Illustrative photoDinajpur, Rangpur
A huge eighteenth-century tank dug by Raja Ramnath, now the heart of a shady national park just south of Dinajpur town.
Ramsagar was dug in the mid-eighteenth century on the orders of Raja Ramnath of Dinajpur, the same raja who completed the Kantajew Temple. Tradition says it was made to bring water to the area in a time of drought. It is often called the largest man-made tank in Bangladesh — a long rectangle of still water nearly a kilometre in length, with the remains of a brick ghat on its western bank.
The banks and the land around were made into the Ramsagar National Park in 2001. Today it is Dinajpur’s favourite outing: tree-lined walks along the water, a small deer enclosure and picnic spots.
Take an auto-rickshaw south from town while it is cool.
Follow the tree-lined path along the water to the old ghat.
Sit by the water, then have tea near the gate.
Return for lunch, or continue to the Rajbari.
October to March; early morning or late afternoon, and weekdays for quiet
About 8 km south of Dinajpur town: 20–30 minutes by battery auto-rickshaw or CNG.
The park is best explored on foot along the banks; allow one to two hours.
