Altadighi National Park is a national park located in Dhamirhat Upazila of Naogaon district. In this Upazila, a vast forest has developed around a lake named Altadighi. In the middle of this forest land of 264.12 hectares full of mangroves and different species of plants, there is a huge lake of about 43 acres. The Ministry of Environment and Forests declared it as ‘Altadighi National Park’ in 2011. It was established on 24 December 2011. Also, 17.34 hectares of forest land adjacent to the National Park was declared a Special Biodiversity Conservation Area by the Bangladesh Forest Department on 9 June 2016.
History:
There is a folk tale in the mouth of the local people that to solve the problem of drinking water for the common people, King Vishwanath dug the lake to satisfy his mother. Rajmata’s condition was that the lake should be dug as far as she could go on foot. The king consulted with the minister about fulfilling the condition of the queen and brought Alta. Then, one day all the ministers followed Rajmata and Rajmata started walking. But Rajmata’s walk does not end, she continues to walk. Then, seeing that the situation was dire, the Minister stopped her by sprinkling Alta on the feet of Rajmata at the end of the Dighi, saying, Mother, your leg is bleeding. You can’t walk anymore. Raja Vishwanath dug the Dighi from the starting point to the point where Rajmata Hata ended. Since then this Dighi came to be known as Alta Dighi.
Biodiversity:
The Altadighi National Park is home to small tigers, panthers, jackals, pythons, and monkeys. Also, there are various species of biodiversity including different species of birds, and insects. Especially interesting are the mounds of caterpillars that hug the palm trees.
