Known for
- 1
Tungipara.
The village where Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first president of Bangladesh, was born and is buried. His mausoleum complex, opened to the public in 2001, is the district's best-known site.
- 2
Orakandi and the Matua faith.
At Orakandi in Kashiani stands the Thakur Bari, birthplace of Harichand Thakur, who founded the Matua movement. Every spring it fills with pilgrims for the Baruni bath and fair.
- 3
Low wetlands.
Much of the district is beel country, flooded for months; zamindar houses such as Ulpur's stand among the rivers and canals.
Best season
GoodFairNov–Feb
November to February: dry paths and mild weather. In the monsoon the beels spread wide, which is pretty from a boat but makes village roads hard.
Getting there
Bus
Dhaka
Over the Padma Bridge to Gopalganj town and Tungipara
Train
Dhaka
Via Bhanga; Kashiani and Gopalganj have stations
Getting around
In the district
Easy-bikes and CNGs; boats in the wet season
Since the Padma Bridge opened, buses from Dhaka reach Gopalganj town and Tungipara in a few hours. Kashiani is on the railway line through Bhanga, so trains from Dhaka stop near Orakandi.
Local food
Beel fishMust try
Best after the monsoon
River and beel fish are the everyday food here, along with the sweets of the town shops.
Places to see
Kotalipara
A low-lying upazila of beels and canals in the south of the district, where farmers grow vegetables on floating beds in the wet season.
Monument and memorialShek Hasan · CC BY-SA 4.0Mausoleum of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
The tomb of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first president of Bangladesh, in his home village of Tungipara.
Hindu templeমকছুমুল হক · CC BY-SA 4.0Orakandi Thakur Bari
The birthplace of Harichand Thakur, founder of the Matua movement, and the faith's main pilgrimage centre, in Kashiani upazila.
Ulpur Zamindar Bari
The remains of a large Hindu zamindar estate at Ulpur in Gopalganj Sadar, now under the Department of Archaeology.
Sources 2
Times, fares and opening hours change. Check before you go.
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