Haripur Rajbari (হরিপুর রাজবাড়ি)

Haripur Rajbari is the crumbling 19th-century palace of the Haripur zamindar family in Haripur Upazila, western Thakurgaon District, northern Bangladesh. Known for fourteen busts of the zamindar on its east wall, it has no ticket and suits heritage-minded travellers who are content to view a ruin from outside.

Endi silk traders and the Roy Chowdhury family

The family traced its roots to Ghanashyam Kundu, who came for the trade in endi silk. Raghavendra Roy Chowdhury began the palace and his son Jagendra Narayan Roy Chowdhury, titled Rajarshi by the British, finished it. The district portal gives 1793 but also says work began in the mid 19th century, so the date is uncertain.

Bara Taraf and Chhota Taraf

Around 1900 the estate split between two branches. In 1903 Nagendra Bihari Roy Chowdhury and Girija Ballabh Roy Chowdhury built a second residence, the Chhota Taraf (small share), and the old palace became the Bara Taraf.

Fourteen busts and a terracotta Shiva temple

Fourteen busts of Jagendra Narayan set in carved ornament on the main palace's east wall are its signature feature. To the east stands an old Shiva temple with a nat mandir decorated in terracotta.

Neglect after the zamindari ended

The buildings fell into neglect after the zamindari system ended, and much is in poor repair.