Russell's Cyber Journal » heritage

Ahsan Manzil Visit

Russell — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 11:56:00 +0000

I’ve been hearing about Ahsan Manzil since childhood, but never got the chance to visit it since it’s located in a different part of Dhaka. I went to that area for the first two months ago, and decided to go there again to visit the Ahsan Manzil. So my friend Shan and I kept making plans and finally went there today… and it was worth it. It’s a beautiful architectural monument that reminded me of our gloried past.

Located on the banks of Buriganaga river and very near to Sadarghat Launch Terminal, it was the residential palace of the Nawabs of Dhaka. Now turned into a museum, it has 31 rooms and 23 galleries displaying portraits, furnitures and household articles and utensils used by the Nawabs.

Closed on Thursday, the museum is open from 10:30 to 17:30 on weekdays, and 15:00 to 19:30 on Friday during summer time (April – September). During winter (October – March), it’s open from 9:30 to 16:30 on weekdays and 15:00 to 19:30 on Friday. Go ahead and spend an hour or two at Ahsan Manzil and enjoy it’s beauty only in return of a 2 taka entry fee.

Check out more pictures of Ahsan Manzil.

Shuvo Noboborsho!

Russell — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 02:07:00 +0000

Pohela Boishakh, Happy Friday, and full moon — 3 reasons why today was really special. I did had plans for today, but it didn’t work out at last as I couldn’t manage a date. Mitu seemed too busy and Tahsin had her studies to finish. moreover, I had work too! I worked till 3 in the morning and than again from 11 to 4 in the evening and did it all while lying down on bed with my laptop on my lap! My whole body was aching and I finally gave up. I took a little nap, followed by a refreshing shower and went to Dhanmondi lake to meet Farhan and Jenny. The crowd all around Dhanmondi was just too outrageous — record number of people (mostly couples) were on the streets celebrating Poleha Boishakh. It seemed to me that everyone came to Dhanmondi instead of going to Dhaka University area!

I was little bit upset to see everyone enjoying with their special person and me walking all alone. Well, I can’t blame anyone, it’s my goddamn fault, it’s my goddamn lifestyle. I’m better off alone, I’m better off without being into a serious relationship. Flirting is my limit for now

Anyways, wish you Shuvo Noboborsho, and a warm welcome to Bengali year 1413!

Sonargoan Visit

Russell — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 22:48:00 +0000

Whenever someone mentions Sonargoan, it’s very likely that he’s referring to Pan Pacific Sonargoan, the luxury 5-star hotel in Dhaka. What most people don’t know is about 25 km away from Dhaka lies the former capital of Bengal, the great historical city of Sonargoan. It’s not their fault either — other than Shipakarja Jainul Adedin, no one, no goverment ever took any initiative to protect and promote the great heritage of this this city. Pathetic, but true.

On the entrance to Sonargoan Rajbari is the famous sculpture of bull wagon by Jainul Abedin, which symolises toil and struggle. Jainul Abedin has always been one my favourite artist and I took a chance to get a pic of mine infront of the sculpture:

Just a few steps ahead to the left is the 2-storied palace, or the Rajbari, which is now being used as a museum:

The palace has over 100 small rooms, and it’s completely like a maze inside. All the rooms are of same size and design, and now they are home to different cultural and architectural masterpieces collected from different parts of Bangladesh. I was told by my guide that this palace was used by few rulers, including the Hindu Jamidars who ruled during the British regime. It’s open for visitors from 10:00 to 17:00 everyday, except for Thursday.

Brief history of Sonargoan, as told by Dr. Abu Sayeed:

Sonargaon, which literally means “golden village” in Bengali, was the capital of the Banga province or Eastern Bengal, which was one of the three political units of this territory during the Delhi Imperial rule. In 1338 Fakhr-al-Din-Mubarak seized the provincial government of Sonargaon and declared himself independent from Delhi and was the first independent Sultan of Bengal.

In 1352, he was overthrown by the Sultan of Gaur Ilyas Shah, and from this time Sonargaon formed a part of the independent kingdom of united Bengal until the advent of the Moguls (1575).

In the reign of Akbar, it was the chief city of Isa Khan, who maintained his independence for several years. After Isa Khan’s death it became a part of the Great Mogul Empire. The decline of Sonargaon started with the establishment of the Mogul capital in Dhaka in 1608, and with the conquest of the kingdom of Isa Khan by the forces of Islam Khan in 1611 it became one of the Sarkers of the Bengal Subah, losing its former prestige forever.

The history of Sonargaon for the next two hundred years until the establishment of the commercial belt of the East India Company in Panam is still unknown to us. The colonial city of Panam came into being in the nineteenth century and continued to flourish till the end of the Second World War.