The Old Capital of Bengal

Bangladesh has always been in centre of attraction from ancient times. It was so enchanting to people for its culture, wealth, resources and stunning natural beauty. If you want to know about the history and culture of this region, you can visit Sonargaon. Sonargaon was the capital of the ancient kingdom ruled by Isa Khan of Bengal. Today, it is home to some of the oldest buildings in Bangladesh.

Sonargaon is in Narayanganj. Sonargaon is considered as one of the first and oldest capital of Bengal. Sonargaon was known as “The City of Panam” and was a focal part of the renowned Deva Dynasty until the thirteenth century. Mainly middle or upper class people inhabited Sonargaon during that time period.

Muslim settlers first arrive in the Sonargaon region in around 1281. Sharfuddin Abu Tawwamah, a medieval Sufi saint and Islamic philosopher came and settled here sometime between 1282 and 1287. After the thirteenth century Sonargaon was made a secondary capital to the main capital of the Sultanate of Bengal. This subsidiary position that Sonargaon had now taken, lasted until the arrival of the Mughals. The Mughal Empire originated in India and was first founded in 1526 by Jalaluddin Mohammad Babar. The Mughal Empire ruled Bengal, and thus Sonargaon, for nearly a century before Bangladesh was founded in 1608. Sonargaon was described by numerous historic travelers, including Ibn Battuta, Ma Huan, Niccolò de' Conti and Ralph Fitch, as a thriving center of trade and commerce on the silk route. It served as the capital of Sultan Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah, Isa Khan and the Baro-Bhuyan Confederacy.

Today, many people still visit the historic city of Sonargaon. They are attracted by its immense beauty and by the ruins of buildings and relics that date back to the era of Bengal. The Goaldia Mosque is situated in the Goaldi village and is a wonderful example of an ancient Sonargaon building. The Folklore Museum is another attraction, which is visited by many. The Folklore Museum of Sonargaon houses a variety of artifacts from all over Bangladesh, representing the many cultural groups that exist in this country.

For those interested in historical and archaeological relics, which have been unearthed from Sonargaon, the Zainal Abedin Museum is a good place to visit. You can still see the intact shrines of Shah Abdul Alia and Pachpirs, and the Tomb of Sultan Ghiasuddin Azam Shah. If you travel just out of Sonargaon, in the countryside, you will see an example of a Mughal Palace and an old museum. These two buildings are located on beautiful grounds with lots of birds, trees and plants, a pond and a number of sheltered walks.

Sonargaon is a wonderful city to visit, with so much to offer visitors if history and culture is what they enjoy.