Magura, Khulna
The overgrown remains of the capital Raja Sitaram Ray built at Mohammadpur in the early 18th century — palace walls, temples and the great tanks he dug.
Sitaram Ray rose from a family of officials to become a powerful zamindar in the region of Bhushna, and around the turn of the 18th century he made Mohammadpur his capital. He fortified it, built temples, and had large tanks dug for water — among them the Ram Sagar, still the largest of the dighis here.
As his power grew he stopped paying revenue to the Nawab’s government at Murshidabad. Forces sent by Murshid Quli Khan defeated him, and he was taken to Murshidabad and executed, traditionally dated to 1714. His capital fell into ruin.
What remains today is scattered across the village: crumbling brick walls of the palace, the remains of several temples, and the great tanks. The site is not grandly restored, which is part of its appeal — it is a place to imagine a short-lived kingdom, especially if you know Bankim Chandra’s novel Sitaram.
Take a local bus or hired CNG east from Magura through farmland.
Walk around the remaining walls and gateways of Sitaram’s palace.
Find the old temple remains and sit by the great tank.
Return for lunch in town.
October to February; mornings are best
In Mohammadpur upazila, east of Magura town towards the Madhumati: about an hour by local bus or CNG. Ask for the rajbari once you reach Mohammadpur; a van or auto-rickshaw covers the last stretch.
