Varendra Research Museum in Rajshihi

Varendra Museum is a museum, research center and popular visitor attraction located at the heart ofRajshahi town and maintained by Rajshahi University in Bangladesh. It is considered the oldest museum in Bangladesh. Varendra museum was the first museum to be established in East Bengal in 1910.

The museum started out as the collection for Varendra Anushandan Samiti or Varendra Investigation Society got its current name in 1919. The Rajahs of Rajshahi and Natore, notably prince Sharat Kumar Ray, donated their personal collections to Varendra Museum. Varendra refers to an ancient janapada roughly corresponding to modern northern Bangladesh.

At first you have to reach Rajshahi from Dhaka. Then you can bus or rickshaw to reach the research center. It is approximately 261 km away from Dhaka. Bus, Train and Air Plane are available as transportation service from and to Rajshahi districts. Transportation in Rajshahi is very good. There is bus service; taxi cabs, three-wheeler auto rickshaw and horse-driven tomtom are available to move within the city. Rajshahi is well connected to the rest of country through roads, air, rail and water.

There are two intercity bus terminals in the city. It takes about 5 to 6 hours by road to reach the capital. A number of bus services, including air-conditioned and non-air conditioned buses, are available to and from Dhaka. Bus services to other major cities and district's headquarter are also available from Rajshahi. Bangladesh Railway's western zone head office is located in this city.

Three Inter-City train services are operated by Bangladesh Railway, named "Silk City Express" "Padma Express" and "Dhumketu Express" between Dhaka and Rajshahi regularly. There are other inter-city, mail and local trains operated from here to connect Khulna city and other part of the country. Shah Makhdum Airport is the primary airport serving the city. It is named after the Islamic preacher Hazrat Shah Makhdum (Rh.) is situated a short distance away from Rajshahi city.

Things to do

*   Visit different galleries located in the museum.

*    Gallery 1-It contains Indus Valley collections and 265 sets from Sompur.

*    Gallery 2-Stone sculptures of Buddhist and Hindu.

*   Gallery 3 and 4- Sculptures processed by Hindu Gods and Goddesses

Eating facilities

There are a number of notable restaurants in the region. Chinese, Thai and First food restaurants can be found here that serves delicious food to all class of people. A traveler to suffice his/her hunger has to search for restaurants or fast food shops nearby. A tourist may also carry personal food.