Panigram will be a small, sustainable boutique resort in southern Bangladesh. Located in a village just 70 km from the famous Sundarban mangrove forest, the resort will be a modern interpretation of vernacular Bangladeshi architecture.
Built at the intersection of two rivers, Panigram (literally, “water village”) aims to give its guests a taste of Bangladeshi village life. Guests will be able to boat on the meandering river, relax in the hammock house, swim in the cool, refreshing pool, or take classes with the local potter. Children will be able to play badminton or cricket on the lawn, swing on the jungle gym, or romp around in the tree house. In addition, English-speaking guides will provide tours of the area on our specially designed, family-sized rickshaws.
Every evening the guests will gather in the restaurant to partake of fresh, healthy food that is a fusion of Western and Bangladeshi styles. Fruits and vegetables grown organically at the resort will be paired with produce from the local bazaar. Seasonal menus prepared by an international-caliber chef will rotate daily so that guests will have the opportunity to sample a variety of dishes during their stay. The long, communal tables will encourage the guests to interact and share stories of their day's adventures. In the evening, guests can grab an imported beer in the candlelit bar, sip five-color tea in the bamboo tea house, or play a board game with their kids under the stars. Designed to harmonize with the community and powered by alternative energy,
Panigram will be committed to social and environmental sustainability. The beautifully designed mud and bamboo construction will be made from local materials by local labor that will be specially trained on the modern construction techniques. The thick mud walls will allow the resort to be passively heated and cooled, reducing the energy footprint.
In addition, Panigram will support women's cottage industries by purchasing all of the linens from an NGO in the area that produces nakshi kantha , traditional Bangladeshi embroidery. We will partner with local artisans to produce all of the pottery, flatware, and glassware for the resort to support the community and give the restaurant a local flavor. Panigram will also sponsor an environmental education program in a nearby school to raise awareness of environmental issues and to promote recycling, composting, and alternative energy in the region.
The resort will have ten separate bungalows ranging from 700 to 1,500 SF (10,500 Tk – 40,000 Tk/ night), guest house with ten rooms (4,500 – 10,000 Tk/ night), restaurant, bar (which serves alcohol), spa, wellness center, swimming pool, playground, tea house, hammock house, organic gardens, servants' quarters, and a small conference center.
The resort is just an inexpensive thirty minute flight from Dhaka and then another 30-40 minute drive from the airport, making it one of the most accessible resorts outside of Dhaka City. We will have complementary pick-up service for all of our guests from either the airport in Jessore or the bus station.
Panigram Resort is currently under construction. Our estimated opening date is September 2010, though we may start running small tour groups to the site during the construction process for guests who want to try their hand at mud construction. Please see our website: Panigram Resort for more information.
