Ahsan Manzil is located in the Sadarghat area, a riverfront like no others.  The hustle and bustle of Sadarghat can be overwhelming, with boats carrying produce, laborers unloading boxes, and a wild variety of vehicles transporting the goods to their next destination. The streets are packed, the smells pungent, the colors vivid, and the sounds disorienting. 

In the mayhem that is Sadarghat, the Ahsan Manzil compound is a fenced-off oasis of unexpected peace and quiet. Built between 1859 and 1872, Ahsan Manzil served as the residence of the Nawab of Dhaka.

These days, the palace is a reminder of Bangladesh’s colonial past. Its ostentatious Western architecture incorporates elements of Mughal design, a popular trend among the affluent and aristocratic elite of Dhaka in the 18th and 19th centuries. After being largely abandoned upon the Newab’s death, Ahsan Manzil was restored and turned into a museum in 1985.

The building is dominated by a large dome that caps an octagonal room, and a wide staircase leading to an arched portal. Along the façade of the building are porticoes that offer expansive views of the Buringa River. Apart from its architecture, Ahsan Manzil is famous for its bright pink color.