Water Museum (Pani Jadughar), Kalapara
পানি জাদুঘর, কলাপাড়া
A small museum about Bangladesh's rivers, with water bottled from dozens of them, old fishing gear and river songs.
At a glance
- Where
- Patuakhali district, Barishal division
- Entry / cost
- About 100 BDT for visitors, 20 BDT for Patuakhali residents, 10 BDT for students (2023 figures)
- Best time
- winter (Dec–Jan), spring (Feb–Mar), summer (Apr–May), monsoon (Jun–Jul), autumn (Aug–Sep) and late autumn (Oct–Nov)
- Time needed
- About 1 h
Representative photo from Patuakhali district, not of this exact place. Have a photo of your own? Let us know →
See the place on video
ActionAid set up this museum in Kalapara in 2014 to show how life in Bangladesh depends on rivers. Shelves hold water samples from many rivers, including the ones that cross the border, alongside maps, photographs of rivers that have died, and old fishing tools, brass and clay pots. Panels explain the shared-river problem with India and Myanmar and the 'Kuakata Declaration' on river rights. There is also a small library of books and documentaries. Few Kuakata visitors know it exists, even though it sits beside the main road.
How to get there
It is beside the Dhaka–Kuakata highway in Kalapara upazila; stop on the way into Kuakata or take an auto from there.
Good to know
Open 10 am–6 pm, closed on Sundays (check, as timings can change). A good stop on a rainy day.
Where to stay in Patuakhali
Common questions
Where is Water Museum (Pani Jadughar), Kalapara?
Water Museum (Pani Jadughar), Kalapara is in Patuakhali district, Barishal division, Bangladesh. Patuakhali is about 225 km from Dhaka by road.
How do you get to Water Museum (Pani Jadughar), Kalapara?
It is beside the Dhaka–Kuakata highway in Kalapara upazila; stop on the way into Kuakata or take an auto from there.
How much does it cost to visit Water Museum (Pani Jadughar), Kalapara?
About 100 BDT for visitors, 20 BDT for Patuakhali residents, 10 BDT for students (2023 figures).
When is the best time to visit Water Museum (Pani Jadughar), Kalapara?
The best time is winter (Dec–Jan), spring (Feb–Mar), summer (Apr–May), monsoon (Jun–Jul), autumn (Aug–Sep) and late autumn (Oct–Nov). Allow about 1 h for the visit.
More from Patuakhali
District guide →
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Representative photo Place Rakhine Buddhist temples of Kuakata and Misripara
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Nearby
Representative photo Place Gangamati reserved forest
Patuakhali · গঙ্গামতির সংরক্ষিত বনA coastal forest east of Kuakata, the classic spot to watch sunrise over the sea.
Representative photo Place Rakhine Buddhist temples of Kuakata and Misripara
Patuakhali · কুয়াকাটা ও মিশ্রিপাড়ার বৌদ্ধ মন্দিরColourful Rakhine temples housing large Buddha statues near the beach.
Tradition Rakhine handloom weaving
Patuakhali · রাখাইন তাঁতRakhine women weave bright shawls, lungis and bags on traditional looms in Kalapara villages.
Representative photo Place Taltoli Rakhine Buddhist temple
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