History of Rangpur District 

Tajhat Rajbari_Rangpur

Tajhat Rajbari_Rangpur

Rangpur was conquered by the army of Raja Man Singh, a commander of the Mughal emperor, Akbar, in 1575, but it was only until 1686 that it was fully integrated into the Mughal Empire. Names of places like Mughalbasa (literal meaning being a locality of the Mughals), and Mughalhat (literal meaning a “local market” organized by the Mughals) bear testimony to the Mughal Association and past of Rangpur and its hinterland. Later on, Rangpur passed under the control of “Sarker” of Ghoraghat. During the period of the British East India Company, the Sannyasi Rebellion took place.

Geography 

Under the RANGPUR division (one of seven divisions) composed of eight districts of the northern Bangladesh, the District of Rangpur is bordered on the north by Nilphamari District, on the south by Gaibandha District, on the east by Kurigram, and on the west by Dinajpur district. Rangpur town is the divisional headquarter. The soil composition is mainly alluvial soil (80%) of the Teesta River basin, and the remaining is barind soil. The temperature ranges from 32 degrees Celsius to 11 degrees Celsius, and the annual rainfall averages 2931 mm. 

Carmichael College

Education 

Rangpur University is the only university in Rangpur district. The Rangpur Medical College, situated in Ranpur is one of the major government medical colleges in Bangladesh. Carmichael College, established in 1916 by some leading zamindars, is a postgraduate college offering courses in 14 subjects in the faculties of arts, social science, science and commerce. The most renowned educational institution in this region is Cantonment Public School & College,Rangpur(CPSCR).Another renowned school is Rangpur Zilla School. Zilla School is established in 1832, this higher secondary school is known for the quality of education it offers. Other prominent educational institutions include Rangpur Govt. College, Begum Rokeya College and Govt. Commercial Institute. Besides there is one polytechnic institute, one vocational institute, around 282 high schools, 722 government primary schools, 38 junior high schools, 193 NGO (Non Government Organization) operated schools and almost 370 Madrasahs in Rangpur.

Carmichael College

Places of interest
Just south of the city of Rangpur lies the Tajhat, a former "rajbari" or zamindar's palace. After the end of the British Raj, the building was abandoned and decayed rapidly, although it was used for a few years as a courthouse during the 1980s. In the year 2004, it was largely restored and turned into a museum with ancient inscriptions, art and coins from the area on display. RDRS (Rangpur and Dinajpur Rural Service) Bangladesh , an NGO in northwest Bangladesh, has a large office and guesthouse/convention center in the town of Rangpur. A museum and women's training centre was established in Pairabondh, the birth place of famous Begum Rokeya. It is half an hour drive away from Rangpur city. Apart from the Tajbari museum there is another museum at the heart of the town. The town is known as Green town for its beautiful garden and green park throughout the town. It has a District magistrate office where the great Social Reformer Rammohan Roy served for long time. Nowadays there are lots of market places all through the city. Carmichael College, built during the Raj era, is located in Rangpur. The literacy rate has increased after the independence of the country from Pakistan. Rangpur University have been established in 2009 as the only PUBLIC UNIVERSITY in RANGPUR DIVISION.

Tajhat Rangpur

There are many schools, mosques, and temples in the city.There is a big Zoo at the heart of the city. There is an ancient auditorium named 'Town Hall' at the center of the city, where different cultural programs are held. The economy of the people is weak since there is no major natural resource like minerals and industry. In the rural areas, there are no source of income for landless poor people. In the great Rangpur region, no economic development took place until the 90s, mainly because of the yearly flooding the region used to see before the making of "Teesta Barrage." The coal is found near this district. There is a large military cantonment in the town. "Bhinno Jogot" is a big theme park and a popular picnic spot which is situated 15 kilometres from Rangpur Town. Near the stadium, there is a very beautiful place called 'Chicli vata' surrounding bij many lakes and rice fields. There were a fairly large number of eminent Zamindar families at Tajhat. Dimla, Kankina, Manthana , Pirganj, Bardhankot, ete in the district of Rangpur. They had magnificent and beautiful palaces of which the Tajhat Palace is most famous. Manna lal ray the founder of the family was Hindu khatri and an adherent of the sikh which at that time, was obliged to emigrate from the Punjab and settled at Mahiganj, Profession it is believed that from the conspicuous appearance of his Taj or jeweled crown his estate derived the name of Tajhat manna lal ray , gradually be quire huge lalded properties in Rangpur his grandson Dhanapat ray. A grand Daughter of ratanlal ray of nya dumka, who was another Punjabi in-migrant. Dhanapat ray’s Grandson Upendra lel ray died at an early age and the estate there fore came into the possession of his uncle Giridharlal ray who was a Munsift Giridhari lal having no issue adopted Govinda Lal of Kolkata who success Ed to the Estate in 1879. He was a man of great public spirit and Liberality because of which he was conferred with the title of Raja in 1835, Raja Bahadur in 1892 and Maharaja in 1896 he metro larges death by being buried alive under the debris of his own during the devastating earthquake of 1897 He was succeeded by his son Maharaja kumar Gopal lal ray in 1908. The place is situated three k. m. on the south –east Outskirts of the town of Rangpur. This Magnificent edifice with about 76.20 m front age. Rises in tow Stores and faces east . a 15.24m.Imposing broad staircase in the centre. Paved with imported white marble. Leads directly above the portico to the upper storey. The palace is crowned by a ribbed conical dome in the centre of the roof with a tall octagonal neck. Partly supported on a series of slender semi-Corinthian columns. The balustrade on either said of the imposing staircase was originally embellished with various sculptures of classical roman figures in Italian marble. But now these are totally missing. There are two semi octagonal projections at each end of the front faced and a 9-144m. Projecting central porch. The balcony roof above the porch is carried on four graceful Corinthian columns with round shafts. Whilst two similar columns on each of the projecting ends of the building . Support a triangular gable. The palace is laid out in the from of an English “U” With it’s open end to the west. Beyond the entrance at ground floor level. This is a very large hall measuring about 18.288m *13.716m. A3m wide corridor runs the entire length of inner block. Two broad wooden staircases. One is on the middle of the north wing and other is one the south of eastern main block provides access to the upper floor. Probably this place was built by Maha Raja Kumar Gopal lal Ray in the beginning of the 20th century AD from 1984 to 1991. the palace was used as a Rangpur high Court branch of the Bangladesh Supreme court in 1995. The palace was declared as a Protected monument by the department of archeology .recognizing it’s out standing archeological value the government of Bangladesh decided to shift the Rangpur museum here in 2002. Accordingly the palace in being partly used as Rangpur museum since 2005.