Uttara Ganabhaban

The Dighapatia rajbari north of Natore became Uttara Ganabhaban, the official northern residence of the head of government, after 1971, which is why it is maintained to a standard the other estates are not: the buildings are painted, the gardens kept, and the complex functions as a state guesthouse with parts open to visitors. Behind a fortified gatehouse with a clock tower lie the main palace with its Italianate front, a garden of clipped hedges and statuary including imported Italian marbles, a treasury building, temples and a surrounding moat. The estate's history runs back to the early eighteenth century. Visitors walk the gardens and see a set of rooms with furniture and portraits.

History

A house has stood here since the early 18th century, when the Nawab of Bengal rewarded Dayaram Roy, dewan of Rani Bhabani, with the title of jagirdar and wide lands in Jessore, Rajshahi, Bogra and Mymensingh, and under the British permanent settlement the Roys were recognised as maharajas. Keen followers of European fashion and art, they developed the palace on the edge of Natore in the 19th century; the estate was abolished in the land reforms after 1947, the palace became an official residence in 1967 and, from 9 February 1972, the northern residence of the head of government, and a museum opened in it on 9 March 2018 (Wikipedia, Uttara Ganabhaban).

What to look for

• The gatehouse and clock tower - the fortified entrance to the estate.
• The Italianate palace front - the maintained principal building.
• Italian marble statuary - the imported figures in the formal garden.
• The moat around the complex - the water circuit enclosing it.

When to go

November to March. Two hours. It closes when official functions are held, without much notice. Mornings are cooler. Photography of some areas is restricted.

Before you go

It can close at short notice for state use. Interior access is limited to a set route. Security checks apply at the gate. Interpretation is basic.

Nearby

Natore Rajbari is south; Puthia lies west.

Key facts