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Panam Nagar, Bangladesh. Photo by Md Nasim Mia Joy.

Top 10 Remarkable Facts about Panam Nagar, Bangladesh

Panam City, known as Panam Nagar by Bengali locals, is an ancient town in Sonargoan province that has bravely stood the test of time. Dating back to as early as the 14^th century, it is one of the earliest cities still standing in Bangladesh.

 It is also unique, built on a wide street, with a series of two and three-storied buildings on either side.

The city is located approximately 28 kilometers from the capital of Dhaka; a 2-hour drive. There are buses from Gulistan in Dhaka, and these will drop you off at Mograpara point near Sonargoan Mosque. From there, a 10-minute rickshaw ride is available to Panam Nagar.

Panam has been branded many names, including ‘Ghost town’, the’ lost city’, and ‘city of the dead.’ These paint a picture of an abandoned town with rustic old buildings, some threatening to collapse, nature overgrowing on the town’s façade, and an overall eerie feeling hovering about. An accurate description of Panam.

Yet, it is one of the top most visited historical sites in Bangladesh. The blend of Sultanate, Mughal and colonial British architecture, incredible décor designs, tranquil atmosphere, and the interesting history making up the city is enough reason to check in for half a day.

Have a look at some of the other top remarkable things about Panam Nagar.

1. Panam Nagar was built in one of Bengal’s oldest capitals

Palace ruins at Sonargaon. Photo by Hiwamy.

Sonargaon is one of the oldest capitals of the Bengal region. It rose to prominence when the Delhi Sultanate conquered central Bengal in the early 14^th century. Sonargaon became the capital of the Bengal Sultanate.

 It was also a mint capital and a port city, hence one of the most significant townships at the time. It later became the seat of the Baro-Bhuyan confederacy before the Mughal invasion in the 17^th century.

Museums such as the Sonargaon Folk Arts and Crafts museum, mosques, palace ruins and other historic features including the old houses at Panam Nagar attract many visitors to the area.

2. It was the ancient capital of Isa Khan

Isa Khan was a 16^th-century Muslim Baro Bhuyan leader in Bengali. The Baro Bhuiyans were soldier landowners in Assam and Bengal in the late Middle Ages.

 He had obtained an estate in Sonargaon in 1564 with the help of Taj Khan, a Karrani ruler. He established his capital at Sonargaon, where Panam Nagar is located.

The city is therefore said to have been a residence for Muslim governors of the Sultanate of Bengal around that time.

The Mughals would later invade and conquer the area in the 17^th century. It later evolved to become a resident for merchants in the 19^th century.

3. It was once an important trading center

Sonargaon province was once a large production area of muslin and a textile center. Some of the finest quality cloth, the Khasa, was produced here. Panam Nagar was set up as an urban center, and the traders and cotton producers stayed here.

 In the early 19^th century, the British East India Company established a factory in the city dealing with muslin and cotton fabrics. The city’s makeup suggests an affluent neighborhood in its heydays.

4. Panam Nagar was a settlement of the wealthy

Panam City. Photo by Ahidul Hasan.

As earlier stated, the area was a thriving trading and political center. An estimated 1400 families of Hindu and Muslim weavers settled in and around the Panam Nagar area.

 In the early 19^th century, wealthy Hindu merchants from Calcutta built a small township in Panam, and some of their buildings are still standing.

The city continued to flourish until the end of World War II and its later abandonment. The rich architectural designs, mosaic décor, vast courtyards, and decorated hall apartments show that the city was where the well-off lived.

5. It is built on a single street

Buildings on both side of the street at Panam Nagar. Photo by Kuruman.

One of the striking features of Panam Nagar is its urban street setup. It is built on a single street 5 meters wide, and approximately 600 meters in length. The buildings were built facing each other on both sides of the street, like a lined-up street movie set.

 They are single, two, or three storied and it almost appears as if the symmetrical design of the layout was intentionally planned. Each building has a unique façade, and varying decorative elements, each showing the wealth of the owner.

6. The old city has 52 surviving buildings

Interestingly, until 2009, some of the surviving buildings were in illegal occupation. In 2009, the Government of Bangladesh freed the 52 surviving buildings from unauthorized occupation and declared the city a protected heritage site.

Panam Nagar is now under the management of the Department of Archaeology. It has been fenced off, and there are gates manned by officers. It is however open for visits by both locals and foreign tourists at an entrance fee.

7. Its buildings display beautiful Mughal and European architecture

Old house in Panam City. Photo by Md Nasim Mia Joy.

The majority of the houses are made of brick, but the applied architecture is nothing short of spectacular. Some of the buildings have halls, with checkered floor interiors, and mosaic plaques on doors. Courtyards were enclosed, with Mughal-style arched openings and ornamentation in their base.

The balconies overlooking the street are decorated with varying elements of design, mosaic deco with broken china, and an overall romanticized touch of style.

Although years of waste have ruined most of the glaring aspects of these buildings, what remains is a distant look into the rich sense of style applied when they were put up.

8. Panam Nagar was listed as one of the 100 most endangered world historical sites in 2006

Panam Nagar ruins. Photo by Mesbah Tanvir.

In 2006, the World Monument Fund declared Panam Nagar as one of the most endangered ruinous historical establishments in the world.WMF is an international non-profit organization that works to preserve historic architecture and cultural heritage sites around the world.

The 2006 WMF Watch List included 100 endangered ruins from various countries in the world. Some of the threats facing Panam Nagar included vandalism, flooding, unauthorized occupation, and illegal development.

In 2009, the government of Bangladesh freed 52 buildings from unauthorized occupation and declared the city a protected heritage site. However, there haven’t been any significant restoration projects in the area.

9. It was abandoned during the 1947 Bengali Divide

What happened to the once glorious and lively city of Panam? The starting point of its abandonment is perhaps the 1947 Partition of India. British India was split up into two independent dominions; India and Pakistan. The latter was made up of Pakistan and present-day Bangladesh.

 In what was mainly a division along religious lines, millions were displaced, and a series of violent communal attacks were witnessed such as those between the Hindus and Muslims. The divide has been termed one of the largest refugee crises in the world’s history.

The majority of the residents in Panam Nagar around this time were Hindu. Some of them left for India as a result of the racial riots that ensued. Others migrated to India during the Indo-Pak war of 1965. There are reports of fire too that razed down part of the town. Presently, there are no inhabitants in the city.

10. It is open for visits 6 days a week

Panam Nagar. Photo by Salim Khandoker.

Now a protected heritage site, Panam Nagar is a top-visited historical site in Bangladesh. It is open for visits all week except on Sundays and holidays. Average tickets go for 15 BangladeshTaka for locals and 100 Taka for foreign tourists.

There are several organized tours to the city and its environs from Dhaka at a fee. Packages include a ride to several historic sites, lunch at a local Bengali cuisine restaurant, and a tour guide.

Sites visited include Panam Nagar, the Sonargaon Folk Arts and Crafts Museum, and the 15^th-century Goaldi Mosque nearby.

Most of the buildings at Panam are at risk of collapse so entry into some of these is restricted. Carry a camera to capture the ghost town delights. Tourists can also choose to hop on a bus from Gulistan, Dhaka, or a taxi.