Ahsan Manzil aka The Pink Palace

About Ahsan Manzil aka The Pink Palace

Ahsan Manzil, known as the Pink Palace, stands on the bank of the Buriganga River in Old Dhaka. It was the main residence of the Nawab family of Dhaka, completed in the 1870s by Nawab Abdul Ghani and named after his son, Khwaja Ahsanullah.

For decades it was the centre of political and social life in the city. The palace was damaged by a tornado in 1888 and by the 1897 earthquake, then repaired, and the large dome you see today was added during the rebuilding.

After years of decline, the building was restored and opened as a museum in 1992, run as part of the Bangladesh National Museum. Inside, rooms such as the grand hall, dining room and drawing rooms are laid out with furniture, portraits and household objects, and galleries tell the story of the Nawabs and their time.

The broad front staircase faces the river, so a visit pairs naturally with a boat trip from Sadar Ghat. On private Old Dhaka tours we usually come here after Lalbagh Fort and the Star Mosque.

Getting there

From central Dhaka: allow about an hour or more by car from Gulshan or Banani, depending on traffic. The last part through Islampur is often quicker by rickshaw.

It is a short walk from Sadarghat river port.

Where to stay

Most travellers stay in Gulshan, Banani or central Dhaka and visit Old Dhaka on a day trip.