Ruplal House, 19th century mansion in Farashganj, Bangladesh
Ruplal House is a two-story building from the 19th century on the bank of the Buriganga River in the Farashganj neighborhood of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Its facade features Renaissance-style detailing with semi-Corinthian columns, and the interior holds more than fifty rooms spread across the two floors.
The building was put up in 1825 by Armenian merchant Stephen Aratoon as a private home and passed to brothers Ruplal Das and Raghunath Das in 1840, who carried out major renovations. Their family name became attached to the house and it remained associated with their trading activities for decades after.
The mansion once served as a gathering place for officials and merchants of high standing, reflecting its role as a center of local influence in colonial times. Today the grand spaces tell the story of how wealthy traders lived and conducted their affairs in the city.
The building is under the care of the Department of Archaeology, so access may be limited or require prior coordination. Parts of the structure are still used by residents and vendors, which can affect how much of the place a visitor can see.
The ground plan of the complex is shaped like the letter E, with three wings extending to the north, which was an unusual layout for a private home of that period. This form is still clearly readable from the riverbank today.
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