Natore, Rajshahi
The palace of the Dighapatia rajas, later a governor’s house and now the government’s official residence in the north, with formal gardens and a museum open to visitors.
The Dighapatia Raj was founded in the 18th century by Dayaram Roy, dewan of the Natore estate, who was rewarded with lands of his own. His family built a palace at Dighapatia; after the great earthquake of 1897 damaged it, it was rebuilt in the early 20th century much as it stands today.
In the 1960s the palace became the Governor’s House of East Pakistan. After independence it was named Uttara Gonobhaban in 1972, and it remains an official residence of the head of government, used for meetings and visits in the north.
The compound is ringed by a moat and walls, with a grand gate and clock tower, the main palace, smaller buildings, ponds and gardens planted with rare trees. Parts of it are open to the public, including a museum of the Dighapatia rajas’ belongings.
Walk the gardens, see the palace front and the museum.
Rice and beel fish at a town restaurant.
Spend the afternoon at Rani Bhabani’s palace complex, its ponds and temples.
Buy fresh kacha golla before your bus onward.
October to March; mornings are quieter
At Dighapatia, a few kilometres from Natore town centre: 10–20 minutes by rickshaw or auto-rickshaw.
