Lake and Hills in Rangamati

Rangamati

It is arguably one of the most picturesque tourist destinations in Bangladesh, ringed by numerous hills and situated right on the sparkling waters of Kaptai Lake. The colorful lifestyle and culture of the indigenous communities reveals signifies their inherent love or nature and their intimate bond with the hills, forests and rivers. Rangamati's majestic natural beauty is most attractively manifested in the rainy season - trees become greener, waterfalls are in full flow, the river Karnaphuli is full to the brim. Rangamati includes the following places or interest for the tourists:
The man-made Kaptai lake, spreading over 680 sq km of crystal-clear water was formed by damming the Karnaphuli river, and has a picturesque hinterland of large hills and panoramic forests. A cruise on the calm waters of the lake can be a memorable experience. The Chakma King's Palace is worth a visit.

Among other places of interest, Rajbon Bihara Pagoda located on a hilltop, attracts a large number of devotees who come for the religious occasion known as "Kathin Chivar Dan". Pedatingting. 5 km from Rangamati town at the mouth of the Shuvolong Channel, is an enchanting island resort located in the middle of the magnificent Kaptai Lake; with a beach frontage all around. The restaurant is clean and quiet, with an adjacent leisure park where tourists may enjoy the blue waters of the lake and the lush green of the hills. The restaurant has some delicious tribal-style dishes to offer. While visiting Rangamati, tourists may also go shopping at the Kalpataru Shilpaniketan, an ivory handicrafts centre in the town.

Kantaji Temple of Bangladesh

Hindu Temple

The most ornate among the late medieval Hindu temples of Bangladesh Kantaji temple is situated near Dinajpur town. It was built by Maharaja Pran Nath in 1752. Every inch of the temple surface is beautifully embellished with exquisite terracotta plaques, representing flora and fauna, geometric motifs, mythological scenes and an astonishing array of contemporary social scenes and favourite pasttime. The Maharaja's palace with relics of the past and the local museum are well worth a visit.

This nava-ratna or 'nine spired' Hindu temple, now stripped off its original nine spires atop its corners during the devastating earthquake of 1897.

The 52 feet square temple is centered in an oblong court, 240 × 120 ft (73 × 37 m), covered by a shed with a roof of corrugated tin. Its main fabric pivots around a nuclear square cell (10 ft 3 in (3.12 m)), reaching a height of about 50 ft (15 m) above its 3 ft 3 in (0.99 m) high slab of stone, thought to have been mined from the ancient ruins of Bannagar near Gangarampur in Dinajpur.

Three more square outer shells in graded heights have been added to it, to variegate the plan as well as to strengthen the central sanctuary on top of the massive tower.

The curved cornice from the ground floor, which sharply drops at the corners, rises in the middle to a height of 25 ft 0 in (7.62 m) from the plinth, while the first floor cornice rises to 15' and the second floor to 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m). Small square cells are situated at the four corners of the ground and first floors.

They serve the purpose of supporting the weight of the octagonal corner towers above. The temple contains four rectangular alleys on the ground floor circling the prayer hall which measure 30 ft 8 in (9.35 m) by 5 ft 0 in (1.52 m) and 15 ft 6 in (4.72 m) by 4 ft 4 in (1.32 m). On the ground floor. Three multi-cusped arched entrances on each side are present, which are separated by two ornate brick pillars. The number of arched doorways in the ground floor in its four shells is 21; on the first floor it is 27. The second floor, reduced in size, has only three entrance doors and three windows. A narrow staircase, only 2 ft 3 in (0.69 m) wide, is built into the western second corridor. It winds up through the dark passage to the first two stories.

Sixty Dome Mosque in Bagerhat

Shait Gombuj Mosjid

Among the many surviving monuments of the Khan Jahan Ali style, undoubtedly the most magnificent and largest brick mosque in Bangladesh is the Shait Gombuj. It is situated in Bagerhat district. For outstanding architectural value. the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO inscribed Bagerhat in the World Heritage list and it got the status of the second World Heritage site in Bangladesh after Paharpur. As there were a great number of mosques, the Historian, a French monthly termed it a city of mosques. The earliest torchbearer of Islam in the south, Khan Jahan Ali came from Delhi to settle a Muslim colony in this swampland in the early-15th century AD. The natural beauty of the region had such an effect upon him that he spent the rest of his life there. History says that he constructed about 360 mosques and as many freshwater tanks, as well as palaces, mausoleums and other public buildings in a very short space of time.

Its name, meaning '60 domes', is misleading as in reality, it is roofed over with 77 small domes supported by a forest of slender columns covering a large prayer hall and giving it the appearance of a medieval church crypt. At sunrise when the rays of the sun penetrate the eastern entrances, the interior comes to life.The exterior facades, with slightly 'battered' walls, have discernible curving cornices a concession to the local style.

Chhoto Sona Mosjid in Rajshahi

Small Gold Mosque

One of the most graceful monuments of the Sultanate period is the Chhoto Sona Masjid or Small Golden Mosque at Gaur in Rajshahi. Built by one Wali Muhammad during the reign of Sultan Alauddin Husain Shah (1493-1519), it was originally roofed over with 15 gilded domes including the 3 ChauchaIqa domes in the middle row, from which it derives its curious name. Bangladeshi people call this mosque name by Chhota Sona Masjid.