The zamindari system has disappeared long ago, but Gangatia Jamidar Bari located in Gobindpur Union in Hossainpur Upazila of Kishoreganj District stands as a witness of the times. To the locals, this house is better known as ‘Manob Babur Bari’ after the current heir of the zamindar clan, Manobendra Chakraborty Chowdhury. This zamindar house is a monument of ancient civilization built according to 18th century Greek architecture. The elaborate edifice houses the kacharighara, nahabatkhana, darbargriha and temple. Also surrounded by high walls on all four sides, the Gangatia Zamindar house has a pond and a vast courtyard covered with greenery. Apart from the Kacharighar, all the structures are almost destroyed today, but every year people from far and wide visit this zamindar’s house to see the ancient architectural style of construction.
History of Gangatia Zamindar House
From history it is known that Dinanath Chakraborty’s ancestors were classical scholars of Brahmin caste. They began to settle in the 16th century near the Shiva temple to the south of the present zamindar bari. At the end of the 18th century, Dinanath Chakraborty started the journey of the current zamindar house. It was he who bought some parts of Hussainshahi Pargana from the British and started the first zamindari. Later, Babu Atulchandra Chakraborty subsumed the Gangatia zamindar bari from Gnanada Sundari Chaudhurani, the zamindar of the Athar bari under the ‘Pattani’ formula. During the British rule, the people of this area made great progress in education, culture and literary pursuits. Apart from this house, Manav Babu has a huge fish project one and a half kilometers away from the zamindar house. You can easily spend some beautiful time with nature there.
location
Gobindpur union of Hossainpur upazila of Kishoreganj district. Kishoreganj is located at a distance of only 11 km from the district headquarters.
How to go
To go to Gangatia Zamindar house you have to first come to Kishoreganj district headquarters. You can come to Kishoreganj by train or bus from Dhaka.
To reach Kishoreganj by train from Dhaka, take the train from Kamalapur or Airport Railway Station to Egarosindhur at 7:15 am and you will reach Kishoreganj by 11 am. Dhaka to Kishoreganj train ticket costs from Tk 135 to Tk 368 depending on the class. Get off at the station and take an easy bike for a fare of only 10 to 15 taka to Battala intersection near Kishoreganj Sadar Hospital.
If you want to come by bus, take any bus from Dhaka’s Mahakhali or Golapbagh bus stand to Kishoreganj (fare 270-350 taka) and go to Kishoreganj Gaital Bus. Come to Battala Junction next to Kishoreganj Sadar Hospital for only 5 taka from the bus stand.
From Battala Junction, you can go directly to Gangatia Zamindar’s house by renting a CNG or easy bike at Tk 25-30 per person. If you want, you can bargain for a reserve CNG or easy bike, if you take a reserve, the rent will be Tk 220-260. It will take 40 to 50 minutes to go. You can walk to the Zamindar’s house from Gangatia Bazar.