Mughal Subahdar Shah Shuja built this complex around 1655 as a winter retreat and residence for his spiritual teacher, Shah Syed Niamatullah Wali. The palace sits on the western bank of a large tank called Dafe-ul-Balah, with lower chambers designed to stay cool during hot weather using water channels. Beside the palace stand a three-domed brick mosque and the domed mausoleum of the saint, which remains an active place of prayer. The lawns around the pond make a peaceful resting stop between visits to Gaur's Sultanate ruins.
- Best time
- November to February
- Give it
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free entry; local battery van about ৳20–30
How to get to Tahakhana Complex
About 500 metres north-west of Chhoto Sona Mosque in Shibganj. A battery van from the Sona Masjid road reaches the gate in 5 minutes.
Chapainawabganj town is about 310 km from Dhaka, around 7.5 hours by road. Every way to get there is in the Chapainawabganj guide.
More to see in Chapainawabganj
Photo: This work was made by Nahid Hossain and released under the license(s) stated, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Chhoto Sona Mosque ছোট সোনা মসজিদ
A 15-domed Sultanate mosque of brick and carved black stone, built under Sultan Alauddin Husain Shah between 1493 and 1519.
- Best time
- November to February
- Give it
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Entry free; CNG auto-rickshaw from Chapainawabganj town roughly ৳500–700 return
Photo: Sumon Reja, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Darasbari Mosque and Madrasa দারসবাড়ি মসজিদ
Roofless brick ruins of a 1479 Sultanate mosque with terracotta panels, sitting beside the excavated foundations of a large madrasa.
- Best time
- November to February
- Give it
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free; battery van from Chhoto Sona Mosque about ৳30–50
Photo: Rangan Datta Wiki, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Khania Dighi Mosque (Rajbibi Mosque) খনিয়াদিঘি মসজিদ
A 15th-century single-domed brick mosque tucked among quiet mango orchards on the bank of a dried lake.
- Best time
- November to February
- Give it
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free entry; battery van from Chhoto Sona Mosque about ৳40–60 return
Kansat Mango Market কানসাট আমের বাজার
One of the country's largest mango wholesale markets, packed with crates of Fazli, Langra and Khirsapat every morning from May to July.
- Best time
- May to July for the peak mango harvest
- Give it
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free to wander; bus from Chapainawabganj town about ৳50 each way