Tangail

Introducing Tangail

Crawling along the traffic- and pollution-clogged road out of Dhaka, it’s hard to believe that Tangail has anything of interest except the possibility of a cold drink. Yet in the green fields just behind this scruffy town is a magnificent piece of Bangladeshi artistic heritage – Atia Mosque. Built in 1609 by Said Khan Panee, this pretty-in-pink mosque, depicted on the Tk 10 note, blends pre-Mughal elements with imperial Mughal architectural features. It has been diligently restored several times in its long life. Its location, among a rash of trees and fields and beside a deep pond, is sheer visual poetry after the nightmare of the road from Dhaka.

The mosque is located 9km south of Tangail on the tarred road to Nagarpur, and a rickshaw from the town will cost around Tk 100 with waiting time.

Tangail has little in the way of a tourist infrastructure and its proximity to the capital means there is no real reason to stay here. There are some friendly local restaurants on the main street, and more serving similar chicken, fish and mutton dishes at the intersection of Dhaka and Mymensingh Rds.

You will find the District Forestry Office (53524) for Madhupur National Park on the third floor of the well-marked Water Development Board building, a block north of the post office on Victoria Rd.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009