Ahsan Manzil

One of the names associated with the centuries-old history of Dhaka is Ahsan Manzil, which is one of the best ancient architectural structures in Bangladesh. It is located on the banks of Buriganga in Islampur, Puran Dhaka, and is currently being run as a museum. As it is a historical place of interest, people’s curiosity about this is endless. So many historical events have happened century after century in my country but only a few things are left behind to prove it truth. Ahsan Manzil is one of them, the name is associated with many memories of the Nawab family and the glorious history of Bengal.

History

On the current location of Ahsan Manzil, Zamindar Sheikh Enayet Ullah constructed the magnificent Rangmahal building in the middle of the 18th century. Rangmahal was later sold to French settlers by his son, Sheikh Matiullah. It was purchased in 1830 by Nawab Abdul Gani’s father, Khwaja Alimullah. Nawab Abdul Gani began building the palace there in 1869. Nawab Abdul Gani needed to pay attention to construction work for thirteen years to make the palace fully. After completing the work he instantly named the palace after his beloved son Khwaja Ahsanullah.

Significance of Ahsan Manzil

From the middle of the 19th century, this palace became a major political center of Bengal for about a hundred years. Many important personalities including Lord Curzon came to visit this palace as guests. In 1966, a meeting was held here to decide to establish the Muslim League. After the independence of Bangladesh, the descendants of the Nawab family planned to sell Ahsan Manzil at auction. Realizing the political and historical importance of the palace, Prime Minister Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman canceled the decision to sell the palace at auction and ordered the establishment of a museum and tourist center there. After many renovations, beautification, and refinement, the Ahsan Manzil Museum was opened for visit in 1992.

How does it look?

The stunning dome on the palace’s roof used to be the highest dome in Dhaka. This two-story structure has marble tables and balconies. The palace has a courtroom, billiard room, dining room, library, and water fountain. The palace’s second floor contains libraries, dance halls, meeting spaces, guest rooms, and a few other living areas. The palace has one-story car porches on both the north and south sides. The palace garden is accessible via an open staircase that descends from the south side’s two-story porch. There are verdant fields and a lovely flower garden directly in front of the palace. The palace is known as the Pink Palace of Dhaka because of its pink hue.

What is there to see

The biggest attraction of visiting Ahsan Manzil is its museum. A total of 4,077 artifacts are displayed in 23 rooms of Ahsan Manzil, and 9 rooms are decorated like those from the Nawab period. Each room transports you to Nawabi history. The history of Ahsan Manzil, the identity of the Nawabs, and the genealogy are showcased in the museum. Large mirrors, large iron chests, wooden cupboards, dining rooms, drawing rooms, glass and porcelain dishes, elephant head skeletons, shields, and swords—all contribute to making it one of the best places to visit in Dhaka. Various types of silver from the Nawab period, crystal chairs and tables, thrones, various types of vases, oil paintings, Hindustan rooms, bedrooms, and dance halls of royal guests. There are also portraits of famous people of the contemporary era and examples of various social service works of the Nawabs. Before you see the inside, your eyes will be surprised by the exterior of Ahsan Manzil. And the beautiful garden will make you want to take a picture.

How to go

You must board any bus in Dhaka that is headed for Sadarghat and disembark in front of Victoria Park, which is close to Jagannath University. From there, you can walk or hire a rickshaw for 50 Taka to reach Ahsan Manzil or you can come to Gulistan from any place in Dhaka and take a rickshaw or CNG to visit Ahsan Manzil via Sadarghat. Again, you can take the North-South Road in Gulistan and get off before the Babubazar Bridge at the Nayabazar intersection and get off at the rickshaw to Ahsan Manzil. Apart from that, you can come directly from any place in Dhaka to Ahsan Manzil. Come and see this beautiful palace in any way you can, that’s all I ask of you.

Ticket & visiting time

The entrance ticket to Ahsan Manzil is 40 taka, 20 takas for children under 12 years, and for foreign tourists, it will cost 300-500 taka. Tourists can get Ahsan Manzil tickets online at ahsanmanzilticket.

Saturday through Wednesday from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm and Friday from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm are the hours that Ahsan Manzil is open to visitors. The palace is closed on Thursdays and other public holidays.

Food

Guys, you are in the Puran Dhaka (Old Dhaka) circuit, and it’s literally a heaven of food. After exploring Ahsan Manzil Museum, make your way to Nazira Bazaar, Kazi Alauddin Rd, Old Dhaka, and satisfy your hunger. There are many types of food shops here, but my recommendations are Hanif biryani, Hazir biryani, Bukhari restaurant, Bismillah kabab ghar, and Beauty lacchi and faluda.

Attractions nearby
1. Sadar Ghat
2. Shakhari Bazar & Temple
3. Armenian Church