Uttara Ganabhaban
উত্তরা গণভবন
An 18th-century palace of the Dighapatia royal family, later the northern residence of the head of state, with a clock-tower gate, an Italian-style garden and a palace museum.
Uttara Ganabhaban was originally the Dighapatia Palace. It was built in the 18th century by Dayaram Roy, a senior minister of the Natore royal house, and rebuilt in its present form after the great earthquake of 1897. From 1967 it served as the northern residence of the governor of East Pakistan. In 1972 it was renamed Uttara Ganabhaban (the Northern People's Palace) and became the northern residence of Bangladesh's president or prime minister. The estate is surrounded by a moat, and its main gate is an imposing gatehouse with a clock tower. Inside are an Italian-style garden, marble statues and rare plants. Parts of the palace have been open to the public as a museum since 2018, displaying royal furniture and relics. It may be temporarily closed during state events. It is about 3 km from Natore Rajbari, so the two can be visited together.
Opening hours
Approx. 10:00 am–5:00 pm; may close on Mondays and during state events
Nearby sights
- Natore Rajbari
- Puthia Temple Complex
- Bagha Mosque
- University of Rajshahi Campus
- Rajshahi Silk (Sopura Silk Mills)
- Padma River Promenade
- Shah Makhdum Ruposh Dargah
- Varendra Research Museum