Ahsan Manzil: the presidential palace of the Dhaka Nawab Family [A complete travel guide]

Ahsan Manzil (or Ahsan Manjil) was the presidential palace of the Dhaka Nawab Family. This magnificent building is situated at Dhaka on the banks of the Buriganga River in Bangladesh. The construction of this palace was started in the year 1859 and was completed in 1869. To preserve the cultural and history of the area, the palace became the Bangladesh National Museum on 20 September 1992. Now this museum is a popular tourist destination in Dhaka city.



Ahsan Manzil, Pink Palace, Dhaka Bangladesh

During the Mughal Period, Sheikh Enayetullah’s the illustrious landlord of Jalapur Garden House was situated here. In about the year 1740, his son Sheikh Motiullah, sold the Graden House to the French traders who used it as their business center. Khwaja Alimullah, the father of Nawab Adul Ghani, purchased that French trading center building in 1830 and renovated it into his residence. Nawab Abdul Ghani built an enormous palace on the eastern side of the kuthi and named it Ahsan Manzil after his son, Khwaja Ahsanullah. Ahsan Manzil is one of the most significant architectural monuments of Bangladesh. The building has a broad front-facing the Buriganga River. On the river side, an open spacious stairway leads right up to the second portal and on their stands the grand triple- arched portals. There was once a fountain in the garden in front of the stairs which does not exist today. All along the north and the south side of the building run spacious verandahs with an open terrace projected in the middle.

Ahsan Manzil_Dhaka Nabab Bari_Bangladesh

Ahsan Manzil, an architectural treasure, is a witness to many historical events of Bangladesh. From the last part of the 19th century to the initial years of Pakistan, the Muslim leadership of East Bengal emerged from this palace. The nawabs of Dhaka used to conduct their court affairs here as chief of the panchayet (village council) every day. Many anti-Congress meetings were held here under the patronization of Nawab Khwaja Ahsanullah, a staunch believer in Muslim identity. Almost all the Viceroys, Governors and Lieutenant Governors of British India who visited Dhaka spent some time at the Ahsan Manzil. Almost all political activities of Nawab Khwaja Salimullah centered round this palace. Ahsan Manzil was the cradle of the All India Muslim League.

Ahsan Manzil_Dhaka National Museum_Bangladesh

Today visitors to Bangladesh have the opportunity to see the beautifully restored and preserved Ahsan Manzil. The museum reflects its grandeur and along with that the place reflects the activities that took place in the past.

How to go there:

Are you a foreigner? Here is no difficulty to go there for you. At first you have to come Bangladesh. Apply visa from your country's Bangladesh embassy. Ask them about Ahsan Manjil. They will surely help you to increase knowledge about Ahsan Manjil. After receiving Visa just buy a ticket from a popular airlines. All popular and most common airlines have their regular flight to Dhaka, Bangladesh. After landing in Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka get in into a hotel. It maybe a five star hotel or above. Here are lot of standard hotel in Dhaka such as Redison, Hotel Sonargoan, Hotel Ruposhi Bangla, Hotel Westin, Hotel Sundarban etc. Are you already in? Then here is no problem.

After checking in into a local hotel take rest for sometime. Then hire a car and tell the driver of the car to go to Ahsan Manjil in old Dhaka, which is situated in the southern part of the Dhaka South City corporation ( In Dhaka you cannot hire a car without driver and public transport are not so good to make a tour for a foreigner).

Take a long breadth and prepare to sleep inside of your car, because here is huge traffic jam in open day. From Pan-Pacific Sonargon it will take more than 45 minutes to reach there. Make sure your passport and visa are with you.

You will see an old gate of Ahsan Manjil. Get out of car and buy a ticket to enter into the Museum! ohhh I forgot to tell you it's now a museum under the Ministry of Cultural Affairs of Bangladesh. The cost of a ticket is less than one dollar ( Bangladeshi 50 Taka).

You can hire a tour guide who will take into the Ahsan Manjil and describe the every fact of it. you can hire a guide from a local travel agency in Dhaka.

Best of Luck. Have a Wonderful tour.

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