Natore (নাটোর): travel guide

Home of the Natore Rajbari of Rani Bhabani and gateway to the Chalan Beel wetland.

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

Things to do in Natore

  • Uttara Ganabhaban: The former Dighapatia Rajbari, built by Dayaram Roy (1680-1760) and rebuilt by Pramada Nath Roy after the 1897 earthquake. It stands in about 43 acres inside a moat and wall, and is now the Government House (Uttara Ganabhaban) of the northern region. Historical, free entry, best time: October to March
  • Chalan Beel: Bangladesh's largest beel, a chain of marshy depressions that joins into one sheet of water in the rainy season (about 368 sq km). It spreads over Natore, Pabna, Sirajganj and Rajshahi; the Natore part lies around Singra and Gurudaspur. Nature, free entry, best time: Post-monsoon and winter
  • Natore Rajbari: Former headquarters of the Natore Raj zamindari, built mostly by Ramjivan on a 37-acre site once enclosed by two moats; the palace blocks, tanks and temples are partly in ruin. Associated with Rani Bhabani. Historical, free entry, best time: October to March
  • Halti Beel (হালতি বিল): A large seasonal wetland in Naldanga upazila, northeast of Natore town, with open water, jute and boats in the rains. Lake, free entry, best time: Post-monsoon (September to November)
  • Fakirchand Vaishnava Goshai Ashram (ফকিরচাঁদ বৈষ্ণব গোঁসাইজির আশ্রম): Vaishnava ashram in Lalpur upazila, Natore, listed on the district portal. Religious, free entry
  • Dharail Zamindar Bari (ধরাইল জমিদার বাড়ি): Zamindar house at Dharail village in Natore Sadar upazila, listed on the district portal as a heritage spot. Historical, free entry
  • Chapila Shahi Mosque (চাপিলা শাহী মসজিদ): Mosque at Chapila in Gurudaspur upazila, listed as a tourist spot on the Natore district portal. Religious, free entry
  • Chalan Beel Museum (চলনবিল জাদুঘর): Local museum at Khubjipur union near Gurudaspur, about 4 km north of Gurudaspur upazila town, on the theme of the Chalan Beel. Museum, free entry
  • Dayarampur Rajbari (দয়ারামপুর রাজবাড়ি): Zamindar-era palace at Dayarampur in Bagatipara upazila, listed among Natore's heritage sites alongside the other zamindar houses of Bagatipara. Historical, free entry
  • Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Bonpara (বনপাড়া লুর্দের রাণী মা মারিয়া ধর্মপল্লী): Catholic church and parish at Bonpara in Baraigram upazila, Natore. Religious, free entry
  • Shahid Sagar (শহীদ সাগর): Memorial site (Shahid Sagar Smritistambha) in Gopalpur upazila, Natore. Park, free entry

Where to stay in Natore

  • Natore Circuit House (Budget), about Check with hotel for current rates. Government circuit house; mainly for officials, so ask the DC office whether ordinary visitors can book
  • Hotel Prince (Budget), about Check with hotel for current rates. Residential hotel at Station Bazar, Natore town
  • Hotel Millat (Budget), about Check with hotel for current rates. Budget rooms within walking distance of Natore railway station
  • V I P Hotel Natore (MidRange), about Check with hotel for current rates. AC and non-AC rooms on the main road, about 1-2 km from Natore Rajbari

Travel advice for Natore

  • Lodging: Natore has few listed places to stay, so many visitors base themselves in Rajshahi or Bogura and visit for the day.
  • Uttara Ganabhaban access: Uttara Ganabhaban is the Government House of the northern region, so access may be restricted; ask locally before going. The district portal gives rickshaw from Madrasa Mor as Tk30 and advises against reserving one, since local vehicles run everywhere in town.
  • Try kacha golla: Kachagolla is Natore's own sweet: chhena (fresh curd) soaked in sugar syrup that is then reduced, so it has no fixed round shape like a rasgulla. Legend ties it to a sweet maker, Modhusudan Das, and Rani Bhabani about 250 years ago; it was reported to have won GI status in 2023.
  • Local fares to the sights: The district portal gives rickshaw fares from Madrasa Mor: about Tk20 to Natore Rajbari and Tk30 to Uttara Ganabhaban. Halti Beel is about Tk30 per person by auto (about Tk200 reserved) and Dayarampur Rajbari about Tk150 by reserved auto. These are older figures, so confirm before you go.

More places to explore in Bangladesh

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