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Travel: Visit Bithangal Bara Akhara in Habiganj

The Dhaka Times Desk Both history and religion are intertwined. If you want to gain complete knowledge about history and traditions, you have to visit Bithangal Bara Akhara in Habiganj. It is one of the pilgrimage sites of Vaishnava devotees.

Bithangal Bara Akhara or also known as Bitangal Akhara is located in Bitangal village in Baniachong upazila of Habiganj district. Known as one of the pilgrimage sites for Vaishnava devotees, this Akhara was built by Ramakrishna Goswami in the 16th century. The Bithangal Bara Akhara built in medieval architecture also has separate rooms for 120 Vaishnavas. Various religious festivals are organized here with due solemnity. These various festivals include Rath Yatra in the second week of Ashar month, Pancham Dol Utsav in the month of Phalgun after 5 days of Dol Purnima, Kirtan on the last day of Kartik month, Bhola Sankranti, Punyasnan on Ashtami Thithi of Chaitra and Baruni Mela etc.

Among the landmarks of Bithangal Bara Akhara are the well-decorated chariots, brass thrones, white stone chowki weighing 25 maunds, silver vessels and golden crowns. Every day, numerous tourists come to visit this historically and religiously important Bithangal Bara Akhara, which is located 12 km from Baniachong Upazila Sadar.

how to go

Distance from Dhaka to Baniachang is 181 km. After reaching Habiganj or Shaistaganj, you can go to Baniachong by autorickshaw, CNG or bus. The distance from Habiganj to Baniachang is 24 km and the distance from Shaistaganj to Baniachang is 36.2 km. If you want to use the railway, you can only come to Shaistaganj from Dhaka.

During the rainy season, Bithangal can be reached in one and a half to two hours by an engine driven boat from Haor area of Kishoreganj district next to Habiganj (such as Itna, Ashtagram, Mithamin, Nikoli, Bajitpur). However, during the dry season, you can go to Sujatpur by jeep from Habiganj Kamrapur Bridge, by boat or on foot.