Murapara Rajbari is a famous palace located in Rupganj Upazila of Narayanganj District, Bangladesh. This beautiful palace can be found in Murapara village, situated about 25 km southeast of Dhaka along the Narsindghi road. To reach it, you’ll need to travel about 5 km along a bumpy brick-paved feeder road branching off the main Dhaka-Sylhet trunk road.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
“Murapara Rajbari” serves as a noteworthy example of the affluent community’s influence in Murapara village. This village lies around 25 kilometers southeast of Dhaka, on the western side of the Dhaka-Narsingdi road. The establishment of Murapara Jomidarbari, or Palace, is attributed to Ramratan Banerjee, the founder of the Murapara Raj family. Ramratan Banerjee, initially serving as a treasurer of the Natore estate, ascended to a high position due to his honesty, subsequently amassing significant properties. Some sources suggest that Ramratan Banerjee constructed the palace in 1889, while others indicate that he laid the groundwork for the structure. The actual construction of the palace in 1889 is attributed to Protap Chandra Banerjee, who chose to build a new palace behind the old traditional house.
ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
This picturesque two-story palace boasts a rectangular design and an impressive frontage extending about 200 feet in the westward direction. A 10-foot wide verandah graces the front of the palace on both levels, providing access to the rooms within. The verandah’s depth serves to shade the palace from the sun in an artistic manner. It features semicircular arches adorned with cast iron tracery embellished with green, red, and blue glass elements. This arrangement creates a captivating mosaic pattern on the verandah floor as sunlight filters through the tracery.
How To Go There?
Murapara Rajbari is conveniently situated not far from Dhaka, making it an ideal destination for a day trip. If you’re starting from Dhaka, you’ll need to take the Rupganj road from the Dhaka-Chittagong highway. Once you reach Bhulta bazar, you can easily hire a rickshaw or hop on a CNG auto-rickshaw to reach Murapara college.