The Varendra Research Museum in Rajshahi is the place to visit if you
want to know more about Bangladesh. There are many sites where you can
get info about the country, but few are as extensive as this museum.
Location
The museum is located in Rajshahi.
What to See
The museum has over 20,000 books and 6,000 manuscripts. These are
available in numerous languages such as Sanskrit, Arabic, Bengali and
Persian. Several of the collections deal with the history and culture of
the country. There are also thousands of journals and books.
The library collection has been moved to a new complex, which is much
more contemporary. The Varendra Research Museum also houses numerous
statues of Lord Surya. There are also many art pieces showcasing the
culture and heritage of Bangladesh.
There is a section devoted to a huge amount of Buddhist sculpture.
There is also an area dedicated to old Bangla, Sanskrit and Persian
sculptured stones. These date from the Muslim period. There is a gallery
showcasing the tribal culture of the Rajshahi.
History
This museum is one of the oldest in Bangladesh. It was established in
1910 with the help of the maharaja of Dighapatia. Today, the museum is
being handled by the Rajshahi University (RU).
The building was built in a manner that is reminiscent of British
buildings of the era. During the construction, a trefoil arch atop the
windows and doorways were included. There is a rekha temple for the
roof.
The city of Rajshahi was included in the Pundra sector ancient
Bengal. In 1772, the administrative sector was set up. Around the time
of British Raj, it was christened “Beuleah”.
Through the efforts of the agricultural department, the place was
chosen as a center of silk trade. The city figured prominently in the
country’s fight for liberation.
Cost
There is no admission fee.
Other Info
The museum is divided into several sections. Gallery 1 is a
repository of collections from the Indus Valley Civilization. There are
also more than 200 items from Sompur. Scripts from different languages
(Persian, Arabic and Sanskrit) are available.
If you go to Gallery 2, you will see a vast collection of Hindu and
Buddhist stone sculptures. There are also some wood sculptures
available. The third and fourth galleries display sculptures of Hindu
goddesses and gods.
The Varendra Research Museum is open 10:00 am until 5:00 pm from
Saturdays to Wednesdays. On Fridays it is open from 2:30 until 5:00 pm.
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