Rajshahi Division

Rajshahi Division is in Bangladesh.

Cities

• 1 Jaipurhat — a booming agricultural industry of sugar and jute and potato
• 2 Naogaon —home to the ancient Buddhist wonder at Paharpur
• 3 Natore — stunning rajbari mansions and palaces
• 4 Chapai Nawabganj
• 5 Rajshahi — the capital of the division, a major university and the Puthia complex of temples
• 6 Bogra (Bogura) — the ancient capital of Pundravardhana with old Hindu mansions
• 7 Pabna — site of many royal palaces (rajbaris) and Hindu temples
• 8 Sirajganj — the landing for one of Bangladesh's greatest infrastructure feats, the Jamuna Bridge
• 9 Puthia — a complex of ancient Hindu temples consisting of towering spires and intricate terracotta ornamentation. Alos colonial styled mansions belonging to local landlords

Other destinations

Sunrise at Somapura Mahavihar (Paharpur)

Rath Mandir (left) and Boro Shiv Mandir (right) with reflection at Shiv Sagar

The Mughal-era Kherua Mosque, Bogra

Kusumba Masjid

• 1 Gaud — a historical centre with important mosques, which extends into the Gour (West Bengal) region of India.
• Paharpur — a small village 5 km. west of Jamalganj in the greater Rajshahi district where the remains of the most important and the largest known Buddhist monastery south of the Himalayas, Somapura Mahavihara, has been excavated. This 7th century archaeological find covers approximately an area of 27acres of land. The entire establishment, occupying a quadrangular court, measuring more than 900 ft. externally on each side, has high enclosure- walls about 16 ft. in thickness and from 12 ft. to 15 ft. height. With elaborate gateway complex on the north, there are 45 cells on the north and 44 in each of the other three sides with a total number of 177 rooms. The architecture of the pyramidal cruciform temple is profoundly influenced by those of South-East Asia, especially Myanmar and Java.

Understand

Rajshahi Division was split in half on 25 January 2010, with the northern eight districts becoming part of the new Rangpur Division.

Talk

Bengali is spoken widely. English is spoken by many in the larger towns and cities.

Get in

By plane

Shah Makhdum Airport (RJH ^IATA) near Rajshahi is served by all major domestic carriers, Biman Air, Novoair, and US-Bangla Airlines.

Sleep

• 1 Naz Garden Hotel, Silimpur, ☏ +8805162468. Very good 4* hotel outside of city centre. Has swimming pool and gym. There is a small boating lake behind the building. The restaurant serves reasonably priced food. Approximately 20 minutes by CNG autorickshaw from the main city. from Tk3100. 
• 2 Hotel Momo Inn, Nawdapara, Rangpur Road, ☏ +880 51 62504, +880 51 62505, fax: +88 0516 6402, reservation@momoinn.com. (updated Mar 2019)
• 3 Chez Razzak, Padma Housing Estate, Rajshahi, ☏ +8801711958708, chezrazzak@gmail.com. $45-65. (updated Dec 2020)