Kakina Zamindar Bari Lalmonirhat

The zamindari of Kakina started in 1687 AD based on a charter issued by the Mughals. Among the zamindars of the greater Rangpur district, these Kakina zamindars had great reputation and prestige. Aurangzeb was the Mughal emperor of Delhi at that time. And Aurangzeb's uncle Shaista Khan was Subedar of Bengal. Shaista Khan's son Ebadat Khan granted Kakina zamindari sanad to Ram Narayan, son of Raghu Ram, the dominant of Kakina pargana. After that, Raja Roy Chowdhury, Rudra Roy, Rasik Roy, Alka Devi, Ram Rudra Roy Chowdhury, Shambhucharan Roy Chowdhury successively got the zamindari of Kakina.

In 1860, Shambhucharan Roy Chowdhury published the first newspaper weekly 'Rangpur Prakash' of greater Rangpur district with his own funds. He also dug a huge lake called Shambhu Sagar. Later, the responsibility of zamindari was entrusted to Shambhucharan Roy Chowdhury's adopted son Mahima Ranjan Roy Chowdhury.

Praja Vatsal and Sahitya-Sanskriti Sevi Mahima Ranjan Roy Chowdhury established a huge library at Kakina. Besides, Mahima Ranjan Roy Chowdhury's role in establishing Woodburn library in Bogra district and a museum in Kakina along with school, railway in Rangpur district was undeniable. In 1925, Mahimaranjan Roy Chowdhury's zamindari was auctioned due to uncontrolled spending and luxury. He then moved with his family to Darjeeling and died there in 1939. The zamindari of Mahimaranjan Roy Chowdhury and his predecessors is now known as Kakina Zamindar Bari.

There are various transport buses and intercity trains to reach Lalmonirhat from Dhaka . From Kamalapur railway station, Lalmoni Express departs at 09:45 PM on 6 days except Fridays and Burimari Express trains depart on 6 days except Tuesdays at 08:30 AM. Train fare will be 635 to 2180 taka per seat. And Hanif and Shah Ali Paribahan buses leave for Lalmonirhat from Gabtali and Kalyanpur.

If you come from Dhaka by train or bus to Lalmonirhat and then travel a distance of about 21 km on the way to Burimari land port, you can reach Kakina Bazar bus stand. Just 200 yards west of Kakina Bazar bus stand are the ruins of Kakina Zamindar's house.

Besides, you can go directly to Kakina railway station from Lalmonirhat by train. This zamindar house is just 1 km away from Kakina railway station. And the distance from Rangpur to Kakina Zamindar's house is about 22 km.

Lalmonirhat has a number of fairly standard residential hotels for overnight stays. Among them, Khan Hotel, Hotel Border Residents, Hotel Guest, Hotel Leisure, Hotel Masud and Uttara Hotel are mentioned. Apart from this, Kakina and Kaliganj have average quality residential hotels for overnight stay.

There are several food hotels and restaurants in Lalmonirhat apart from Paradise, Shimonda Canteen, Palashi, Palki, New Shanti and Muktijoddha Hotel.

Feature Image : RK Hannan