes and settlers live. Rangamati is still the seat of the King of the Chakma, the best known and most dominant of all 16 tribes. Many Chakma live across borders in Burma and India, particularly in the states of the northeast and West Bengal. What's in Rangamati (Town)?
Kaptai Lake on our Youtube channel
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To the Sajek Valley album

• Joseph Church – Father Gerome welcomes you, the hostel and school for children of ethnic groups are affiliated with the church.
• Kaptai Lake Terminal – loading and unloading the boats and trucks, a spectacle.
• Fishery Ghat – the small terminal for daily catches.
• Chakma Rajbari – the actual residence is burned down and inaccessible, but some (annex) buildings of the former residence of the Chakma king are still standing, such as courthouses, religious buildings, stupas etc.
• Rangamati Town – the hustle and bustle in the evening in downtown (around Bonorupa Jame Masjid).
• Rajbani Vihara – founded by the royal family in 1974, idyllically situated on a peninsula, built in the style of Burmese architecture, it is the largest Buddhist monastery in Bangladesh.
• Tribal Museum (Cultural Institute) – very nice museum on the subject of ethnicities in the CHT.
• Kaptai Lake – was created in the 1960s by the Karnaphuli dam. A boat trip is highly recommended, you could visit Chakma villages.
• Kaptai Dam – a visit to the top of the dam is impossible, but it is worth a boat trip (from Jetty Ghat).
• Kaptai National Park – was created in 1999. 55 km² of evergreen mixed forest & tropical rainforest in connection with the azure Kaptai Lake. One of the most visually attractive national parks.
• Pablakhali Natural Reserve – founded in 1983, 420 km² in the northeast corner of CHT. Evergreen mixed forest and grasslands cover the mountainous surroundings.
• Sajek-Valley – the “Roof of Bangladesh” or the “Queen of Rangamati” is located in the far north of the province and offers a fantastic view of a spectacular area. Only accessible via Baghaihat, from there in an organized convoy.

Khagrachari is the capital of the district of the same name. Approximately 650,000 people, Bengal, Tripuri, Chakma, Marma and Tanchangya, live in the smallest and deepest of the three CHT districts with 2,800 km². Khagrachhari is the seat of the King of Mong. About 40,000 people live in the city itself. The district is undoubtedly the most difficult to reach and travel because of the official machinery. Even though Khagrachari is a pretty, quiet town, it doesn’t offer that much to the traveler. But it invites you to take a walk through the city center to the Gonjopara Bridge (Chengi River). Various markets and manufacturer, everything slowed down and the Sri Sri Laxmi Narayan temple are on the way.
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• Town walk – a walk through the center of the town, various markets and manufacturer, everything slowed down very much.
• Sri Sri Lakshmi Narayan Temple – a Hindu temple dedicated to Lakshmi.
• Gonjopara Bridge – with an excellent view of the Chengi River.
• Alutila Cave – also “The Mysterious” about 8 km from the city. Outside: a beautiful view of Khagrachari and deep green forest. Inside a 100 m long limestone cave without light, but spring water flows on the floor.
• Richhang Waterfall – a pretty seasonal waterfall. It‘s not the size, height or width that matters, it‘s the surroundings! Near the cave.
• Aparajita Buddhist Pagoda – a few hundred meters from the Alutila Cave towards Khagrachari. A new, pompous Buddhist meditation center with pagoda.

The “mother of the monkeys” is the capital of the same name of the district in southeast Bangladesh. This covers approximately 4,500 km² and around 400,000 residents, of whom 35,000 live in Bandarban Town, including the King of Marma. Bandarban is the mother country of Marma, but Tripuri, Reang, Mro, Bawm, Khyang, Lushai, Khumi, Chak and Tanchangya also live here. Visits to the indigenous village communities are a must, as is a boat trip on the Sangu River, as one of the most beautiful river landscapes in the country is ideal. The river is the center of public life anyway. Villages of the Marma, mountain landscapes, agriculture and bamboo rafts alternate and become an exhilarating experience in the late afternoon. What’s in Bandarban (Town)?
Around Bandarban on our YouTube channel
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• Sangu River Point – bridge overlooking the Sangu River. Suitable as a starting point for a walk through Bandarban.
• Bandarban Bazar – shops, street markets, hustle and bustle. Not a straight face remains! The Sangu flows on the left, its bank is worth more than a detour.
• Sangu Riverbank – center of public life especially in the late afternoon, pigs, soccer, laundry etc.
• Rajguru Buddhist Pagoda – the first pagoda in Bandarbans, today with an associated monastery.
• Nilachal (Tiger Hill) – around 600 meters high, offers a beautiful view of the surrounding area and Bandarban Town. Nearby is a Tripuri village.
• Buddha Dhatu Jadi – the “Golden Pagoda” of Bandarban, about five kilometers from the town (from Rangamati). Certainly the most beautiful pagoda in Bangladesh in a fantastic setting.
• Shoilo Propat – approx. 7 km south of Bandarbans, a small vantage point with a mountain stream and villages nearby.
• Chimbuck Hill – is located about 25 km south of Bandarban and offers a great view at almost 700 m altitude and a village nearby.
• Nilgiri Hills – 40 km south of Bandarbans, around 900 m high, offer a fantastic view of a spectacular landscape.
• Tahjindong – No. 1 of the top 3 in the “alpine world” of Bangladesh, 1280 m.
• Mowdok Mual – No. 2 of the top 3 in the “alpine world” of Bangladesh, 1052 m.
• Keokradong – No. 3 of the top 3 in the “alpine world” of Bangladesh, 883 m. On the way to Keokradong you can find:
• Bogakain Lake (Boga Lake) – 60 km southeast of Bandarban town, deep, large, natural at a height of 600 m. Picturesque collection of rainwater in the crater of a volcano that has been extinct for 2000 years.
• Chingri Jhiri Waterfall – only 5 km further, can be easily reached on foot if already on site. Another 3 km to Keokradong.
• Jadipai Waterfall – one of the widest waterfalls (seasonal) in Bangladesh, the waterfall and the surrounding area deserve the title "magnificent"! Two kilometers behind the Keokradong.

Foreword: Comilla is located in the Tropic of Cancer and is the warmest city in the country. Queen Victoria visited Comilla several times, the Comilla Victoria College was founded in her honor. In Mainamati, near Comilla, there is a collection of hills with the remains of more than 50 Buddhist settlements dating back to the 8th to 12th centuries. The archaeological site is one of the most important, while Shalban Vihara is one of the most famous monastic sites of the subcontinent. It was founded around the end of the 8th century by King Shri Bhava Deva. Originally, the monastery was named as the king (Bhavadev Bihar), today the name refers to a grove of shals trees. To the album

• New Shalban Vihara – directly opposite the Thai Royal Family finances a neat new building, visitors are welcome.
• Kutila Mura – the picturesque remains of the monastery are unfortunately not accessible to foreigners, as restricted area. But more than just a consolation:
• Itakhola Mura – is one of the most impressive ruins and enjoyed its heyday between the 7th and 12th centuries.
• Rupban Mura – consists of the remains of a remarkable half-cross-shaped shrine of medium size from the 6th to 7th century.
• Ananda Vihara – with almost 200 meters of side length was it the largest and most important (?) of all the structural works with the largest artificial lake in the area.
• Maynamati War Cemetery – Comilla was one of the most important military bases of the British-Indian army during the Second World War.
• Comilla City – the lively city or its center around the Zero Point is, if anyway here, definitely worth a stay!

The metropolis – also known as City of Silk – is situated on the banks of the Ganges. It is the fourth largest city in Bangladesh and the administrative seat of the district of the same name. In the city with close proximity to India live about 900,000 people. The foundation of the city dates back to 1634, the district was founded in 1772, the city council in 1876. Rajshahi was ruled by various Maharajas, Rajas and Zamindar. In the 18th century there was a Dutch settlement. The city was once an epicenter of strong Buddhist and Hindu empires, before it became the center of Islam. Its former strength is now only reflected in the name again, because “Raj” (Sanskrit) and “Shahi” (Persian) mean both “royal” and “kingdom”.
Low water and a tea stall in Rajshahi and the market of Bagha on our YouTube channel
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• Rajshahi College – founded in 1873. Former British private school from 1828. Excellent example of colonial architecture of the British Raj.
• Rajshahi University – the huge mango-grown campus of the major university also houses the largest mass grave from the time of the Bangladesh war.
• Barokuthi – the former Dutch district of the Dutch VOC (Oest-Indische Compagnie, presence in the city from 1876).
• Christian mission with hospital – built in 1926, is also worth a visit.
• Shrine of Hazrat Shah Mokhdum – Place of pilgrimage. Hazrat Shah Mokhdum Ruposh was the first Islamic preacher in the Rajshahi region.
• Smriti Amlaan – the Museum of Independence.
• Shahid Qumruzzaman Central Park – with small zoo, but especially in the evening hours appropriately visited.
• Bagha Masjid – the Mosque built under the reign of Sultan Nashrat Shah in Bagha in 1523. It’s an excellent example of architecture in the Mughal era.
• Kismat-Maria Masjid – also known as Durgapur Masjid. Located in the village of Maria nearby Kismat. This mosque is a mystery, there is hardly any useful information.
• Padma (Ganges) – the evening hours you spend on the lively promenade and/or on a boat trip.

Was also a city known as Lakhnauti, whose history dates back to the 7th century. Their remains can be found in the district of Nawabganj (Shibganj Upazila) on the border with India, where the largest part is located (Malda district, West Bengal). The former town lay on the eastern bank of the Ganges, but the current course of the Ganges is now far from the ruins. Gaur has an immense collection of historically valuable mosques and palaces, more than anywhere else in Bangladesh (excluding Bagerhat). The trade metropolis, 32 km² in size, attracted traders from all over Central Asia, Arabia, Persia and China. They all left their traces in the form of temples, mosques and palaces, some of which still stand and crumble, others are reconstructed. Unfortunately, no buildings from the first, the Hindu era, have been preserved. To the album

• Choto Shona Masjid – the Small Golden Mosque is a graceful witnesses of the Sultanate period, built between 1493 and 1526.
• Khania Dighi Masjid – is a very beautiful, small one-dome mosque in the midst of a large mango grove that was probably built around the 1480s.
• Tahkhana Palace – the palace dates back to the early 17th century houses 25 rooms, as well as a hammam. Behind it is the Shah-Niamatullah Mosque from 1560.
• Darasbari Masjid – our favorite mosque! The remains of a palace-like mosque (built between 1474 and 1481) lie on a small pond, surrounded by mango plantations.
• Mango & lychee – between May and July is season. The air is impregnated with the smell of the countless mango- and lychee-plantations.

The city on the river Punarvhaba was once a part of the ancient kingdom Pundravardhana. The British administration took over Dinajpur in 1786. The people of the district contributed significantly to the independence war of 1971. In the old town, with its narrow and relatively quiet streets, it can be walked at any time of the day. The only music college in the country is here in the old town resident and should be visited. The building can hardly be overlooked and was once a royal palace. A few other buildings from the time of the British Raj can be discovered during a walk. Even if nothing “earth-shattering” is to be expected, the old town spreads something like charm. The main reason to visit Dinajpur is the beautiful Kantaji Temple…
The Kantaji Temple, music college and Krishna Temple/Rajbari on our YouTube channel
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• Music-College – a former royal palace is definitely worth a visit, best at weekdays from 10am, during the lessons.
• Kantaji Temple – the most impressive example of terracotta architecture in Bangladesh (around 1722) counts to the most beautiful – worldwide.
• Nayabad Masjid – the small mosque is just 2 km away from the temple, a walk is more than recommended. Rural Bangladesh…
• Dinajpur Rajbari – a ruin on the northeastern outskirts of the 15th century. A Krishna temple and a collection of buildings in the advanced stage of decay, an “eye-catcher”!
• Ramsagar National Park – one of Bangladesh’s largest artificial lakes and more a park than a pristine wilderness. Here you can also find the remains of a small Rajbari.
• Ghughudanga Zamindar Bari – in the style of Indo-Saracen architecture, was the residence of a powerful landowner family on the banks of Purnovoba.
• Sitakot Vihar – the foundation walls of the Hindu monastery from the 6th century near Nawabganj. The remains are among the oldest of their kind at all.

The enchanting little village is bursting at the seams because of the abundance of palaces and temples, and is undoubtedly a highlight of every Bangladesh tour. The Puthia Temple Complex, 23 km east of Rajshahi, offers the largest number of historically interesting Hindu buildings in Bangladesh. In any other country in the world, it would be hard to resist tourists, but here in the distant rice fields of Bengal, you have all that pretty much for yourself! Although many Hindu reliefs and representations in the liberation war were destroyed as a blasphemy by Pakistani marauding troops, there is still more than enough to inspire your imagination and catapult you through centuries.
Restoration work on our YouTube channel
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• Puthia Rajbari (Panch Ani Palast) – the palace of the ruler, built in 1895 in the Indo-Saracen style, is currently being reconstructed.
• Dol Temple – facing the Puthia Rajbari. A relatively unadorned, brick-built, four-storey temple. According to an inscription, it dates from 1778.
• Gobinda Temple – a large square structure crowned by a series of decorative miniature towers, decorated by a variety of terracotta works (second half of the 18th century).
• Kumari Rajbari – the one-storey residence of Maharani Hemanta Kumari, east of the palace. This and the pool area, dates back to the first decade of the 20th century.
• Small Ahnik Temple – the small decorated temple was built during the 18th century or in the first decade of the 19th century.
• Char Ani Palast – from 1886 located west of the Rajbari directly at the pond is in a desolate state. Only the entrance portal, parts of the treasury and the prison are preserved.
• Ahnik Temple – from the same epoch as his “little sister”. Architecturally almost unique in Bangladesh (except Rajaram Mandir at Khalia/Faridpur).
• Small Gobinda Temple – right next to the Ahnik Temple. This temple also dates back to the 18th century or the beginning of the 19th century.
• Gopal Temple – the two-storey, very simple temple, to the right of the small Gobinda Temple, dates back to the 20th century.
• Siva Temple – the richly decorated temple built between 1823 and 1830 is an excellent example of the temple architecture typical of northern India.
• Jagannath Temple – a small, picturesque temple, just to the right of the Siva Temple. This temple built in 1830 was reserved for the priests.
• Tarapur Temple – which is also called Haowakhana about 3 km west of the temple complex of Puthia, in the middle of a lake located temple, dates from the 18th century.

The royal family of Rajshahi was also one of the most prosperous landowners in all Bengal. The large, elegant and mysterious palace complex of Natore, with its imaginative gardens and Hindu temples lined ponds, was their residence. In fact there is so much history here that you have to be careful not to stumble over a forgotten building. The plant was almost as famous as Queen Rani Bhabani (1716-1795), who also lived here after the death of her husband and was very popular with the people because of her kindness. However, Natore can be safely described as a prime example of buildings of the British Raj in today’s Bangladesh. To the album

The remains of the Buddhist monastery complex and the landmark of Bengali architectural history Somapura Mahavihara (Sanskrit: Great Monastery) has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985 and was the largest and most important cultural and study center of its time south of the Himalayas and the subcontinent. Over time it has been the intellectual / spiritual center for Buddhists, Jainas and Hindus. After its discovery in the early 20th century, the ruins quickly attracted the attention of historians, representing two levels of cultural and historical development. On the one hand, the plant is a milestone in the transition from more random, native to more conscious, symbolic or metaphorical architecture. On the other hand, it symbolizes the transition from a pure state religion of the Pala kings to a ritual, philosophical, Buddhas-related religion known as Neo-Buddhism or Tantra. To the album

The earliest evidence of urbanization in ancient Bengal. Indologist Sir Alexander Cunningham made the most important discovery in 1879, in the then dense jungle: Mahasthangarh is Pundranagar! Archaeological finds prove that Pundranagar was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Pundravardhana (home of the Pundra) a tribe already mentioned in the Veda. It was also the center of ancient Indian dynasties such as the Mauryans (320 - 185 BC), the Guptas (320 - 550) and the Palas (750 - 1160) and center of later feudal Hindu and Muslim empires. The whole area is rich in Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim remains and no doubt the area, whether Pundranagar or Mahasthangarh, has been home to Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims over the centuries. A large area is surrounded by a rampart, the Citadel, the fortified heart of the area. To the album

• Kata Duar und Dorab Shah Toran – two worth seeing of the four gates to the citadel.
• Khodar Pathar Bhita – Place of the God-given stone. A huge granite doorstep (2,84m x 0,71m x 0,74m) to the former Buddhist temple (8th century).
• Mankalir Dhap – remains of a temple dedicated to the goddess Mahankali (also Renuka), which is mostly worshiped in southern India.
• Jiat Kunda – the fountain of life. According to legend, the fountain had life-giving power. Killed soldiers have been revived by the water.
• Parasuramer Basgriha – the palace of King Parasuram.
• Munir Ghon – an impressive bulwark.
• Bairagir Bhita – Temple of the Hermits. Remains of two temples from the early and late Pala Period (9th and 11th century).
• Mazar Shah Sultan Balkhi Mahisawar – a Dervish from the 14th century, which proselytized Pundranagar. Today a significant place of pilgrimage.

Outside the citadel, hundreds of artifacts testify that Mahasthangarh, even on a modern scale, was a true metropolis. Among the researched and worth mentioning include:

• Noropotir Dhap – also Vashu Bihar. Remains of a larger monastery that visited Hiuen Tsang in the 7th century.
• Totaram Panditer Dhap – also Bihar Dhap. Remains of two monasteries and temples about 6 km northwest of the citadel (around 630).
• Mangalkot – an idyllic grassy hill. Excavations have yielded more than a thousand sculptures from the Gupta dynasty.
• Govinda Bhita – opposite the museum. The remains of a 3rd century Krishna temple, located on the Karatoa.
• Gokul Medh – the 6th-century Buddhist monastery is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in the area.
• Godaibari Dhap – the remains of a temple from the Gupta period. Approximately 1 km south of Khulnar Dhap.
• Shkonder Dhap – there is nothing left! All remains of the temple were removed, the site was built and a pond was created.

Mymensingh lies on the ancient course of the Brahmaputra. The city, known as Nasirabad, has a rich cultural and political history. From the 16th to the 18th century, Mymensingh was an important commercial center of the Mogul empire. With the Battle of Plassey in 1757, the East India Company conquered control and the right of taxes, as in all of Bengal. For a long time she made only a little use of it, but established trading posts around Mymensingh and expelled the Portuguese and the French. The situation was described in a local saying as: “The Nawbabs eat and sleep. The English hoard and ship money. The Bengal scream and go to the devil”.
Welcome to Mymensingh! on our YouTube channel
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• Alexander Castle – interesting and extremely individual, locally also known as Lohar Kutir. Built of steel and wood in 1879, now national heritage.
• Campus – right behind Alexander Castle. Young people, colonial architecture and a large park.
• Mymensingh Rajbari – from 1905, once housed art and antiques from all over the world. The national heritage is currently being expanded into a museum.
• Bipin Park – a small, long-drawn park, right on the old course of the Brahmaputra. This is where funfair takes place in the evening hours.
• Botanical Garden – about four kilometers east of the city – at the colleges for agriculture and fisheries – which can also be visited.

Between 1704 and 1720, the Navaratna Temple, near Sirajganj and the village of Navaratnapara close to Hatimkurul, was built. Legends tell that every brick of the temple was only walled up after being cleansed in Ghee. The temple is almost completely restored and offers an excellent sight – from its roof, an excellent view. In the neighborhood there are some smaller temples. It is said that the king gave the temple thanks for the generous donations of the local landowner. But these donations for the Kantaji Temple at Dinajpur ruined the landowner. A legend, but this would explain why both temples are so very similar. There are three other temples on the large inner courtyard of the Navaratna Temple, the Siva-Parvati Temple, the Chandi Temple and another Shiva temple with terracotta design on the southern shore of the pond.
The Jamuna Bridge on our YouTube channel
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Tetulia, extremely remote in the northwest, is known as the “Place of Dreams” (which certainly does not apply to the accommodations). In the picturesque surroundings, criss-crossed by many rivers, you will find small, peaceful settlements in the middle of bamboo groves and tea plantations, small Hindu temples and something that makes you forget the hardships of the journey! The supposed object of desire is half in India, half in Nepal (approx. 140 km as the crow flies) and is 8,586 m high, the Kangchenjunga. The summit of the Himalayas, offers a majestic sight and is the only eight-thousander on which, in addition to the main summit, three other peaks reach a height of more than 8000 m, all of which are relatively easy to see. The third highest mountain in the world was first climbed on May 25, 1955 by Joe Brown and George Band, who were part of a British expedition. They stopped shortly before the summit to respect the faith of the people in Sikkim, who venerated the summit as a sacred mountain and demanded this promise in advance. To the album

• Karatoya – it is worth a drive through the area towards Rangpur along the Karatoya River because of the area. Furthermore:
• Bhitargarh – about 15 km north of Panchagarh is an archaeological excavation site, with the remains of an old fortress town from the 5th century. After trial excavations, closed again, the area is waiting for better times.
• Golok Dham Temple – about 20 km southeast of Panchagarh on the Karatoya River. Built in 1846, it is an excellent example of the temple architecture of that time, which also contained Greek elements.

The metropolis, close to the Tista, is a city like any other in the country, perhaps with a little more green. Rangpur was ruled by many rulers for a long time, then still known as Ranggapur. This can be translated as “City of Happiness” (“Rangga” means happiness and “pure” place). The name probably goes back to the time of the Mahabharata (the most famous Sanskrit epic, 400 BC). In Rangpur or Ranggapur, Raja Bhagadatta, who is a part of this epic, is said to have built a rural mansion and surrendered to all forms of worldly enjoyments there. In this respect, the name is understandable, but should better be “City of private Happiness”. In the course of time the name changed to Rangpur. Incorporated into the Mughal Empire of Akbar’s in 1575, Rangpur is now an infrastructural hub and economic conurbation, known for the production of dhurries (cotton carpets) and bidis (cigars). In 1930 the rebellion against the British colonial power germinated here. To the album

• Carmichael College – named after his patron Sir Thomas Gibson-Carmichael, 11th Baronet and Governor of the British colonies in Madras and Bengal. The college was known as the “Cambridge of the East” due to its architectural style based on the style of Cambridge University and its quality as an educational institution (the latter is limited to the colonial era).
• Tajhat Palace – built at the beginning of the 20th century by Maharaja Kumar Gopal Lal Roy. In the middle of the 76 m wide facade there is an imposing, wide flight of stairs made of white marble and leads directly over the portico to the upper floor with rows of slender, half-Corinthian columns. Unfortunately, apart from the general museum, none of the 22 rooms or the ballroom is accessible.
• Town Hall – Administration building in the heart of the city in the style of typical colonial architecture.
• Jadu Nibash – a remarkable mansion from the time of Raja Gopal Lal Roy.