Naogaon (নওগাঁ): travel guide

Home of Paharpur Buddhist Monastery (Somapura Mahavihara) — the largest Buddhist monastery south of the Himalayas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Naogaon is in Naogaon district, Rajshahi division, Bangladesh. Compare bus, train and air fares to Naogaon and see the route on a map.

Things to do in Naogaon

  • Dubalhati Rajbari: Zamindar palace in Dubalhati village west of Naogaon city. Historical, free entry, best time: October to March
  • Kusumba Mosque: Historic mosque on the Rajshahi-Naogaon highway at Kusumba. Religious, free entry, best time: October to March
  • Jagaddala Mahavihara: Archaeological site of a Buddhist monastery in Naogaon district. Historical, free entry, best time: October to March
  • Balihar Rajbari: Royal palace of the Balihar zamindar family in Naogaon Sadar. Historical, free entry, best time: October to March
  • Halud Vihara (হলুদ বিহার): Buddhist monastery mound (65 x 40 m, 10 m high) with a brick structure on top, about 14.5 km south of Somapura Mahavihara. Historical, free entry, best time: October to March
  • Altadighi National Park (আলতাদিঘী জাতীয় উদ্যান): Sal forest national park (264 ha, declared 2011) around the large Altadighi pond, with winter migratory birds, near the Indian border. Park, free entry, best time: Winter
  • Raktodaha Beel (রক্তদহ বিল): One of the country's large beels across Raninagar (Naogaon) and Adamdighi (Bogura), with a bird sanctuary and tourist area at Hatirpul. Lake, free entry, best time: Winter
  • Jabai Beel (জবই বিল): Large wetland of about 990 acres in Sapahar upazila beside the Punarbhaba river, with fish and birds. Lake, free entry, best time: Winter
  • Dibar Dighi (দিবর দীঘি): Ancient tank of about 19 acres with a granite pillar in the water, commemorating Divya (Divyok) taking the Pala throne. Historical, free entry, best time: Winter
  • Bhabanipur Zamindar Bari (ভবানীপুর জমিদার বাড়ি): Zamindar palace on the Atrai river bank in Choudhury Bhabanipur village, about 24 km south of Naogaon Sadar. Historical, free entry, best time: October to March
  • Patisar Rabindra Kachharibari (পতিসর কাছারিবাড়ি): Estate office of Rabindranath Tagore on the Nagar river, with the Debendra Mancha and Rabindra Sarobar; Tagore stayed here from 1891 to 1937. Historical, free entry, best time: October to March

Where to stay in Naogaon

  • Hotel Saroni (Budget), about Check with hotel for current rates. Hotel at Muktir More, Naogaon town (older directory listing, 2020)
  • Hotel Abokash (Budget), about Check with hotel for current rates. Residential hotel in Naogaon town (older directory listing, 2020)
  • Archaeological Rest House, Paharpur (Budget), about Check with hotel for current rates. Bangladesh Archaeological Department rest house within the Paharpur ruins; ask at the museum if unstaffed
  • Hotel Jamuna (Budget), about Check with hotel for current rates. Hotel beside Jamuna Bridge, Naogaon town (older directory listing, 2020)
  • Hotel Arif (Budget), about Check with hotel for current rates. Residential hotel in Naogaon bazar
  • Plaban Motel (Budget), about Check with hotel for current rates. Motel with food corner and community centre on the bypass
  • Hotel Plaban (Budget), about Check with hotel for current rates. Residential hotel near Kacha Bazar
  • Hotel Raj (Budget), about Check with hotel for current rates. Residential hotel in Par-Naogaon

Travel advice for Naogaon

  • Trains via Santahar: Santahar Junction is the main station for Naogaon; Jamalganj station, served by one daily train from Santahar, is nearest to Paharpur.
  • Naogaon mangoes: Naogaon is one of the country's biggest mango-growing districts; official figures cited by Wikipedia show it out-produced Chapainawabganj and Rajshahi in 2017-18, and the Nak Fazli mango is associated with it. Worth trying fresh in the mango season.
  • Bus fares from Dhaka: Buses from Dhaka to Naogaon (Shyamoli, Hanif, Ekota) cost about Tk650-700 and air-conditioned about Tk1,200 per Wikivoyage; fares may have risen, so check at the counter.
  • Para Sandesh (Naogaon): A long, roll-shaped sandesh that Naogaon is known for, unlike the usual round flat kind. Prothom Alo traces it to the Kalitala area near the Buda Kali Mata temple and names Ma Naogaon Para Sandesh (called the oldest sweet shop) and Naogaon Mistanna Bhandar near Bridge More;
  • Sabbir's khashi biryani: Sabbir Hotel and Restaurant on Dharmatala Road (Atapatti), Naogaon town, is known for mutton (khashi) biryani cooked with mustard oil, plus morog polao and kachchi; the shop also sells yoghurt and sweets such as mihidana laddu.
  • Sweets and yoghurt at Churi Patti: Hotels around Churi Patti and Islampur in the middle of Naogaon bazaar are known for sweets and yoghurt; snacks and local food are at Bridge er More next to Naogaon Bridge.

More places to explore in Bangladesh

JatraSathi is a free Bangladesh trip planner in English and Bangla. Prices are estimates; check before you travel.