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RANGPUR, Apr 15: Tajhat Zamindar Bari in Tajhat area, 3.0 km off Rangpur city known as a majestic palace and one of the most remarkable historical palaces in the country.
This magnificent archeological heritage bears the testimony of cultural loftiness and supremacy of people's mental faculty.
The history of the wonderful and unique designed palace is glorious as well. It was built by Maharaja Gopal Lal Roy at the beginning of 20th century.
He was a successor of a Hindu Khatri named Manna Lal Roy who was obliged to emigrate and settled at Mahiganj, the then headquarter of Rangpur. He was a professional jeweller. There is a belief that the name of Tajhat is derived from the vivid appearance of his Taj or jewelled crown.
This two-storey and east faces palace 76.20 metre long in the front side. The 15.24m wide staircase in the middle leads directly above the portico to the first floor made with white marble.
The beautiful palace is crowned by ribbed conical dome with a tall octagonal neck in midst of the roof supported by a series of slender semi-Corinthian columns. It has 22 large rooms.
The balcony roof above the porch is carried on four graceful Corinthian columns with round shafts. The palace is laid out in the form of English "U" with its open end to the west.
Beyond the entrance at ground floor level there is a large hall. There is rounded pillar in the south and north side. In the front side there is a fountain made by marble stone.
From 1984 to 1991 the palace was used as High Court Branch of Bangladesh Supreme Court. In 1995 the palace was declared as a protected monument by the department of Archeology.
Being familiar with the historical and architectural importance of the palace the then government shifted the Rangpur Museum to the second floor of the palace in 2005 with ancient inscriptions, art and coins from the area on display. The main room at the top of marble stairs has a good number of display cases which show 10-11 century artifacts. There are a number of fine examples of Sankskrit and Arabic manuscript.
Presently it has become a very popular place where a large number of visitors from across the country come every day in order to visit it.
"A thing of beauty is a joy forever" this famous quote by romantic English poet John Keats is absolutely appropriate for Tajhat Zamindar Palace because of its enchanting architectural beauty which attracts the visitors at first sight.