Photo: Abdul Momin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Ramsagar
About Ramsagar
Ramsagar lies at Tejpur, about 8 kilometres south of Dinajpur town. It is one of the largest man-made tanks in Bangladesh: the water stretches about 1,079 metres from north to south and about 190 metres across, inside high grassy embankments.
The tank was dug for Maharaja Ramnath of Dinajpur, who also completed Kantajew Temple, during a drought and famine in the 1750s, shortly before the Battle of Plassey. Tradition says it gave the people both drinking water and work. The remains of a sandstone ghat, the old bathing steps, survive on the west bank.
Ramsagar was declared a national park in 2001, and its banks are planted with trees. Weekdays are quiet, while on Fridays and holidays families from Dinajpur come to picnic. Evergreen Bangladesh Tours combines it with Kantajew Temple on a day in Dinajpur; see Rangpur Division for more of the north.
Things to do
-
Walk the embankments
Follow the raised banks around the water for long views down the tank, with shade from the trees.
-
Find the old stone ghat
Look for the remains of the sandstone bathing steps on the west bank, once the grand approach to the water.
-
Look for birds
Bring binoculars: the trees and open water are good for spotting birds, especially early in the morning.
-
Join a Friday picnic
On Fridays the park fills with local families, a relaxed way to meet people from Dinajpur.
Getting there
From Dinajpur: about 8 kilometres south of the town, 15 to 20 minutes by car or auto-rickshaw.
From Dhaka: fly to Saidpur in about an hour and drive on to Dinajpur, or take an intercity train to Dinajpur.
Where to stay
Stay in Dinajpur town, which has simple to mid-range hotels and is the base for both Ramsagar and Kantajew Temple.
We suggest hotels that fit your budget when we send your tour price.
More to see in Dinajpur
Tours that visit Ramsagar
None of our set tours stop here yet, but we can add it to a tailor-made trip.
Questions
How big is Ramsagar?
The water area is about 1,079 metres long and about 190 metres wide, which makes it one of the largest man-made tanks in Bangladesh.
Who dug Ramsagar?
It was dug for Maharaja Ramnath of Dinajpur in the 1750s, during a drought and famine, to provide drinking water. The tank is named after him.
How far is Ramsagar from Dinajpur?
About 8 kilometres south of Dinajpur town, around 15 to 20 minutes by road.
Can I visit Ramsagar and Kantajew Temple in one day?
Yes. Kantajew is about 20 kilometres north of Dinajpur and Ramsagar about 8 kilometres south, so both fit easily into one day from the town.