Planning a Trip to Kushtia? Here Are 5 Places You Shouldn’t Skip.
If you’re heading to Kushtia, skip generic “top 10” lists. Focus on places that are historically dense, human, and tied to real lives. Kushtia isn’t just another district—it’s packed with literary and cultural roots you’ll miss if you only do surface-level sightseeing. Here’s where to go and what to know.
1. Jagati Railway Station — One of Bangladesh’s Oldest
Started in 1861, Jagati is among the oldest railway stations in Bangladesh. It was built to connect the region with Calcutta. Today, the station is mostly abandoned. Trains don’t stop here anymore. The building stands, brown and faded. The sounds of guards, porters, conductors—gone. Still, some locals swear you can “hear” the echo if you stand quietly long enough.
It’s not an active tourist site. No guide, no fee, no crowds. But worth a visit if you want to trace the memory of a town that once mattered. It also happens to be the hometown of writer Mir Mosharraf Hossain, and the early stomping ground of journalist Kangal Harinath. Their works mention the station repeatedly, especially in the late 19th century.
Walk around. Observe the decayed infrastructure. Get a feel for the place. Then move on.
2. Shilaidaha Kuthibari — Rabindranath’s Estate, Not Just a Museum
Shilaidaha is where Rabindranath Tagore spent some of his most productive years. He arrived in 1890 to manage his family’s zamindari estate. He stayed in a structure called Kuthibari, near the Padma River. That building is still there. Entry is allowed. Inside are personal items, manuscripts, and preserved rooms. But there’s more outside the walls.
Walk into nearby Khorshedpur village. There, you’ll find the ruins of his zamindari office and a small dispensary once set up by his father Debendranath Tagore. It’s crumbling, uncared for. But it exists. Ask locals. Some might point you to the gravesite of Darvish Khorshed ul Mulk, the spiritual figure after whom the area is named. Rabindranath personally funded the grave’s renovation. Most tourists skip it. You don’t have to.
This is also the region where Tagore encountered Baul music, Gagan Harkara’s lyrics, and pastoral Bengal—core ingredients in his work. You won’t see these details unless you go looking.
3. Lahinipara — Home of ‘Bishad Sindhu’
Mir Mosharraf Hossain lived here. The man who wrote Bishad Sindhu, the epic novel based on the tragedy of Karbala. It became one of the most-read books in 19th century Bengal. He wrote it while struggling financially, often relying on sales of the novel to fund his family expenses. He waited for money orders, hoping they’d be enough.
Today, his homestead in Lahinipara holds a library and a community hall. His fifth-generation descendant, Mir Mahbubul Alam, maintains it. There’s also a carved gateway with his quotes etched on concrete. One reads: “Haye re ortho, tuye jagoter shob onorther mul” (Oh wealth, you are the root of all wrongdoing).
The house isn’t in pristine shape. But the area still holds onto his legacy. The smell of books, cracked pillars, and nearby Gorai River—none of it touristy. All of it real.
4. Cheuriya — Lalon Shah’s Akhra and Tomb
Fakir Lalon Shah is buried here. You’ve heard the songs—Khachar vitor ochin pakhi, Ami opar hoye boshe achhi—but his philosophy and life are grounded in this place.
The Akhra (ashram) in Cheuriya is more than a tomb. It’s a complex with a green courtyard, open for visitors year-round. On his birth and death anniversaries, Lalon Mela is held here. Baul singers and followers gather from across the country. If you plan to visit during these events, prepare for crowds.
Outside festival times, the place is quieter. You can walk the area, see his grave, and talk to followers. Some live nearby and will speak at length about his beliefs. Not everyone agrees with how Lalon’s legacy is maintained today. Still, the site is deeply rooted in Bengal’s spiritual and musical traditions.
5. Kangal Harinath’s MN Press — Now a Museum
Last on the list, but not least: MN Press in Kumarkhali. This was a fully functional printing press in the 1800s, used by Kangal Harinath to publish his newspaper Grambarta Prokashika. He bought the press from a government auction and named it with help from his friend Mathuranath Maitra.
Historic works were printed here, including Bishad Sindhu and Hitokori. The machine was manual. Typeset by hand, printed using heavy iron levers, and staffed by Harinath’s own family across generations.
Today, the site is preserved as a museum. It still has the old Columbian Eagle printing machine from the UK. Inside are original typesets, framed articles, and curated displays explaining how rural journalism and literature took shape outside the colonial elite centers.
Kumarkhali, the town that houses it, is often overlooked. But it produced not just Harinath, but also Lalon, Tagore (through connection), Mosharraf Hossain, and others. Even Jaladhar Sen. It was a separate cultural axis beyond Calcutta, and MN Press was part of that formation.
Travel Info: How to Visit These Places
- From Dhaka, take a train from Kamalapur or a bus from Gabtoli to Kushtia. Takes 4–5 hours.
- Hire an auto or CNG locally to visit each site. All of these places can be covered in a single day if you start early.
- Most places are free. Some charge minor entry fees.
What to Keep in Mind
- Infrastructure varies. Some roads are bumpy.
- Many sites are not well-maintained. Don’t expect polished tourist services.
- Carry water and local cash.
- If you’re going during the Lalon Mela or national holidays, expect crowd surges.
