Belladonna Lily(বেলাডোনা লিলি) - Amaryllis belladonna

Common Name :	Belladonna Lily, Naked Lady.
Bengali Name :	বেলাডোনা লিলি
Botanical Name :	Amaryllis belladonna
Family :	Amaryllidaceae

This is a foreign flower that is being cultivated commercially as well as an ornamental at gardens. This is native to South Africa. Botanical name is Amaryllis belladonna from the plant family Amaryllidaceae. It is commonly known as Belladonna Lily, Naked lily, etc. I do not know any suitable Bangla(বাংলা) name for this flower.

Belladonna lily is an annual bulbous plant. Leafs are sword like 30+ cm in length. Plant use to dried up during winter. But the bulb under soil remains dormant until next summer or spring when they produces new leafs and flowers.

Belladonna lily flowers are quite large and trumpet/funnel shaped. It has six petals(though experts say three petals and three sepals). Color can vary(red, rosy, white or bi-color) as lot of hybrids and crosses are cultivated around the globes. A long leafless stalk use to come form the bulb under soil, and then a cluster of flowers(2-12) use to bloom atop of that stalk.

Belladonna lily use to propagate from the bulbs, seeds, etc. This plant is poisonous when ingested.

Photos of this article were taken from Mymensingh(ময়মনসিংহ) and Feni(ফেনী) during March 2013.

Garden Phlox(ফ্লকস ফুল) - Phlox paniculata

Common Name :	Garden Phlox, Perennial Phlox, etc.
Bengali Name :	ফ্লকস ফুল
Botanical Name :	Phlox paniculata
Family :	Polemoniaceae(Phlox family)

Its a bright colorful flower with a wide range of colors. It is mainly native to Texas, Mexico region. We do not have any Bengali name for this flower. We also call this Phlox(ফ্লকস) in our country. Botanical name is Phlox paniculata and belongs to the family Polemoniaceae.

Garden Phlox is a perennial erect shrub that can grow around 2-3 ft in height. Slender leafs are alternately arranged around the stem. Leafs are a good feeding source for the larvae and moth. This plant grows well in fertile, moist soil.

Garden Phlox is an ornamental flower and can be in many colors like red, pink, rosy, white, violet, peach etc. Flower has five overlapping petals. It has a contrasting color at the center of the flower. Flower blooms as cluster and has a long blooming season.

Photos of this article were taken from Comilla(কুমিল্লা) at March 2013.

Joypurhat: Lokma Jomidar Bari(লকমা জমিদার বাড়ী)

Friday, 17 May 2013

This is about a Jomidar Bari(জমিদার বাড়ি) that is located exactly at the India-Bangladesh border. Possibly this is the only Jomidar Bari(জমিদার বাড়ি) that is located at the country's border. It is known as Lokma Jomidar Bari(লকমা জমিদার বাড়ি). This is few mile after the Koriya bazaar(কড়িয়া বাজার), that's why it is also known as Koriya Choudhuri Jomidar Bari(কড়িয়া চৌধুরী জমিদার বাড়ী). This archaic edifice is from the Pachbibi Upozila(পাচবিবি উপজেলা) of Joypurhat district(জয়্পুরহাট জেলা).


The Jomidar(জমিদার) of Lokma(লকমা) were Muslim in religion. Their main ruling portion was inside the India. Only Joypurhat(জয়্পুরহাট) and Pachbibi(পাচবিবি) was from Bangladesh region. It is assumed that the Jomidar Bari(জমিদার বাড়ি) was built somewhere around 200-300 years back. It was a 3 stored building and few portion is gone under the earth. It had around 17 rooms and most of the rooms are very dark at inside(for lack of window at the rooms I think). A large pond and a temple that was associated with this palace is right now available at the other side of the border.


The condition of this old edifice was never been good after diminishing the Jomidari(জমিদারী) ruling from this region. Most of the main buildings are gone, or standing shakily. Local government has never paid any attention to restore the pride of this once upon lively edifice. It was turned into a jungle as no one was living there.


But recently few locals and also the descendants of the Jomidar(জমিদার) have taken an initiative to restore it. Though they are the descendants of the Jomidar(জমিদার), but right now they are very poor(also unemployed). They have cleaned the area and trying to make this an attraction for the travelers. It requires 10 taka to enter inside the premise. You may think this 10 taka is too much compare to the tourist value of the edifice. But for your information, this 10 taka will be using for the take care of this palace.

How to Go:

It is very easy to find the Lokma Jomidar Bari(লকমা জমিদার বাড়ী). First you have to come at the Pachbibi Upozila(পাচবিবি উপজেলা) of Joypurhat(জয়্পুরহাট) district. There everyone knows about this edifice. Local people mainly know this as Lokma Rajbari(লকমা রাজবাড়ী), though it is not a king, but a Jomidar(জমিদার).


Anyway, we have taken an Auto Rickshaw for up-down trip from the Pachbibi Bazar(পাচবিবি বাজার). It cost us 180 taka after a tight bargain. You can go there using a Van, but that will be time consuming. Van fare is 20 taka per person.


GPS Coordinate of the Lokma Jomidar Bari(লকমা জমিদার বাড়ী) is(25°12'23.31"N, 88°56'51.78"E).

Note:

** Do not cross the country border nearby. You'll be charged for trespassing if you do so.

Few portion of this building got buried under soil.

Roofs are gone, only the walls are available.

A statue of a tiger at the yard of the Lokma Jomidar Bari(লকমা জমিদার বাড়ি).

Top corner of this small building is missing.

View inside a small room.

I suspect its a window!

Funny monkeys made from cement.

A portion of inner yard of Lokma Jomidar Bari(লকমা জমিদার বাড়ি).

It is at second floor.