Balapur Zamindar House or Kali Babur Bari – Narsingdi’s Last Millennia Grandeur

Imagine a handsome man on horseback patiently watching offloading at the banks of mighty river Meghna. He is regally appareled and has a retinue of flunkies. Chests and a long line of carry-on brought over have come in steamers from distances of Kolkata. The picturesque view is a throwback to the history of Zamindar Nabin Chandra Saha who built the fabled Balapur Zamindar House.

fig: Collected

Commonly, the palatial house is known as Zamindar Kali Babur Bari. It has an acreage of space within and outside. To facilitate oversight, Zamindar Nabin Chandra built his grand abode near the Steamer Ghat in 1906. Two-to-three storied buildings make up the design. There are several one-story buildings in the complex too.   Balapur Zamindar House is yet to be announced a heritage site. The century old landmark of Narsingdi bears remnants of opulence of the past. As told and known in the locality, the mansion complex used to have floor tiles of beautiful patterns. Broken mosaic linings can still be found there.   Balconies may have lost the spick and span of Nabin Chandra’s time. But a silhouette of last millennia grandeur is evident in the wrought iron frames of railings and arches.

Fabulous wood carvings on doors and artsy windowpanes bear testimony of the landlord’s finesse and his refined penchant for luxury.   Shards of colorful glass and images of Hindu deity bring back memories of a lively household. The landlord’s mansion has a large pond on the west side. A puja mondop or ritual pavilion lies to the east side of the complex in a temple ground.   Conventional wisdom gathered from locals indicate amazing tales. One in particular is that Nabin Chandra and his descendants might have been devotees of Krishna and Radha. Nonetheless, anecdotes of their hospitality can be readily assumed from the remains of a guest building with 31 rooms inside.   Zamindar Nabin Chandra Saha might have laid the foundation of his palatial complex.

But the nearly dilapidated mansion is known by his son’s name. Of his three sons, Kali Mohan Saha, Ashutosh Saha and Monoranjon Saha, Kali Babu was handed over the baton of lordship after Nabin Chandra’s demise.   Balapur Nabin Chandra High School is close to the premises of Zamindar House. The school has been there since 1913. It also has a large playground. Thus, manifolds of history, culture and education are hewn in the annals of Narsingdi as much as in stories of the Saha dynasty and their grand mansion.  

To-do List at Balapur Zamindar House

Pictures are worth a million words. Take this advice for all its worth. Capture moments and candidly fill the fleeting hours in a video, if possible. Make photo albums of snapshots of Balapur Zamindar House’s deliriously time-portal palatial escapade.   Hobbyists and ornithologists alike have flocked to the spot’s pond and nearby riverbank. So, another fun thing to do is to wait for the right moment to take pictures of native and migratory birds on rest and in flight. Whatever is there to do, always be aware of locals and their sentiments. Also wear a face-mask and use a hand-sanitizer every now and then for personal safety and hygiene.  

How to Reach Kali Babur Bari or Zamindar House in Narsingdi

Hop on a bus from Dhaka’s Gulistan, Sayedabad or Mohakhali. Meghaloy, Monohordi Paribahan, Anna Super Service, BRTC Bus, PPL, Chalan Bil Transport, Arabian Transport and Badsha Paribahan are very popular bus services bound for Narsingdi. Know the timing and place of departure beforehand.   Get off at Madhabdi Bus Stop in Madhabdi upazila of Narsingdi. Find any easy mode of transport to go to Balapur village. Usually CNG auto-rickshaws and three-wheeler rickshaws are available. After stopping at Balapur Bazaar via Balapur-Meghna Bazaar Road, ask anyone about the destination. It would take minutes to enter the Zamindar House premises.   Other than bus journey, train services can always be an option. Dhaka-Chattogram and Dhaka-Sylhet rail routes go via Narsingdi.   Moreover, launches and water-buses sail through the confluence of Meghna, Arial Khan and Shitalakkhya from Dhaka’s Sadar Ghat. Thus a journey by boat and landing at the Steamer Ghat can truly be an anecdotally memorable experience.  

More Places in Narsingdi Worth a Visit Bir Sreshtha Matiur Rahman Memorial Museum, Monu Mia Zamindar Bari, Wari-Bateshwar, Bhai Girish Chandra Sen’s Old House, Ashrafpur Mosque, Parulia Mosque, Arshinagar Park-and-Mini Zoo, Belabo Central Jame Mosque and Single Domed Mosque-and-Tomb of Shah Mansur are some of the finest places to visit in Narsingdi. So, don’t miss out any after a tour of Kali Babur Bari or Balapur Zamindar House.

  Accommodation and Boarding Facilities Hotel Tanim, Hotel Reaz, Hotel Aziz are some of the residential hotels in Narsingdi. Besides, Circuit House, LGRD Rest House and District Council Bungalow are also fine for a night-stay available upon request to the concerned authority.  

Restaurants and Eateries in Balapur Bazar Hotels and restaurants are there to quell the appetite on the way or, after returning from the visit. Local   dishes and cuisines are good for a tryout. Travelers will find Anondo Park Restaurant, Panthoshala, Saudagar Hotel & Restaurant, Munna Restaurant and many more restaurants and eateries.   The Narsingdi specialties are, however, rasgolla, lalmohan, khir-mohan and shahi jilapi. These are very popular in the area and to the tourists alike.  

A Cautionary Note Accommodation expenses, ride fare, cost of boarding facilities etc change over time. For this, the information published on the web might only reflect the going rate. It is requested that, whenever and wherever a traveler starts for a destination, it is compulsory to know the current fare and expenses for inclusion in itinerary and a safe travel.   Besides, another important issue is to have a prior knowledge about relevant amenities before booking at a hotel or ordering at a restaurant in the touring destination. The website or the author will not be liable for any misdeed or comeuppance followed by an unwanted or undesirable transaction.

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Written by,  Md. Piare Ashek-E-Rasul

Information Collected  

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