| Dinajpur, a district in the north of Bangladesh, belongs | | | | place, which is a wonderful example of the Bengali |
| to the Rajshahi Division. On its western side, it has a | | | | architectural style. |
| border with the Indian state of West Bengal. | | | | Kantanagar Temple, built by Maharaja Pran Nath in |
| Dinajpur once belonged to the ancient kingdom of | | | | 1752, is among the most ornate of the later medieval |
| Purdrabardhwan. The British established their | | | | temples to be found in the country, and is located just |
| administrative control in 1793. When Bengal was | | | | outside the city. The entire temple surface is covered |
| partitioned in 1947, a large part of Dinajpur district went | | | | with beautiful terra-cotta sculpture depicting flora, |
| to West Bengal, which then became West Dinajpur. | | | | fauna, mythological scenes, geometric designs and |
| The people of this district made an important | | | | contemporary social themes. This temple is rightly |
| contribution to the Liberation war in 1971. | | | | acknowledged as the best example of its type using |
| Dinajpur city, situated on the banks of the Punarbhaba, | | | | terra-cotta and brick, built by the local artisans of |
| is the administrative center for the district. It is | | | | Bengal. Originally, the temple had a nine-tower structure |
| connected with the entire country by a network of | | | | with four richly carved ornamental towers at two |
| railways and roads. It is important as a road junction, | | | | levels, with a spire in the centre crowning the third. An |
| and rice, jute, wheat, and sugarcane is cultivated in the | | | | earthquake in the latter part of the 19th century |
| countryside around. The airport connects it to entire | | | | damaged the temple badly, but one can still see the |
| northern Bangladesh. It has jute and rice processing | | | | foundations of the towers. The temple is dedicated to |
| industries, jute seed farms and a thermoelectric power | | | | the Hindu deity Krishna. |
| station. There are several colleges with affiliation with | | | | There are also the ancient, 9th century ruins of the |
| Rajshahi University. | | | | Pala dynasty. There are several forts belonging to the |
| Dinajpur district is a repository of many interesting and | | | | Mughal era, built in the 16th and 17th centuries. |
| historical sights and monuments which will be both | | | | Other attractions include the Shopnopuri artificial |
| educative and highly enjoyable for the visitor. | | | | amusement park and the Ramsagar lake with rest |
| The old northeast part of the city, once the abode of | | | | houses, which is a good picnic spot with facilities for |
| the Maharaja, is full of interest - it is said that the district | | | | fishing and boating amidst peaceful and lush green |
| got its name from him. The grand ruins of the Rajbari | | | | countryside. |
| (king's palace) are to be found in the outskirts in the | | | | The famous Kanthejees Temple combines a mixture |
| north east. The palace was originally protected by | | | | of the Hindu and Mughal (Akbar) styles of architecture. |
| moats and high ramparts. Now the approach lies | | | | About three hours' drive will take the visitor to the |
| through a high arched gate facing towards the west. | | | | location of the beautiful Buddhist stupas at Paharpur. |
| There is a painted Krishna temple located within the | | | | |