Water Museum Patuakhali

South Asia's first water museum started its journey on 29 December 2014 in a two-storey building next to the Kuakata-Dhaka highway in Kalapara of Patuakhali district with the aim of increasing public awareness for the protection of rivers and water resources. In this museum, established by the NGO Action Aid, the life-livelihood and culture of the river-centered people of Bangladesh, the introduction of all the lost and current rivers of Bangladesh, pictures, the history of the river and the future of the river are presented.

Water samples of more than 90 rivers including Yamuna, Buriganga, Padma, Andharmanik, Meghna have been preserved in the water museum. And in front of the museum is a boat half-submerged in sand as a symbol of the river dying, indicating the important role a river plays on a country's environment as it dries up. Currently the museum is being managed by the Kalapara Coastal Welfare Society.

The water museum is open to visitors from 10 am to 6 pm 6 days a week except Sunday. School students have to pay Tk 10 per person, Patuakhali district residents Tk 20 per person and other tourists have to pay Tk 100 per person to visit the museum.

Contact Pakhimara Bazaar, Kalapara, Patuakhali Phone: +88028837796 Mobile: 01712-950319 Website: watermuseum.net Facebook: www.facebook.com/Water-Museum

From Sadarghat Launch Terminal in Dhaka by boat, you can reach Amtali Upazila of Patuakhali by boat and from there you can go to the water museum by bus or motorcycle. Besides, you can take a bus or microbus from Sadarghat in Dhaka via Barisal to reach the water museum.

Sakura Paribahan, Eagle Paribahan buses going to Kuakata from Dhaka's Gabtali and Sayedabad can directly cross Padma bridge and get down near the water museum located at Pakhimara in Kalapara.

Kalapara has several good quality residential hotels including Hotel Kuakata, Hotel Banani Palace, Hotel Nilanjana, Kuakata Guest House.

Feature Image: Pani Museum Facebook Page