Nilsagar (নীলসাগর)

Nilsagar is a historic man-made pond, or dighi, of about 32.7 acres of water in Dhopadanga Mouza, Gorgram Union, Nilphamari Sadar Upazila, northern Bangladesh, about 14 kilometres from Nilphamari town. Known for migratory birds and a spring bathing festival, it suits picnickers and birdwatchers in the north.

53.9 acres with a brick-walled pond

The site covers about 53.9 acres, of which the water takes up about 32.7 acres. The pond is 7 to 12 metres deep and walled with brick.

The Raja Birat legend

Local tradition says it was dug in the time of Raja Birat, a king from the Mahabharata, to water his cattle. It was long called Birat Dighi, which shifted in local speech to Bilta Dighi and then Binna Dighi. These stories come from tradition, with no dated records.

Why is it called Nilsagar?

After independence the pond was renamed Nilsagar, blue sea, echoing Nilphamari, an area once known for indigo. The district portal says the sub-divisional officer A. Jabbar restored it and gave it the name in 1979.

Temple, dervish's abode and the Baruni Snan fair

A Hindu temple stands on the east bank and a Muslim dervish's abode on the west. Migratory birds come every winter. The Baruni Snan bathing festival is held each spring, on the full moon of Baishakh according to Banglapedia, when the banks host a village fair with kirtan singing.

The site doubles as a picnic spot. Check entry arrangements locally.