Unseen Bangladesh
Dhaka District · Dhaka Division · আহসান মঞ্জিল
Ahsan Manzil travel guide
The pink palace of the Nawabs of Dhaka on the Buriganga, now a museum. You can see furniture and pictures from the Nawabs' time.
At a glance
- Built
- 1859–1872
- Built by
- Nawab Abdul Gani
- Museum
- Since 1992 (a branch of the National Museum)
- Opening hours
- Closed Thursday
History and details
In the 18th century the site of Ahsan Manzil held the 'Rangmahal' of Sheikh Enayetullah, zamindar of Jamalpur pargana. The French later built a trading house here. In 1835 Nawab Khwaja Alimullah bought it, and his son Nawab Abdul Gani built a new palace in 1859–1872, naming it 'Ahsan Manzil' after his son Khwaja Ahsanullah.
The palace was badly damaged by the devastating 1888 tornado; during rebuilding the famous dome was added on top, making it one of the tallest buildings in Dhaka at the time. Dhaka's first electric light is said to have been lit here.
The Nawab family of Dhaka was important in East Bengal's politics in British times; in 1906, on the initiative of Nawab Sir Salimullah, the decision to form the All-India Muslim League was taken here. The government acquired the palace in 1985 and, after restoration, opened it as a museum in 1992; its 23 galleries hold the Nawabs' furniture, pictures and personal belongings.
Things to do
- See the Nawabs' way of life in the Rangmahal galleries
- Photograph the palace front from the Buriganga side
- Take a boat on the Buriganga at Sadarghat
How to get to Ahsan Manzil
At Islampur near Sadarghat; by rickshaw from Gulistan. Closed on Thursdays.
Where to stay
- Pan Pacific Sonargaon and InterContinental Dhaka (luxury)
- Plenty of mid-range hotels in Gulshan-Banani, Paltan and Farmgate (৳2,000–6,000)
What to eat
Old Dhaka kacchi biryani, Haji's biryani, bakarkhani, borhani, Nanna Mia's morog polao
Good to know
- Closed Thursday; opens Friday afternoon
- The palace's pink front looks best photographed from the Buriganga bank
- Traffic is heavy around Sadarghat — allow extra time
More to see nearby
- Star Mosque (1 km)
- Armenian Church (1 km)
- Sadarghat (0.5 km)
- Lalbagh Fort (3 km)
- Ruplal House (1 km)
More places to visit in Dhaka district
- Lalbagh Fort — An unfinished fort begun in 1678 under the Mughal subahdar Prince Azam Shah. Inside are Pari Bibi's tomb, an audience hall and a mosque.
- National Parliament House — World-famous modern architecture designed by Louis Kahn. The lake around it and Chandrima Udyan are lovely for an afternoon stroll.
- Hatirjheel — A lake, bridges and walkways in the middle of the city. Evening lights and water taxis are popular.
- National Museum — The country's largest museum; huge collections of archaeology, history, the Liberation War and folk art.
- Star Mosque — A beautiful 18th-century mosque decorated with star patterns in broken china.
- Dhakeshwari Temple — Dhaka's oldest temple and the national temple, thought to be linked to the city's name.
- Armenian Church — The Armenians' church, built in 1781, witness to Old Dhaka's multi-ethnic history.
- Liberation War Museum — A modern museum of documents, photos and relics of the 1971 Liberation War.