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AHSAN MONZL |
The Ahsan Manzil was built in 1872 by a Kashmiri merchant named Abdul
Ghani, who named it for his son Ahsanullah. In 1875, Abdul Ghani was
given the title Nawab of Dacca—hereditary after 1875—because of his
loyalty to the British in 1857. The golden area for the Nawab family
when Nawab Abdul Gani received the ‘Nawab’ title by the British Raj in
1875 and received the title of “King Commander of the order of the Star
of India” in 1886. In addition to the vast property he inherited, the
favour of the British Raj, had made the Nawab one of the most powerful
and influential of Dhaka’s elite. The mentioned palatial mansion, the
“Ahsan Manzil” commonly known as the Nawab Bari was a symbol of
aristocracy, opulence and influence.
In the midst of a
wave of lush green open space against the backdrop of the sky and the
sky and the rippling flow of the Buriganga in front stands proudly a
stately mansion of the colonial period—the Ahsan Manzil.
This
stately monument was heavily damaged in the 1888 tornado but was later
reconstructed. The National Museum still preserves a beautiful silver
filigree model of the heritage building.
Lord Curzon stayed in
this place for sometime as a guest of Nawab Salimullah Bahadoor. He
could witness at that time the emergence of Dhaka as the new capital of
Eastern Bengal after the first partition in 1905.
Ahsan Manzil was
the high point of the old city and it dominated the river front. During
the British Raj Dignitaries arriving by luxury boats crossed the
promenade and the front court, ascended a grand flight of stairs and
entered the palace on the second story. Lord Curzon, Governor General of
British India, Stayed here as the Guest of Nawab Sir Salimullah Bahadur
in 1904. Important decisions regarding the future of the Muslim
movements in India were taken here, which culminated in the formation of
the All-India Muslim League.
Because of Muslim emotional
attachment to the Palace, its prominence on the river front and its
exemplary style of Anglo-Indian Architecture, Ahasan Manzil deserved to
be conserved; a decision for its restoration and conversion into a
period museum was taken by the Government in April, 1985.
The Mughal Style:
- The grand stair.
- The triple arched portal which formed the entry.
- Projecting the entry from the main hall.
- Details of parapet.
- Decorative plaster work.
- The kiosks on pillars.
- Corners of parapet.
European Style:
- Pilasters at the lower level of the entry have Ionic influence.
- Capital an the upper level Corrinthian Decoration.
- Semi-circular Arch openings have prominent key stones.
- The shape of the Dome and its support on an octagonal Drum are all clearly European Influence.
DETAILS
Ahsan
Manzil situated at Kumartoli of Dhaka on the bank of the Buriganga, was
the residentail palace and the kachari of the nawabs of DHAKA. It was
said to be the Rang Mahal of Sheikh Enayetullah, a zamindar of Jamalpur
pargana (Barisal) during the time of the Mughals. Having purchased it
from his son Matiullah, the FRENCH made it their trading centre. Khwaja
ALIMULLAH bought it from the French in 1830 and converted it into his
residence, effecting necessary reconstruction and renovations. Nawab
Khwaja Abdul GHANI engaged Marin & Company, a European construction
and engineering firm, to make master plan for their residence.
The
construction of the palace was begun in 1859 and completed in 1872.
Ahsan Manzil is one of the significant architectural monuments of the
country. Established on a raised platform of 1 metre, the two-storied
palace measures 125.4m by 28.75m. The height of the ground floor is 5
metres and that of the first floor 5.8 metres. There are porticos of the
height of the ground floor, both of the northern and southern sides of
the palace. An open spacious stairway has come down from the southern
portico, extending upto the bank of the river through the front garden.
There was once a fountain in the garden in front of the stairs, though
it does not exist today. The spacious north and south verandas of both
the floors rest on semicircular arches. The verandas and rooms are
covered with marble.
To construct the dome of Ahsan Manzil, the
square room on the ground floor was given a round shape with brickwork
in the corners. The room was then. given an octagonal shape near the
roof by quenches. This octagonal shape took the form of the drum of the
dome. Finally, the dumud kali (buds of lotus) shaped dome was
constructed by gradually slanting the eight to the peak. The dome is
27.13 m high from the ground.
The stairway leads directly to the projecting grand triple-arched portal of the 1st
floor, the central part of which is crowned by a lofty dome. The front
fac ade has three projections, the central arched portal projection
housing the main entrance through the flight of stairs and two other
termination wings at both ends altogether presenting a well balanced
architectural composition. The palace is in two symmetrical halves
accommodation living quarters of various sizes rooms used for dining and
drawing rooms, library and also guestrooms.
On the ground floor there is a spacious darbar hall in the west wing and a grand dining hall in the east. On the east of the 1st
floor were the drawing room, library and three guestrooms while the
west housed the ballroom and the bedrooms. The arches are all
semicircular which conform to the 19th century style.
Internally,
the palace is divided into two symmetrical halves on either side of the
dome. There is a large draping 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 wing of
the first floor there is a spacious Jalsaghar with a Hindustani room on
the northern side and four square rooms in the western corner. The
vaulted artifical celings, made of wood, in the drawing room and the
Jalsaghar, lood very exquisite. The floors of these two rooms are made
of wooden planks. On the ground floor there is a big dinning hall and
six square rooms in the eastern part. In the western side, there is a
gigantic darbar hall and to its north is a billiard room. The floors of
the dining and darbar halls are decorated with white, green and yellow
coloured ceramic tiles. The famous strong room, where the valuables of
the nawabs used to be stored, was in the middle of the five rooms
located in the western half of the ground floor.
There are
attractive wooden stairs in the room that is attached to the north of
the domed room. The balusters were ornamented with vine leaves made of
iron along the railing of the stairs. The wooden ceiling of the room,
decorated with geometric designs, is very elegant. A visitor’s book
bound in gold used to be kept by the stairs during the halcyon days of
the nawabs. Distinguished visitors to the palace would note down their
observations.
The thickness of the palace is about 0.78 metres.
The doorways are placed within semicircular arches. The inner doors had
multi-collured glasses and the exterior ones were of wood with designs.
Wooden beams supported the roof of these rooms.
The height of the
two-storeyed inner house is less than the height of the Rang Mahal.
Nevertheless, the wide southern verandas on both floors and the parapet
on top offer a delicate look that is in harmony with the Rang Mahal.
Iron beams have been used in construction the roof.
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 uesed to conduct
their court affairs here as chief of the panchayet (village council)
everyday. Many anti-Congress meetings were held here under the
patronization of Nawab 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.
Recognising
the historical and architectural importance of the Ahsan Manzil, the
government of Bangladesh took the initiative it. In 1985 Ahsan Manzil
and its surroundings were acquired. After the completion of the
renovation work in 1992 under the supervision of the Directorate of
Public Works and Architecture, it was brought under the control of
BANGLADESH NATIONAL MUSEUM (20 September 1992). A museum has been
established there. [Mohammad Alamgir].
RENOVATION PROCESS
Ashan
Manzil Museum : On the bank of river Buriganga in Dhaka the Pink
majestic Ahsan Manzil has been renovated and turned into a museum
recently. It is an epitome of the nation’s rich cultural heritage. It is
the home of Nawab of Dhaka and a silent spectator to many events.
Today’s renovated Ahsan Manzil a monument of immense historical beauty.
It has 31 rooms with a huge dome atop which can be seen from miles
around. It now has 23 galleries in 31 rooms displaying of traits,
furniture and household articles and utensils used by the Nawab.
Arrayed
in large and small plantations placed all over in generous groups and
tall palm tress the mansion stands today testifying the splendor and
prosperity of the Nawab family that existed and influenced colonial
Dhaka. The palace and life in it had been ravaged by the passage of time
and history, but after its renovation, has seen a new dawn filled with
rays of memories when it had been turned into a museum for its
architectural heritage and historic value.
At that time the newly
built palace was known as Rang Mahal and the earlier one was called
Andar Mahal. On April 7,1888, a terrible tornado caused severe damage
to Ahsan Manzil, particularly the Andar mahal that was entirely damaged.
Nawab Ahsanullah rebuilt the Andar Mahal and also repaired the Rang
Mahal using good quality bricks from Raniganj for this purpose. The
exquisite dome of the present Rang Mahal was interposed. Ahsan Mazil was
badly damaged again by the earthquake of 12 June 1897. However, Nawab
Ahsanullah bad it repaired again.
Location:
Ahsan Manzil is Kumartoli, Shakara Waiz Ghat Bazar Old Dhaka. And ‘Sutrapur Thana under Dhaka City Corporation. Ahsan Manzil palace was the residence of the Nawabs but is now a museum. An influential family in the old Dhaka Nawabs lived for many years. They built a magnificent building, a living wage. Ahsan Manzil is one of them.
Ahsan Manzil is Kumartoli, Shakara Waiz Ghat Bazar Old Dhaka. And ‘Sutrapur Thana under Dhaka City Corporation. Ahsan Manzil palace was the residence of the Nawabs but is now a museum. An influential family in the old Dhaka Nawabs lived for many years. They built a magnificent building, a living wage. Ahsan Manzil is one of them.
Visiting Hours & Holidays:
April to September:
Saturday to Wednesday : ( 10.00 AM – 18.00 PM)
October to March:
Saturday to Wednesday : ( 9.00AM-17.00PM)
Friday: (3.00 PM-8.00PM)
Holidays: Thursday and government holidays.
Telephone: 7391122, 7393866
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April to September:
Saturday to Wednesday : ( 10.00 AM – 18.00 PM)
October to March:
Saturday to Wednesday : ( 9.00AM-17.00PM)
Friday: (3.00 PM-8.00PM)
Holidays: Thursday and government holidays.
Telephone: 7391122, 7393866
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