Ahsan Manzil, Palace and museum in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Ahsan Manzil is a pink-domed palace on the banks of the Buriganga River in Dhaka, now serving as a museum with Indo-Saracenic architecture. The two floors feature wide verandas with arches, and marble floors cover the main halls inside.
Nawab Abdul Gani named the palace after his son Khwaja Ahsanullah in 1872 and turned it into a gathering place for Bengali nobility. The building was later restored after years of decline and reopened as a museum in 1992.
Crystal chandeliers hang in the reception halls, and visitors can see European furniture brought by river during the Nawab era. The rooms display how the ruling family lived and entertained guests, with original curtains and carpets still visible in some chambers.
The museum is open from Saturday to Wednesday between 10:30 AM and 5:30 PM, staying closed on Thursdays and Fridays. The entrance is on the river side, and visitors must remove their shoes before entering some rooms.
The building was the first in Dhaka to have electric lighting, which drew many onlookers at the time. In 1906, a meeting held here resulted in the decision to form the Muslim League.
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