Baliati Zamindar Bari travel guide

At a glance

Founded

Mid-18th century

Area

About 16.5 acres

Buildings

7 palaces, about 200 rooms

Opening hours

Closed Sunday, half day Monday

History and details

Gobindaram Saha, founder of the Baliati zamindar family, was a salt trader. From the mid-18th century his descendants built seven palaces one after another, four of which survive in the main complex.

The Corinthian columns and European-style facades of the front palaces are remarkable; behind them are the inner quarters, kitchens and a big pond. One palace is now a museum showing the zamindars' furniture and belongings. The family is also said to have helped found Jagannath College (now Jagannath University) in Dhaka.

The Department of Archaeology has looked after the house since 1987; it is one of the best-preserved zamindar houses in Bangladesh.

Things to do

• Photograph the columns and decoration of the front palaces
• See the zamindars' belongings in the museum
• Walk round the inner quarters and pond ghat at the back

How to get to Baliati Zamindar Bari

In Saturia upazila; by auto/CNG from Manikganj or Saturia.

Manikganj is about 64 km from Dhaka; the journey takes 2 hours.

• 🚌 By bus: Manikganj/Aricha-bound buses from Gabtoli, fare ৳80–150.

Where to stay

The district town has basic and mid-range hotels (roughly ৳800–2,500). Government circuit houses and dak bungalows can be used with permission.

What to eat

Manikganj date-palm jaggery, Jhitka's Hajari jaggery

Good to know

• Closed Sunday, half day Monday
• Don't miss the pond ghat and the inner quarters at the back

More to see nearby

• Teota Zamindar Bari (35 km)
• Aricha Ghat (35 km)
• Baliati village, Saturia

More places to visit in Manikganj district

• Teota Zamindar Bari — A zamindar house on the Jamuna; linked to the memory of Nazrul's wife Pramila Devi.
• Aricha Ghat — A famous ghat on the Jamuna; worth an afternoon for river views and fresh fish.

Location on the map