Our member Ms D. Sanyal was brought up in Bangladesh. To revive those memories, she revisited Bangladesh recently and described her journey to us.
We started for Petrapole-Benapole India Bangladesh border on 19th Feb’23 at 5.00 a.m. by bus from Kolkata. We crossed the border and went to Jashore by car. There we saw Michael Madhusudan Dutt’s house a well-known poet of Bengal from an affluent family. A surprising fact was his connection to Leander Paes the lawn tennis player from his daughter’s side. The place was wonderful with the river flowing by.
From Jashore to Dhaka it was a wonderful journey. I saw the home of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, the first President of Bangladesh, Dhanmondi 32 residence where he was assassinated. The spot where his blood drops had fallen has been preserved till date. No one is allowed to enter this house. Through the glass windows the inside of the house was clearly visible, even the kitchen where his wife used to cook.
We also visited the mausoleum of Kazi Nazrul Islam. From there we went to Ramkrishna Math and Mission which has a fantastic architecture and looked fabulous. Both Hindu and Muslim students study there. Being Sri Ramkrishna’s birthday, all students were wearing the traditional dhuti panjabi. Songs were being played dedicated to Sri Ramkrishna which apart from us even the Muslim ladies present there enjoyed.
Our next point, Cox Bazar was a beautiful place in Chittagong where we stayed for 2 days and visited the sea, the Chatteshwari temple and the European Club. We went to Moheshkhali, the biggest island there. I saw the Adinath Temple from far as it was impossible for me to climb 300 steps. The Buddha monastery is a fantastic tourist attraction, which is big and beautiful. A new temple is also being built out of marble there. It seemed to be a Hindu dominated area with the existence of the Ramkrishna plot, Ramthakur plot andIskon temple.
From there we went ahead to Khulna and Ranga Mati. Ranga Mati is situated in the Chittagong hills near Karnaphuli river. They have created an artificial lake to build the Kaptai Dam for Hydro-electric power, which we explored on a speed boat for nearly 2 to 2 ½ hours. We had to take permit due to the existence of the Chakma tribe, an ethnic group, who are Buddhists. The Sunderbans extends to the Khulna area of Bangladesh.
From there we went to Sitakunda which is famous for the Chandranath Temple and Hindus temple. There is a hot water spring too. We next visited the Rabindranath Thakur’s residence-Shilaidaha Kuthibari, the structural elegance of which was worth seeing.
Fakir Lalon Shah’s Mazaar, is yet another beautiful structure and the last spot we visited. We enjoyed his songs there. The Mazaar was made of white marble. I found people there very hospitable and caring. The roadways are fantastic, broad and smooth. Places are absolutely clean and well maintained. It was an emotional visit for me.

Our member Ms S. Das Chaudhuri had visited Daringbari a hill station in Orissa recently during the winter season. She describes her feelings and experience of that place.
Daringbari, a small hill station in a rural set up, located in the heart of Orissa, is a must-visit for anyone looking for a peaceful and scenic getaway. The village is situated approximately 150 km from Kolkata and is easily accessible via the bustling city of Puri.
We had decided to travel during the winter season to enjoy the scenic beauty which is a major interest while travelling from Kolkata to Puri, with lush green fields and vibrant rural life passing by. We went by car from Kolkata and halted at Puri. Daringbari is a 2-hour drive from Puri, and the road winds through lush green forests and quaint villages. We started from Puri at 8:00 a.m. in the morning with the intention of reaching Daringbari during lunch time. We had breakfast on the way and reached Daringbari at 2:00 p.m.
The homestay had a series of cottages and were surrounded by lush green hills and rolling meadows, which was a perfect escape from the hustle-bustle of city life. We had booked the cottage in advance in which food was inclusive. It had a charm of its own but I wondered why it is called Kashmir of Orissa? Is it due to the beautiful waterfall or the blue flowers seen there?
The magnificent temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, is a major attraction there which is believed to be over 500 years old. It is a perfect example of traditional Orissa architecture with intricate carvings and sculptures. But since access to the temple was by treading numerous steps uphill, it was difficult for me to visit it. I only viewed it from far.
We went to see the sunset point. But there was another point at a higher altitude, which I couldn’t climb, but definitely from there the view around must was wonderful. We appreciated the scenic beauty around and the hilly drive.
What I enjoyed most was moving within the narrow aisles of the coffee plantation, in a pollution free environment. Nights were splendid as we could see numerous fireflies. The clear sky, studded with stars gave us an opportunity for star gazing, which was an entertainment for us.
These tourist places can be enjoyed in groups. There was no dearth of tourist entertainment at our homestay. The owner ensured that we had a splendid time after dusk once we returned from our sightseeing. He had arranged for a tribal Santhal dance which was performed around a campfire. The campfire and barbeque arrangements were soothing in the cold weather. The village is dotted with traditional mud-and-thatch houses, and the local people were warm and friendly. Mostly they were from the Christian community, so we enjoyed the lights and décor as it was Christmas time.
Overall, a visit to Daringbari is a unique and memorable experience, offering a chance to immerse oneself in the beauty of rural Orissa and connect with nature. I was sad to leave the serene and peaceful atmosphere of Daringbari.