- Location: Northeastern India, Dhubri, Assam
- Best Time to Visit: October to May
- Local Transport: Buses, Private Cars, auto rickshaws
- Places to see: Alamganj, Mosque
- Souvenirs: Handicrafts of Assam
Panbari – The Tale of the City
Located near the city of Dhubri, the small town of Panbari is famous for having the oldest Assam mosque. Located near the National Highway, Panbari is a town with a lot of Mughal touch. Mostly made of terracotta and brick plinths, this town goes back as far as the 15th century. The Rangamati region was ruled by the Kochs and it was then a very progressive place. The Kochs used this place as their post. The Rangamati fort was used by the Mughal army.
Panbari – Down the Ages
Down the ages, Panbari, the Mughal beauty is a small quiet region and is famous for the mosque and also Alamganj. At Alamganj one finds the huge wall and a well which belong to the establishment of the Idgahs. Dating back to the 16th and the 17th centuries Panbari has a long tale to relate.
Panbari – A Rendezvous
A rendezvous with Panbari, the nature lover’s delight reveals a lot of history and tales of the past. It has tales of how the Bengal Governor Mir Jumla invaded this area in the 16th century. It has the dubious achievement of having the best kind of architecture. The entire area of Panbari is a beautiful haven for nature lovers and has the most exquisite kind of flora and fauna. With beautifully constructed monuments, and lovely archaeological edifices, Panbari is a tourist’s delight and a historian’s pleasure.
Panbari – Travel Kitty
What could be the travel kitty for a person visiting this place but a pleasurable experience? The travel kitty one could carry from here is the lovely feeling of having come to a place of the ancient past. The serene ambience and the beauty that beholds the eye is another thing that could be stuffed away in every brimming travel kitty of an adventure lover and travel addict.
Places to Visit in Panbari
The natural reserve is to realize that even in the remote corners of the Indian peninsula there are such places. Untouched, and pure, the town of Panbari is a paradise on earth. With its lovely monumental past and a history to be proud of, this is one of Assam’s secret surprises. A person coming here would see the following:
Towns
Dhuburi
Dhubri is today a major centre for commerce and trade activities in the port, became an illegal route for militant to come to the other part of the border. Today, Dhubri is more famous for its Gurudwara and it is the place where the Ninth Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur and the Founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak visited. Dhubri today is also famous as an earlier jute centre. As one enters the city of Dhubri, the legendary city, one is filled with a sense of intrigue and calm – Intrigue because of the legend surrounding this city and calm because of the peaceful surroundings. Assam is famous for its silk and its handicrafts. So the travel kitty here involves getting this stuff. This added to the ambience around gives the traveler the best travel kitty. The joie de vivre of visiting Dhuburi, the shrine city is the legend surrounding the city. This city is also the headquarters of the district of the same name. It lies in the western part of Assam. It is surrounded by water on three sides and land one side. It is a major halt on the riverside for travelers coming from the west and the east. The river Brahmaputra traverses the city and enhances the joie de vivre here.
Mosques
Panbari Mosque
Built in memory of the Mirjumla, the Governor of Bengal in the 16th century this mosque is a fascination for tourists who come to visit here. They like to see the three domes of the mosque. This mosque is located along the National Highway. It bears the dignity of being the oldest of all the Assam mosques. The mosque is also famous for having a town near it being discovered in the recent past. This town has a lot of antiques of terracotta and brick plinths. Many coins of the Mughal era have also been found here. This area is assumed to be the place where the governor of Bengal during the 15th century ruled. He was Hussain Shah who had his headquarters here at that period. This mosque with its unique architectural elegance is the best of the constructions during the Mughal period. Also known as the Rangamati Mosque, this was a place used by the soldiers of the Mughal Army as a place to offer prayers. An Idgah was built during that time which exists today. Also there is an ancient well also which fascinates the historian’s eye. During the festival of Id, the mosque looks like a beautiful queen all dressed up. This mosque has caught the eye of most of the foreign tourists who love to come here to see its glory. Unfortunately the mosque is depleting in the standards of beauty and people are trying to get its maintenance level back.
Hillocks
Panbari Pahar
This is a region with very rich flora and fauna. Known as the Panbari Pahar, the scenic grandeur here is very mesmerizing. The archaeologists have unearthed a lot of history here and it is thus attracting many tourists. A mosque which dates back to more than 2 centuries was found here and the locals started offering prayers here. This is today the oldest Assam mosque.
Forest Areas
Panbari Reserve Area
This is found in the Golaghat district. Lying near the national park at Kaziranga, the Panbari Reserve Forest Area has a good number of variety of birds, trees and plants. The bird watchers thus find this a beautiful place. The naturalists at the same time love to search for that particular natural beauty they long to capture in their minds. Some of the birds found here are the Great Indian Hornbill, Slaty bellied Tesia, Pied Falconet, Crested Goshawk etc. The Crow Billed Drongo is popular here.
Thus with all its history and beauty, Panbari makes a heart fill with content, satisfaction and happiness.
