History & Background
Excavated in 1780 by Rani Durgavati, wife of the Zamindar of Chandradwip (Madhabpasha), during a severe drought, the dighi (large pond) was intended to provide a reliable water source for local residents and remains named in her honor. Covering about 27 hectares, it is one of the largest man-made ponds in Bangladesh, and its wide, calm water surface ringed by trees has since become a popular recreational spot for the people of Barishal, especially prized for the flocks of migratory birds that gather on it in winter.