History & cultural heritage of Bangladesh
Historical Heritage provides a means of tracing cultures and fascinating an experience becomes possible to admit the significance of historical identity in the structure of specific and the then group, even allows us to conceive the cultural setting of the different civilization & Eras of Bengal.
Many individuals and particular dominant group attached different values, ideas and thoughts and left in their symbols in the contemporary built structures during the rise and fall of different regimes and eras since the 4th Century BCE to 20th Century AD.
The infinite numbers of artifacts and images embodied the authentic structures of Bangladesh have been defined as cultural heritage is capable to reflects the historical insight and carried into represent the meaningful past to shape the generation-owned creations with allusive, milieu and originality. The UNESCO have given the status of specific heritage involving the cultural heritage sites by neglecting the innumerable historical heritage of Bangladesh.
The cultural heritage tour represents the glorious past of Bangladesh to experience the historically rich sites while Bangladesh Expeditions is your local tour guide in Bangladesh…
Bangladesh once walks through darkness later Buddha advent with shed light for gradually lightening us to be the full supporter of Buddhism still enduring ecstasy in the different architectural remnants of Temples and monasteries with a large number of Buddha image relics, stone and copper plates excavated different times from various parts of the country.
Historical and cultural heritage of North Bengal
The archaeological treasure trove of North Bangladesh or North Bengal once consisting of Pundra, Varendra and Gaur have had ancient historic importance. There were some of the Buddhist educational and cultural centers while many other parts of the world were unknown historically, At once this was a rich and developed region economically too. Many travelers express their impressions glorifying these places. Mahasthan is the country’s influential fortress cities with gigantic infrastructures, temples, Stupas and common people history and their prestigious city lives of eighteen hundreds years was buried under the landform of Mahasthan. Rajshahi ( varendra bhumi) is the famous City of Silk, Varendra research museum showcases many artifacts and figurines, most ornate temples city of Puthia, several magnificent Mosque structure stretches throughout Rajshahi built by Medieval Sultans of Bengal once the most gorgeous Gaur city successively ruled Bengal located in between Bangladesh – India border.
* The single largest Paharpur Buddhist Mahavihara was the education & cultural center which was the icon of Buddhist civilization. recognized World renowned UNESCO cultural Heritage sites.
* Kantaji Temple – Kantajew Temple is the greatest icon of the terracotta architecture of Bangladesh still stands on a sandstone platform with its intricate15, 000 terra-cotta plaque embodied the epic tale of the Krishna, Ramayana, Mahabarata and represented the social context with symbolic and floral motifs.
* Dinajpur Museum – rich in ancient artifacts considered as a historic door for learning the culture and heritage of the society since the museum hold various sculptures, statues, antiquities, artifacts, tools, folklore, pottery, metal and bronze crafts, ancient articles and relics showcased to look back the meaningful and glorious past of Bangladesh.
* Rudrapur sustainable Architectures: Rudrapur represents the Vernacular architecture where Award winning architect – Anna Heringer built some Mud & bamboo built rural architectures.
* Tajhat Royal Palace: is an extraordinary finest model of Indo-Saracenic architecture, which combines French, British, Indian and Islamic elements. It features a blend of domes, turrets, and arches, as well as sophisticated figurines and decorative designs.
* Paharpur Somapura Maha Viahara: Look back to know well-known university for scholars & the cultural built sites of Buddhist civilization. The UNESCO status World Heritage – single largest Somapura Mahavihara which was shaped according to the core concept of Gautama Buddha and iconic super-structure of Buddhists during Pala Dynasty.
Gokulmedh
* Mahasthan: Look back to the time period of historic first Capital and the earlier ruins fortress city of Mahasthan or Pundranagar where varied 1800 years of history and culture due to consistently used the Capital of the Maurya, Gupta Empire, the great Ashoka, the Shanga and the great Pala dynasties. There are also marks of Afghan settlement in the 12th century. The museum traces the different settlement of Mahasthan showcases many sculpture, stone image, artifacts and inscriptions. We will discover the Govindha vita, Vasu vihara, Jiyat kunda also called the well of life and Gokul meth or Behula’s Nuptial house.
Vasu Vihar
* Vasu Vihara, is an ancient Buddhist monastic complex stands to witness the region’s rich Buddhist heritage. Archaeological findings revealed the religious, cultural, and educational practices of the past glory of Buddhism in Bangladesh during Pala dynasty.
Beautiful terracotta plaques are the last remaining significant pieces of art and architectural history.
Natore ruins palace
The Natore Rajbari is one of prestigious treasures of 18th centuries Zamindar. You can visit seven terracotta old and new looks buildings once- splendid edifice was fortified with different stylish features in its finest architecture like the massive gateways, ponds, canal, gardens, courtyard, tanks and temples. the series of Corinthian columns and semi-circular arches in the classic orthodox Roman style, geometric and floral motifs in decoration on the front, opening windows fitted with colored glass sheets, the classical nude female sculptures, the spiral iron staircases, and the black and white marble floor go back in time period.
Puthia Palace & Temples:
Putia Govinda Temple
The temples of Puthia are an integral part of the rich cultural history and one of the most popular archaeological sites of Bangladesh. These Temples structure is famous for its exquisite terracotta ornamentation has gracefully depicted the legends of Ramayan, Radha-Krishna and also the historical incidents of Mughal campaigns in Bengal.
The most ornamented palace & Temples Precious black-stone introduce you the rich cultural Heritage of Bengal.
The long abandoned ancient city of Gaur, later turned into imperial capital of Bengal Sultans. A large number of mosque built during the Independence sultans of Bengal dotted across Chapai Nawabganj in between Bangladesh – India border. Immerse yourself to look back the glorious past of Muslim architecture of Sultans. Before ending the day meet traditional Metal crafts artisans, and roam the bustling markets. The following mosque are Important.
* Remains of the Darasbari Mosque:
Darasbari Mosque structure
The Darasbari Mosque is one of the brick built with stone pillar Mosque, is an oblong structure measuring 98 feet by 57 feet externally unlike the square Domes and the multi-domed type of Mosque & Madrasa. Provided the earliest known series of hat-shaped chouchala roofs in Gaud, the ancient capital of Bengal Sultans located one km to the south-west of Kotwali gate in Umarpur between Mahdipur & Firozpur. Darasbari Mosque demonstrates the finest achievement of stucco ornamentation in the early 15th Century architectures presented by Shamsuddin Yusuf shah of Ilyas sahi dynasty.
Due to the extensive damages affected by an earthquake in 1897. Intricately ornate each lower-level room has three mihrabs, a large central one, and two smaller ones on each side. The walls feature intricately patterned terracotta plaques, many of them glazed, and featuring nature-inspired motifs like flowers, leaves, and creepers.
* Ruins of the Darasbari Madrasa: Darasbari denotes – a theological collage or Madrasa built by Shamsuddin Yusuf shah in Ilyas sahi dynasty. Darasbari Madrasa was a famous center of learning, Accompanied in new era of Persian cultural reinforcement in Bengal. The combined Mosque & Madrasa of Darasbari at Gaud undoubtedly stood in the same relationship. A large Mosque built of bricks with stone pillars. Darasbari Mosque witness its style to the adjoining Madrasa which had long since disappeared.
* Chhota Sona Mosque is crown of the stone & brick built sultanate architecture of Hossain Shahi dynasty near the tahkhana complex in the Quarters of Gaur-lakhnauti, the capital of Sultanate Bengal. The Mosque also describe as a back gem of Muslim architecture. It has 5 semi minarets and a fifteen-domed Gold gilded chouchal roof represents the beauty of sultanate architecture.
* Tahkhana Complex:
means a cold building or palace structure built by Mughal Prince Shah suja on the west bank of a large tank situated in the Firuzpur quarters of the city of Gaur-Lakhnauti is traditionally known as the Tahkhana. Along with this to its northwest are two other structures – one a three-domed mosque and the other, a domical tomb surrounded by a vaulted verandah. A piece of Mughal structure in the surrounding sultanate architectures used to be Khankah or rest room of Shah suja and a Tomb with Barandah for the missionary saints.
* Khania dighi or Rajbibi Mosque:
Rajbibi Mosque
There was a time when the mosques of Bengal featured magnificent terracotta designs with hut-shaped Domes, arches mihrab, wide angles & towers. Khania Dighi or Rajbibi small mosque represent such unique terracotta art forms with a distinctive style of roofing, which is commonly referred to as the hut-shaped dome.
The Mosque is built of brick & stone layered terracotta architecture of 2nd Illias Shahi dynasty. The mosque measures externally — 17.78m by 13.05m and internally, the prayer hall is 8.85m square with a 2.67m wide fore-room. There are six octagonal turrets at the corners and the walls are brick-built with a stone layer at the plinth level and another stone layer in the lintel level. Only the Qibla wall is faced with stones forms in the interior.
Brass Artisan & Pottery:
Brass artisans was globally famous and had a rich cultural history. The metal casting and pottery industry is at the edge of extinction. The remaining artisans of Chapainawabganj are the generation of those who were once the soul of Gaud & Rajshahi and the fine craftsmen of ancient Bengal are still artisans left to continue the age-old professions of creation.
* Varendra Research Museum – 
the treasure-trove of antiquities & arts of Bengal.
The museum has six galleries. Gallery One displayed the Indus Valley Civilization along with partial collection from Somapura Vihar.
Gallery Two & Four displayed – The Buddhist and Hindu stone sculptures, complicatedly crafted stone sculptures of Hindu gods and goddesses rest against the walls along with the occasional metal sculpture.
Gallery Five offers mostly Buddhist sculptures and Gallery Six displays Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit and old Bengali stone inscriptions and sculptured stones of the Muslim period. The inner courtyard and corridors host more sculptures and Shivalinga’s.
* Kushumba Mosque:
In the morning 2 hour drive to visit the countries riches stone arched Kushumba Mosque is precious Mosque used to be prayer & place of justice and became the dominant hub of the Muslim society and main source of administration & public audience which is the following design of Adina Mosque famous in Indian sub-continent. The stone outspread platform is used to seat of Sultan that followed by a single flight staircase from the front. The entire platform is ornate with floral chiseling on black basalt stone works. Stone rib beams have been used at the back. The structural lines are of black sand stone. The mihrab of Kusumba Mosque is planned with precious stone curving, with précised stone coiled and molded on the layered black basalt stone.
Bangladesh Expeditions offering some Historical Heritage trip as outlined as above:
Package – 1
Architectural & Archeological Heritage Trip for 10 days – click for tour plan
Package-2
Rajshahi Tour – flavors of History and cultural Heritage for 2 days – click for tour plan
Package-3:
North Bengal Cultural Heritage Tour for 4 days – click for tour plan
