Three historical landmarks that you can visit in Manikganj
About 50 kilometer away from the capital Dhaka, the district Manikganj lies with all of its historic architectural establishments nestled amidst the picturesque landscape.
Some of those structures are more than 200 years old, built by Zamindars of that time.
Hundreds of enthusiastic tourists flock to Manikganj every day to visit these establishments. Amid all the attractions, these three are truly worth the visit.
Temple of Motto (Motter Moth)
Zamindar Hem Sen built a 50-60 feet high monument on 15 percent of the land on the bank of Nitol Lake in Motto village of Manikganj Sadar Upazila. This monument is known as the Temple of Motto ( Motter Moth in Bangla).
Hem Sen built the monastery on the site of his father's funeral. Tourists from home and abroad often visit it.
How to go
Tourists can go to Manikganj via various buses from the Dhaka's Gabtoli bus stand such as, Shubhojatra, Selfie, Nilachal, Padma Line and others. From the Manikganj bus stand, visitors can reach the temple by a CNG autorickshaw or rickshaw in 20 to 25 minutes.
Baliati Zamindar Bari (Baliati Palace)
In 19th century, Govinda Ram Saha, a salt merchant, built a house on more than 20 acres in the Baliati area of Saturia Upazila in Manikganj, which is now known as Baliati Zamindar Bari or Baliati Palace.
There are four buildings of the same design at the front of the palace where the merchants conducted business activities.
Behind them are four more separate buildings where they lived.
There is a pond at the backyard with multiple ghats. The palace has three carved gates to enter, and a high wall surrounds the palace.
How to go
There is a bus called SB Link to travel from Dhaka's Gabtoli bus stand to Saturia bus stand. Baliati Zamindar Bari can be reached in 10 to 15 minutes by rickshaw or CNG autorickshaw from the Saturia bus stand.
The palace can also be reached in 20 to 25 minutes by taking a CNG autorickshaw from Golra bus stand on the Dhaka-Aricha Highway.
The palace is closed on Sunday and half day on Monday. Tourists will need to buy a Tk20 ticket to enter it.
Teota Zamindar Bari
Zamindar Panchanan Sen built the house in the Teota area near the Jamuna Rivera in Shibalaya Upazila of Manikganj in the 17th century.
The main building of this historical landmark spreads over an area of about seven and a half acres, known as Laldighi.
There is a temple here called the Naat Mandir along with a big pond in front of the house. There are several other small and large buildings in the vicinity of the main building.
How to go
Visitors will have to go to Aricha Ghat area from Gabtoli bus stand via Jatrisheba or NNB transport. From there they can reach Teota Zamindar Bari in 15 to 20 minutes by CNG autorickshaw or engine-driven rickshaw.
The house is open to everyone on any day of the week. No ticket is required to visit Teota zamindar Bari.