Venture
Heritage
Park at Ashulia
Imran
H. Khan
Photos:
Nabeel Atique
Ever
have someone tell you to 'look at the bigger picture'? Well
if you ever resented that remark, Heritage Park is just the
place for you. Here, you will find some of Bangladesh's richest
heritage but with a 'little' twist. The buildings have been
resurrected into miniature selves. This idea of preserving
our heritage comes from Concord Group.
With
Bangladesh becoming a haven for workaholics, people need a
calm and tranquil atmosphere in which to relax and unwind
from the hectic job called 'life'. That is where Heritage
Park comes into play. Here, one can have the pleasure of visiting
different scenic sights of Bangladesh without actually having
to go there.
Located
in Ashulia, sprawls lazily over a lavish 20 bigha land, right
next to Fantasy Kingdom, some 30 minutes from the heart of
the capital.
The park
is currently home to ten imitations: Ahsan Manzil, Sat Gambuj
Masjid, Paharpur Bouddha Bihar, Puthia Rajbari, Chunakhola
Masjid, Jatiya Smriti Soudha, Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, Greek
Smriti Soudha, Sita Kotbihar and Kantajir Temple. Other Structures
in the pipeline are the Sundarbans, Saint Nicholas Church,
Buddhist Pagoda and Central Shaheed Minar.
The structures
were chosen on the basis of their importance. While some of
the chosen structures fall under the big banner of World Heritage,
others creep into their spotlight as being the oldest of their
kind or as having some significant background.
The most
detailed of all the structures is Kantajir Temple, which looms
over the other miniatures. If one's curiosity compels one
to edge closer and sneak a touch to test the sturdiness of
the structure, one will be amazed at the depth and intricacy
of the work.
There
are many people who may not have the means or time to visit
the Chunakhola Masjid in Bagerhat or the Paharpur Buddha Bihar
in Naugaon. When they come to Heritage Park they will be able
to get a feel of the grandeur of the structure and of our
rich past. It may even inspire one to travel to the real structures
to experience the structures and their surroundings first
hand. Every nook and cranny has found its precise location
in reproduction. They are exactly where they would be in their
real life form. As one winds through the buildings one can
relate to how Gulliver must have felt in the land of the Lilliputs.
Besides
these miniature structures, there is an area with a range
of rides to entertain both the young and old. There are rides
such as Roller Coaster, Peddle Cycle Boats, Family Train,
Tea Cup Swing, Slides, Battery Cars and many more. Apart from
these thrills, there are also (still in development) various
eateries, places to take memorable pictures and much more.
"Who
am I? ...What is our identity?" These are the words S.
M. Kamaluddin, Chairman of Concord Group, starts off with
in a press briefing. In moments, he has the audience lulled
into silence, giving a speech on how the media projects our
country as one of famine and poverty. But there is so much
richness in our history and past, so much to cherish but it's
seldom that these are brought into light. It is Concord's
dream to revive our rich past and show it to the next generation.
"I believe we have shown ourselves in a new light."
At Heritage
Park, each and every model had to be built brick by brick
resembling the real structures that have passed the test of
time. Every brick and every touch of paint needed just the
same attention. "We have been building structures for
a long time but this was by far the most challenging of all
our tasks", says Kamaluddin.
The
cost so far has reached a whopping Tk. 28 crore and more is
needed as the park is still undergoing construction for its
grand opening on January 13. The management has yet to pinpoint
an exact amount because of the ongoing work. Increasing the
'edutainment' in and around the capital is a necessity and
because this will educate the nation, Concord is not too worried
about the costs it may have to bear.
Usually
when one comes all the way to Ashulia with the family, a day
out in the sun away from the chaos and fumes of the city,
it is nice to know that your children are learning about the
rich past that has made Bangladesh a haven for so many poets,
artists and writers, a past that is slowly fading because
for most of our countrymen it exists only in school textbooks.
Copyright
(R) thedailystar.net 2004
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