Rangpur

This morning we left Bogra and headed, via Rangpur, to Dinajpur and visited the Jamindar Palace. A faded pile that once must have been an imposing building with columns and balconies - hanging in several places from the eaves were several large swarms of bees. In the rear courtyard there was a small temple - around the back of which we came across a group of local men being fed by their woman : the food was placed on green palm leaves.

Jamidar Palace

Kitchen

We will stayed in Dinajpur for lunch in a noisy buzzing local restaurant - a constant supply of new dishes arrived and were promptly consumed. Out the back was the kitchen were large cauldrons were bubbling over flaming pits.

Then it was off to Mahasthangarh to what were told was one of the most spectacular monuments in Bangladesh, the Kantanagar temple. Built of brick and terracotta every inch of the temple surface is beautifully embellished with exquisitely sculptured terracotta plaques representing flora, fauna, geometric motifs, mythological scenes and an astonishing array of contemporary social scenes and favourite pastimes.

Afterwards we headed back to Rangpur where we were to stay for the night. During the afternoon we visited the Taihat Palace - one of the most imposing ones we had seen with a grand sweeping staircase but inside it was total faded glory with fading, flaking paint and massive locked wooden doors.

From there it was through the local backroads by rickshaw to the Kali Temple - a strange mixture of Eastern and classical European - all nubile angels and cherubs.

Our accommodation for the night was the best so far - the base of a NGO working with local communities on empowerment, health etc projects. There was a spacious and comfy lounge with satellite TV, a extensive library of paperbacks and free WiFi. After the past couple of night in a hotel that was right on a major road junction - there was horns blaring all night.