Ahsan Monzil - The Pink Palace

AHSAN MANZIL

Ahsan Manzil is known as majestic pink palace and one of the most finest and old structures in Dhaka and significant architectural monuments of Bangladesh. It occupies a prominent place in the history of Dhaka as well as East Bengal from the mid-nineteenth century to the first quarter of the twentieth century. Ahsan Manzil being the residence and official center of the East Bengal's most influential Zamindars (landowner) who were later conferred the title of Nawab by the British Government, was the nerve center in the political, communal, economical and civilizing life of East Bengal and the Nawab Family played a key role in the independence movement and politics of the Indian subcontinent

Once the home of the Nawab of Dhaka, to days renovated Ahsan Manzil a monument of enormous historical beauty with 23 galleries displaying portraits, furniture and other objects used by the Nawab located on the banks of the Buriganga River in Dhaka. It is best seen from the river Buriganga but can be approached from Islampur road.

This stately building offers the visitors a feeling of the life-style of the Nawabs of Dhaka. Basically, the edifice of the palace was begun in 1859 and completed in 1872. Abdul Ghani named it Ahsan Manzil after his son Nawab Khwaja Ahsanullah. The newly built palace first came to be known as the Rang Mahal. On April 7, 1888, a windstorm caused severe smash up to Ahsan Manzil, Andar Mahal, the older part of the palace, was completely devastated. During the reconstruction of the Andar Mahal a good part of the palace was overhauled and repaired, and the exquisite dome of the present Rang Mahal was added. Ahsan Manzil was again damaged by an earthquake in 12 June 1897 and again repaired by the Nawab Ahsanullah.

There is a wonderful auditorium inside the Ahsan Manzil . To construct the auditorium of Ahsan Manzil, the square room on the ground floor was given a encircling shape with brickwork in the corners. The room was then given an octagonal shape near the roof. This octagonal shape took the form of the drum of the auditorium.

Internally, the castle is divided into two equal parts on either side of the auditorium. There is a large drawing room in the east wing of the first floor. On its northern side there is a library and a card room, and in the eastern corner there are four square rooms.

On the western section of the first floor there is a large Jalsaghar(recreation house) with a decorated room on the northern part and four square rooms in the western corner of Ahsan Manzil . The glittering artificial ceilings, made of wood, in the drawing room and the Jalsaghar, look very gorgeous. The floors of these two rooms are made of wooden boards. On the ground floor there is a big dinning corridor and six square rooms in the eastern part. In the western side, there is a extremely large Darbar hall (court) and to its north is a billiard room.

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 it as a house of village council. Almost all the Viceroys, Governors and deputy Governors of British India who visited Dhaka spent some time at the Ahsan Manzil. Almost all political activities of Nawab Khwaja sallimullah centred round this palace.

Knowing the chronological and architectural significance of the Ahsan Manzil, the government of Bangladesh took the project to repair it. In 1985 Ahsan Manzil and its surroundings were attained. After the ending of the reconstruction work in 1992, it was taken under the control of Bangladesh National Museum. A museum has been launched there.

Ahsan Manjil museum Open for public visiting from 9 am- 5 pm from Saturday to Wednesday and 3-5 pm on Friday. Thursday is close.