Due to the political situation, we have shortened our list for the fourth and the final day. We already had a battery driven auto rickshaw with us that we have hired for hourly basis (130 Taka per hour). So after visiting the Korapur Mia Bari Mosque we have headed for the Durga Shagor Dighi (দূর্গা সাগর দীঘি) that is located a bit further from that place. I have instructed the driver to go slow, so that we could enjoy the natural beauties around us. Actually we had plenty of time in our hand.
The pond Durga Shagor Dighi (দূর্গা সাগর দীঘি) can also be written as Durgasagor Dighi (দূর্গাসাগর দীঘি). It is a massive pond that was dug during 1780 by Rani Durgaboti (রানী দুর্গাবতী) who was the mother of Raja Joynarayan (রাজা জয়নারায়ণ). The initiative was taken to ease the water crisis of the local people. That time it had four ghat at the four sides of the Dighi (দীঘি). Later those got ruined and covered with jungle. This large water tank is named after that magnanimous Rani Durgaboti (রানী দুর্গাবতী).
Later in 1975 the Dighi (দীঘি) was restored and these days only two ghat available at the north and west side. Now a days the area is totally bounded by the walls. It has a footpath around for the pedestrian. It requires to pay 10 Taka to enter inside the premise. You can have a swim at the massive pond if you have extra cloth with you (I didn’t have any with me). They have a facility for fishing on there. You just need to pay the amount to get the permission.
Durga Shagor Dighi (দূর্গা সাগর দীঘি) is covered with lot of artificially planted trees around. It provides a nice shade around. We have walked through the halfway across the Dighi (দীঘি). It was a quiet and calm place that time (probably because of Monday!). It has a small mound at the middle (raised by the government during the renovation of 1975).
This large pond is having millions of nicely bloomed White Snowflakes flower around. I didn’t see too many of this flowers at a time. Also it used to have a nice playground for the migratory birds. But these days hardly found any such birds from here. What a pity.
How to Go:
It is another famous place from Barisal (বরিশাল) that everyone knows. It will be better if you can take a battery driven auto rickshaw with you for round trip. I have paid 130 Taka per hour. Also, you can take the local bus from the Nothullabad (নথুল্লাবাদ) bus stoppage to minimize the costing. It should take around 30 minutes to go there. GPS coordinate of the Durga Shagor Dighi (দূর্গা সাগর দীঘি) is (22°45’40.42″N, 90°17’17.25″E).
Where to stay:
We have stayed at the Hotel Athena, a handy one from the Barisal town (বরিশাল টাউন). A single room did cost us 500 Taka (double bed room is 1000-1200 Taka). And the manager of the hotel seemed friendly.
It was the day-4 of our four days trip at Southern Bangladesh. We have traveled Barisal (বরিশাল), Jhalokathi (ঝালকাঠি), Pirojpur (পিরোজপুর), Bagerhat (বাগেরহাট), and Khulna (খুলনা) on those days.
Durga Shagor Dighi (দূর্গা সাগর দীঘি),
Union: Madhabpasha (মাধবপাশা ইউনিয়ন),
Upazela: Babuganj (বাবুগঞ্জ উপজেলা),
District: Barisal (বরিশাল জেলা),
Country: Bangladesh (বাংলাদেশ),
GPS coordinate: (22°45’40.42″N, 90°17’17.25″E)
This article has written by Lonely Traveler,
for the blog https://alonelytraveler.com/
