Best Travel Places in Kushtia
Kushtia is as famous for its culture and literature also for its food and tourism. But the people of this district surprised me more than the travel place of Kushtia. Their honesty, cooperation towards people, and simplicity gave me goosebumps. Let me give an example – auto and van are one of the two modes of internal movement in Kushtia district. I have not seen rickshaws except in the Mazampur area. I had to take a van/auto several times to go from one place to another. I noticed that they do not negotiate the fare. After bargaining 3/4 times the fair, I understood that they were too honest, and it doesn’t matter if you are a foreigner. I have had many bitter experiences with this rent in different districts of Bangladesh. But here, whoever you are, wherever you come from, there is no change in their rent. At one stage of negotiating the fare, the rickshaw-puller uncle said, “We don’t want a single penny more than the fair fare, in your area it may happen, but not here. What’s the point of cheating people?” I said with a little smile, Uncle,” We are the city people and always bargain like this, don’t mind, please go.” I was thinking that maybe they are still keeping Lalon’s idealogy of care. I think a two-day plan is enough to explore the whole of Kushtia. I will explain how to explore Kushtia easily by using time and a proper route plan. Before that, know the names of the places of interest in Kushtia district-
Hardinge Bridge–
This bridge was built by Lord Hardinge, and the 110-year-old Hardinge Bridge still maintains its eternal youth. The length of this bridge is 5894 feet. It is the longest railway bridge in Bangladesh connecting Pabna District and Kushtia District. This bridge extends from Pakshi of Ishwardi Upazila of Pabna District to Bheramara Upazila of Kushtia District. In 1889, the British government proposed the construction of this bridge, feeling the need to establish an uninterrupted communication system between Calcutta and the northern regions including Assam and Tripura. Construction of the bridge began in 1909, decades after the proposal. It took time to build this bridge from 1909 to 1915. This bridge can be seen on the railway from Dhaka to Kushtia. This wonderful red color historical bridge still fascinates the tourists.
Lalon Shah Bridge/Pakshi Bridge –
This is the second-largest bridge in Bangladesh. The bridge is named after the Baul emperor Lalon Shah, after whom it is named Pakshi Bridge. This Lalon Shah Bridge is visible from Hardinge Bridge. This bridge connects the Ishwardi Upazila of Pabna and the Bheramara Upazila of Kushtia. Japan contributed to the construction of the bridge. The width of the bridge is 18.10 meters and the length is 1.8 km. The bridge has greatly improved regional communication and transportation in the southwestern region of Bangladesh.
How to go Hardingle Bridge/Lalon Shah Bridge- Hardinge Bridge and Lalon Shah Bridge can be easily reached from Ishwardi station or bus terminal in Pabna. But if you want, you can also get down at Bheramara station in Kushtia and go to Hardinge Bridge/Lalan Setu.
Haripur Bridge –
The Haripur Bridge is located on the Padma River, the main branch of the Garai River. Its length is 86 km. The bridge was built over the Garai River, the heart of the city of Kushtia. currently, this place is the most attractive tourist place. You can go down the bridge to the river bank. There are many types of small food courts here. There is no way not to be impressed by the beauty of the bridge and the banks of this Garai River in the late afternoon. Its other name is Sheikh Russell Bridge.
Jagati Station-
The first railway station of Bangladesh is located at Jagati in Kushtia district. The British government built this railway to expand trade and commerce in Bengal. The station now lies abandoned with its history and heritage. Although 3 local trains are running, there is no waiting room or seating arrangement here. The old engine room, ticket counter, and staff room are almost destroyed. Vans and Auto will take you directly to Jagati Station from Poradah. Fare is Tk 30 per person. Jagati Station details
Lalon’s Shrine/Akhra-
Lalon Shah is one of the names behind the fame of Kushtia City. Every person in this district is inspired by the philosophy of nurturing. Baul emperor Lalon Shah breathed his last in this Kushtia Cheuriya. An arena has been built around his tomb to keep his memory alive. Lalon Mela is held here every year on the birth and death anniversaries of Lalon. Lalon devotees come from far and wide to visit his Guru. Also, many tourists from abroad come to Kushtia to visit this fair. Lalan Mela details
Reinuk Dam –
Reinuk Dam was originally built to protect the city of Kushtia from the Garai River. A park has been built around this barrier. The ticket price of the park is 10 taka per person. From Majampur City, rickshaws or autos travel directly to Reinuk Badh. Many people come here to walk in the quiet environment in the afternoon or morning. The dam can be seen after a short walk. Crowds of tourists can be seen watching the sunrise or sunset from here. You can reach this Rainuk dam by rickshaw or auto from Mazampur.
Rabindra Kuthibari-
The most attractive and popular tourist spot in Kushtia district is Rabindra Kuthibari at Shilaidaha in Kushtia. In this 15-room two-storied cottage spread over 11 acres of land. the “Tagore Memorial Museum” has been constructed by the government. It was renovated in 2008 and replaced with white in deep maroon color. The road has a museum, library, Open stage, cafeteria, pond, and other buildings. You can spend a whole day here with your family in an immaculate and pleasant environment. After wandering around, you can visit the cottage library. Almost all the writings of Rabindranath Tagore are preserved here. Many old books are arranged in part by part. And lastly, remember to sit in the pond and spend some time in the late afternoon. View Rabindra Kuthibari tour details. Rabindranath Kuthibari details.
Rabindranath’s Kachari Bari-
Rabindra Kuthibari in Shilaidah is known and appreciated by all, but the Kachari Bari located next to it remains hidden from the public eye. Once government activities were going on, but now this kachari house has turned into a haunted house. It is said that Rabindranath’s poem “Dui Bigha Jami” was written sitting in this kachari house. The roof and brick walls of the house have collapsed over time due to lack of care. The pond in front of the house is also abandoned. The place is very quiet so safety is also a concern. However, if you come to visit in a group, you can visit Kuthibari and take a rickshaw to Kachari’s house. The Bank of Padma is also very close to here. It will be very nice to spend time on the bank of this river in the afternoon.
Wooden house(Kather Bari) –
This wooden house is easily accessible from Kachari house. You can visit the Kachari and wooden houses together by taking a rickshaw or van from Kuthibari. The house is completely made of wood and well-furnished so it easily catches the eye of the visitors. A lot of effort made this house so innovative.
Tagore Lodge-
Almost every place in Kushtia has memories of Rabithakur. From Shilaidaha, Kumarkhali to Milpara, Chheuria, he used to roam almost everywhere. Tagore Lodge is such a place full of memories. He used to come here often to collect taxes from farmers and conduct business activities while performing zamindari duties. He used to write stories and novels while working here. Tagore Lodge is currently located in the Milpara area. There are many old houses around it and Mohini Mill is a little distance away. It is said that the land area of this Tagore Lodge was not so small. This two-storied house stood tall with its surrounding area. Over time, all the surrounding areas became vacant and finally, this one chilly place was left. Now it is taken under the Kushtia Municipality. You can go to Tagore Lodge from Mazampur Bus Stand or Kushtia Municipality for 30-40 Tk. Details of Tagore Lodge.
Bastuvita of writer Mir Mosharraf Hossain-
The Bastuvita of eminent novelist and fiction writer Mir Mosharraf Hossain is located in the Lahiripara of Kumarkhali in Kushtia and a school built after him. It is known as his Bastuvita because he used to live here, but basically, he does not exist here. A building has been built next to the school and some of his equipment is displayed there. There is a small library. Books written by Mir Mosharraf Hossain are preserved in the library. Many tourists don’t get a chance to visit this library as there is no proper guide as to when it is open and closed. But it is better to avoid the closing days and lunchtime. There are no food hotels around but you can have some tea, water, and biscuits.
Jhowdia Shahi Mosque-
An ancient mosque with two minarets and five domes located in the Jhowdia area of Kushtia district. Although local people think that this mosque wasn’t created by humans, it was created naturally. A quota has written on it “It is man-made and it was built during the reign of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.” Nowadays, most of those who visit the mosque come to fulfill their wishes. Descendants of resident Hasan Ali Chowdhury are taking care of this mosque. Apart from the visitors, the mosque is bustling with residents during the Jumma prayers on Friday. You have to get down at Majampur or Poradaha in Kushtia and go to Chaurohash. Then you can reach Shahi Masjid by bus/CNG from Chaurohash.
Mohini Mill –
The Mohini Mill is the first textile mill in Bangladesh and Asia. Although it is currently closed to the public, this mill was once a unique example of Bengal’s prosperous of textile industry. After the mill owner left the country during partition, the mill never returned to its heyday. Despite being under multiple ownerships, its condition is deteriorating day by day As the debt burden increases day by day, all the activities of the mill are stopped due to bankruptcy. The bank still owes billions of dollars. It is said that many machinery of the mill has been stolen. The condition of the building is almost gone. Those who used to work in this mill are still living a miserable life.
Kushtia Municipality –
Kushtia Municipality is the second-largest municipality in Bangladesh. It was built in 1869 but expanded in 1981. Its location is Majampur in Kushtia. The municipality has 1 bus terminal and 2 railway stations. The red-colored old-style buildings are used for government purposes. There is a stage and pond outside the municipality. Every morning many people come here to walk. The buildings are quite old but are currently renovated and open to visitors and locals. There are many separate buildings here. Each building is used for the work of different parts of the district. It is better if you go early in the morning before the office opens, then there is less crowd. The place is very clean so don’t litter at all. From the Majampur bus stand, take an auto of Tk 10 to come here.
Parimal Theatre-
The Parimal Theater was established in the Kushtia district in the early 19th century to enhance the cultural arena. The theater was named after Parimal, the son of the sub-district ruler of that time. Very close to Majampur Municipality The theater located there does not currently exist. The theater was demolished and a multi-storied building named “Parimal Tower” was constructed. The history of the place where famous poets, actors, and actresses once frequented is buried under this multi-storied building. Cultural workers could not restore this theater despite many movements.
Journalist Kangal Harinath Museum –
The museum has recently opened. The contribution of Kangal Harinath, one of the artisans of Bengali literature and a protest journalist, has been displayed in this museum. At that time he was the first to take up the pen to save the innocent people from the tyrannical rulers. MN Press was installed in his house. This was the first press of the Kushtia district. Apart from the magazine, he printed the writings of many poets and writers with the help of his Mathurnath machine. All the machinery and documents of MN Press are currently preserved in this museum by the government. Harinath’s residence can be seen a little distance from the museum. Small dilapidated broken house, next to MN Press. However, the government has provided one-time grants and jobs to the fifth heirs of the journalist. How to go Harinath Museum
Banks of Padma-
The Padma River dominates the entire Kushtia. Garai Bridge, Harinath Bridge, and Hardinge are all built on the Padma River. During the rainy season, there is the water, but in winter, the water comes down a lot. Therefore, there is a huge crowd of tourists. In the afternoon, you can take a walk along the banks of these rivers or experience a boat trip. You can rent a boat to go from one side to the other hourly. There are numerous small food shops built under these bridges, near the banks. A cup of tea on the riverside along with a boat ride on a winter afternoon will make your trip more soothing.
YouTube Family Village –
By uploading videos to the YouTube channel, the entire village has become successful, earning a lot of money. About 20-30 members of the village are working on the content of food preparation. That food is being distributed among the poor people of the village. This channel, which started with the aim of highlighting the traditions of the country’s food, has also employed many people. There is also a park built with money from this YouTube channel. Which is called “YouTube Park”. If you want to go directly to this village from Kushtia, you must come to Kushtia Chaudhas. The entry ticket to YouTube Village is Tk 30. If you come with a bike, you can park for Tk 10.
Islamic University –
This is the first university established in Bangladesh after the War of Independence. This university was established in 1989 with 8 faculties and 32 departments. Don’t forget to visit Islamic University when visiting Kushtia city.
How to go to Kushtia? bus or train-
You can go to Kushtia either by bus or train. There are a few buses from Gabtali bus stand in Dhaka to Majampur in Kushtia like SB Super Deluxe, Hanif, Mamun Paribahan, etc. Rent 650-700 Tk. You can go to any place in Kushtia through a rickshaw or auto/van from Majampur.
And if you want to travel by train, three trains run regularly between Dhaka and Kushtia. Sundarban Express (Dhaka- Khulna Closed Wednesday/Khulna- Dhaka Closed Tuesday), Chitra Express (Closed- Monday) and Benapole Express (Closed- Wednesday). Get off the train at Poradaha station in Kushtia. Many autos, easy bikes/vans stand outside the station from early morning to pick up passengers.
Where to stay in Kushtia-
There are lots of Hotels in Majampur, Kushtia. I provide a list of Hotels-
1)Hotel Al Hayat (01731-687553, 01312-665556)
2)Hotel Sunmoon (01316-035091, 01837-760722)
3)Hotel Tayyiba (01763645145)
4)Hotel Desha (01720-510330) etc.To stay in these hotels, you may have to pay 500-3000 Tk per night. However, during Lalan Mela, the rent of these hotels increases a bit.
Cautions and Tips in Kushtia Travel-
1) Kushtia is a very desirable place for solo travel. It seems safe enough to me.
2) There is no syndicate here for fare. So rest assured.
3) If you want to explore the whole of Kushtia, 2 days are enough.
4) Several hotels are in Mazampur for overnight stays. You may find more hotels inland, but it is safer not to stay in them.
5)Between train and bus I would suggest traveling to Kushtia by train. Fares are also low and enjoyable.
6) Coming back by train from Kushtia is a hassle because the train arrives at Poradah station in Kushtia at 1:45 PM and tickets are not available at the ticket counter. I found the counter closed. If you have not booked tickets online in advance, there is no other option but to stand on the train. And staying at the station seemed safe enough to me. But if you don’t want to wait so long, you can return by bus.
7) If you want to reduce the cost, come to visit the group. A group of 4-6 people is good.
Thank you