Ahsan Manzil
The pink riverside palace of the Nawabs of Dhaka, now a museum on the bank of the Buriganga.
Ahsan Manzil was the residence of the Nawab family of Dhaka and was completed in the 1870s by Nawab Abdul Ghani, who named it after his son Ahsanullah. Badly damaged by a tornado in 1888, it was rebuilt with the tall central dome that has become a symbol of Old Dhaka.
The palace was restored and opened as a museum in the 1990s. Its rooms recreate the ballroom, drawing room and dining hall of the Nawabs with period furniture, portraits and photographs, and tell the story of Dhaka's colonial era. The broad staircase facing the Buriganga is a favourite spot to watch the river traffic.
How to go
Ahsan Manzil is at Kumartoli near Sadarghat. Take a CNG or ride-share to Sadarghat or Islampur (30-60 min, 150-350 BDT); the metro to Motijheel followed by a rickshaw is another option.
Where to stay
Stay anywhere in central Dhaka; mid-range hotels in Motijheel and Paltan (2,500-6,000 BDT) are closest to Old Dhaka.
