Known for
- 1
S M Sultan's Narail.
The painter S M Sultan, famous for his powerful, muscular peasants, was born here in 1923 and spent his last years at Machimdia on the Chitra. His home and memorial museum stand by the river, and he is buried there.
- 2
The Chitra and old temples.
The quiet Chitra runs past the town, and boat races are held on it; the Narail zamindars' house recalls the estate begun in 1791, and at Lohagara a protected jor-bangla temple stands on the Nabaganga.
Best season
GoodFairNov–Feb
November to February for easy travel and the Sultan Mela around his birth anniversary. The river is fullest after the rains, when boat races are held.
Getting there
Bus
Dhaka
3–4 h
Over the Padma Bridge
Bus
Jashore
1 h
Frequent buses
Narail is about 3 to 4 hours from Dhaka by bus over the Padma Bridge, and about an hour from Jashore. In the district, easy-bikes and CNGs reach Machimdia and Lohagara.
Local food
River fishMust try
From the Chitra and Nabaganga
River fish from the Chitra and Nabaganga, and winter date-palm molasses from the surrounding villages.
Places to see
River, lake and haorTanmoy Mishra · CC BY-SA 4.0Chitra River
The gentle river that runs past Narail town and Sultan's Machimdia, with boats, ghats and village banks; boat races are held on it after the rains.
Jor Bangla Temple, Lohagara
A protected jor-bangla temple, two hut-shaped roofs joined together, at Raygram on the Nabaganga in Lohagara.
Narail Zamindar Bari
The house of the Narail zamindars, whose estate began in 1791 under Rupram Ray as a holding of Rani Bhabani of Natore and became independent under his son Kali Shankar Ray.
S M Sultan Memorial Museum
The home and memorial museum of the painter S M Sultan (1923–1994) at Machimdia on the Chitra, with his paintings, belongings and his grave in the grounds.
Sources 2
Times, fares and opening hours change. Check before you go.
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The same guide, every place and photo, on your phone without a connection. Mark the district when you get there.
