History & heritage

Ahsan Manzil, the Pink Palace

Overlooking the Buriganga in Old Dhaka, Ahsan Manzil recalls the household of the Dhaka Nawabs and a city whose fortunes were closely tied to its river.

Ahsan Manzil faces the Buriganga at Kumartuli in Old Dhaka. Developed in the nineteenth century as the residence of the Dhaka Nawab family, the palace is recognised by its pink exterior, central dome and broad riverside staircase. Its position is important: the river was a route for people, goods and influence, not simply a view from the house. The building suffered major damage in the cyclone of 1888 and was subsequently rebuilt. Later decline and restoration are also part of its story. Now a museum, it introduces visitors to the household through rooms, furnishings, photographs and displays rather than presenting the palace as an untouched survival. Grand reception spaces reveal how domestic life could overlap with public affairs and social ceremony. Outside, the busy riverfront keeps the setting from feeling detached from the city. Looking back at the facade from the grounds, it is easier to imagine the arrival of guests by water and to understand why a house in this location carried such visibility.