Hidden place

Dharmapal's Fort (Dharmapaler Garh)

ধর্মপালের গড়

Earthen ramparts of an old fort in Jaldhaka, linked by legend to a king named Dharmapal.

At a glance

Where: Nilphamari district, Rangpur division
From Dhaka: 355 km to Nilphamari by road, 9–12 hours by bus or car
Best time: winter (Dec–Jan) and spring (Feb–Mar)
Time needed: About 1 h 30 min

Times and costs are estimates from our planner and the prices we collected. Check before you go.

See the place on video

In the countryside of Jaldhaka upazila are the remains of a fortified enclosure, its earth walls and moat now covered with trees and fields. Local tradition connects it with a king called Dharmapal, and the ruins of his palace are said to lie on the bank of a small river to the east. Little has been excavated, and the site is more atmosphere than monument. It suits travellers who enjoy local legends and village walks.

How to get there

Take a bus to Jaldhaka from Nilphamari, then an auto-rickshaw; ask locally for Dharmapaler Garh.

Good to know

Go with a local guide, as there are no signs.

Common questions

Where is Dharmapal's Fort (Dharmapaler Garh)?

Dharmapal's Fort (Dharmapaler Garh) is in Nilphamari district, Rangpur division, Bangladesh. Nilphamari is about 355 km from Dhaka by road.

How do you get to Dharmapal's Fort (Dharmapaler Garh) from Dhaka?

First get to Nilphamari, roughly 9–12 hours from Dhaka by bus or car. Then: Take a bus to Jaldhaka from Nilphamari, then an auto-rickshaw; ask locally for Dharmapaler Garh.