Department of Archeology of Naogaon has declared the historical Bolihar Palace (Rajbari) under the Bolihar Union of Naogaon Sadar Upazila as a Protected antiquity. The Department has also put a Sign Board in front of the palace one week ago.
According to a letter signed on January 4, 2022, by the Director General of the Department of Archeology, the archaeological structure of Bolihar Palace on 3.63 acres of land was declared as a protected antiquity.
It is learnt, by getting the Jaigir (the lease of a rent-free land) by Emperor Aurangzeb, the Bolihar Jaminder family was established by Nrishinga Chowdhury. The Jaminders of Bolihar established several establishments in various places, of those Bolihar Palace is the most famous.
During the partition of the country, Bimulendu Roy was the King of Bolihar. Zaminder Rajendranath established a Temple of Raj-Rajewari Goddess at Bolihar in 1823 A.D. and set up an exquisite bell-metal statue of Rajeswari Goddess inside the temple. The nine-wheeled Chariot(Ratha) of Bolihar was very famous. Many of the Kings of Bolihar were highly educated. Of them, Raja Krishnendra Roy Bahadur was a writer. His compiled books entitled Krishnendra Granthaboli (Books) Part-1 and 2 were the most favourite.
In the aftermath of the partition of the country, the Zamindari system was abolished when King Bimulendu Roy left for India with his family members. Later, the employees of the king used to look after the Bolihar Palace. During the Liberation War and later on, valuable furniture, various exhibits, paintings, books, doors and windows of the palace were looted. Several rooms of the palace were being used as the classrooms of Bolihar School for a long time. Later, the classrooms were shifted to the new building of the school. Afterwards, the Palace remained deserted for a long time. Local devotees offered Puja(Rituals)at the Temple situated adjacent to the Palace.
The gigantic Facade (gate) in front of the Palace, the old Nat Temple inside the compound, the Raj-Rajeswari Temple, the Conjoined Shiba Temple and the huge three-storied Palace building are all the structures that now remain.
Fazlul Karim Arzu, Custodian of Historical Paharpur Bouddha Bihara in Naogaon informed, the ancient establishment of Bolihar Palace has been included under preservation as an antiquity and a signboard from the Department of Architecture has been put in front of the palace. The establishment will be repaired and renovated to its earlier shape. The Palace would also draw tourists after its renovation, he added.
