Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
View all trips
Loading...
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è Pasta... E Pasta!
Spaghetto taratatĂ  is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
The gnocchi here get blanketed in a sugo with braised oxtail.
Cesare al Pellegrino
Romans insist you should feel the cracked peppercorns and cheese grains on your tongue.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
The 2,653-mile-long Pacific Crest Trail spans the entire West Coast from Canada to Mexico.
Meet the Volunteers Who Keep Thru-Hikers Moving
The Haskell Free Library and Opera House building on the U.S.-Canadian border.
Could New Border Restrictions Literally Tear the Haskell Free Library Apart?
A woman peering into the cave of Sarah Bishop c. 1900.
The Curious History of New England’s Hermit Tourism
The Big Well
This Kansas Town Advertised the World’s Largest Well. It Wasn’t.

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Bangladesh Dhaka Lalbagh Fort

Lalbagh Fort

The untimely death of a dignitary's daughter led to this fort being abandoned before it was ever finished.

Dhaka, Bangladesh

Added By
Max Cortesi
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Lalbagh Fort.   Shahnoor Habib Munmun/public domain
Tower of Lalbagh Fort.   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Quilla Mosque.   Limon Shekh06/cc by-sa 4.0
Detail of the garden.   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Steps to the bathing tank.   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Octagonal ceiling of the mausoleum.   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Pari Bibi’s tomb.   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

During the height of the Mughal Empire, in 1677, Prince Muhammad Azam commissioned the construction of Lalbagh Fort, but the project was never completed. Soon after construction began, Prince Muhammad Azam left Dhaka to join his father, Emperor Aurangzeb, in Delhi.

He passed the job to complete the fort down to Shaista Khan, who continued to build it until his beloved daughter Pari Bibi died there in 1684. Shaista Khan, believing the fort was cursed, halted construction immediately, and it remains in its unfinished state today. The discontinuation of the project met with no objection from Prince Muhammad Azam who was, at the time, engaged to Pari Bibi.   

Three main sections of the fort are complete, namely the Mausoleum of Pari Bibi, Diwan-i-Aam (the Hall of Audience), and Quilla Mosque. The Mausoleum of Pari Bibi consists of a white marble room with the tomb in the center. Access to the room is restricted.

The Hall of Audience, which used to be the residence of the Mughal governor, is a two-story building that now houses a museum showcasing Mughal items such as coins, paintings, carpets, and weapons. Quilla Mosque is a relatively small mosque with three elegant domes. These three structures are surrounded by manicured gardens, which also contain a bathing tank overgrown with vegetation.    

An intricate web of underground tunnels was also finished below Lalbagh Fort. In an episode of the Sepoy Revolution, in 1857, it is said that soldiers on both sides ventured into the tunnels and never resurfaced, adding to the mystery and intrigue that envelops the fort. To this day, rumors circulate that Lalbagh Fort is haunted.

Related Tags

Forts Architecture Cursed Places Abandoned Haunted

Know Before You Go

Roads around Old Dhaka can be confusing. Narrow alleys and newly built multi-lane roads are equally congested, making navigation challenging. As there is no shortage of rickshaws in the area, this is the best way to reach Lalbagh Fort.

Community Contributors

Added By

Max Cortesi

Published

May 30, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Lalbagh Fort
Lane No. 2
Dhaka, 1205
Bangladesh
23.718861, 90.38816
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Star Mosque

Dhaka, Bangladesh

miles away

Armenian Church of Dhaka

Dhaka, Bangladesh

miles away

Curzon Hall

Dhaka, Bangladesh

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Dhaka

Dhaka

Bangladesh

Places 7

Nearby Places

Star Mosque

Dhaka, Bangladesh

miles away

Armenian Church of Dhaka

Dhaka, Bangladesh

miles away

Curzon Hall

Dhaka, Bangladesh

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Dhaka

Dhaka

Bangladesh

Places 7

Related Places

  • From above.

    Portland, Maine

    Fort Gorges

    Accessible only by boat, this centuries-old island fort never saw troops or combat.

  • Camber Castle.

    Rye, England

    Camber Castle

    Henry VIII's forgotten castle was built by the gunpowder-obsessed king to be defended solely by cannons.

  • The Octagon House

    Marion, Virginia

    The Octagon House

    An eight-sided home built during a brief octagon craze in the 1850s.

  • Bhangarh Fort

    Bhangarh, India

    Bhangarh Fort

    This abandoned fort is said to be the most haunted place in India, so much so that entry is prohibited after sunset.

  • Al Jazeera Al Hamra, United Arab Emirates

    Al Jazirah Al Hamra Heritage Village

    This abandoned fishing village may or may not be haunted.

  • A celebrated architectural feat, the Blennerhassett hotel was adorned with elaborate window treatments, frescoes, and even a passenger elevator.

    Parkersburg, West Virginia

    The (Haunted) Blennerhassett Hotel

    The oldest hotel in West Virginia is reportedly frequented by ghosts.

    Sponsored by West Virginia Department of Tourism
  • PetrĂ³polis, Brazil

    Belvedere do Grinfo

    This spaceship-like structure was once a popular roadside restaurant.

  • Tower seen from the Central Square

    Kaliningrad, Russia

    House of Soviets

    Dominating the skyline of Kaliningrad, the iconic House of Soviets has always been abandoned.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.