Lalbagh Fort - the most popular and renowned place in Bangladesh

full view of Lalbagh fort

Lalbagh Fort is the most well-liked and celebrated fort. Also a great sign of art by the Mughal Empire in Bangladesh. it's also known as Fort Aurangabad. it's set in Lalbagh of the old national capital, therefore named so. it's located by the bank of the river Buriganga in a very rich red soil.

overview of this topic
1. Introduction
2. History of Lalbagh fort
3. Different elements of Lalbagh fort
4. Mosque
5. pori Bibi tomb
6. Residence of the Governor
7. The South Gate
8. Secret Tunnels in Lalbagh Fort
9. Entry fees of Lalbagh Fort
10. Things to do.
11. How to go
12. where to stay
13. Other places nearby

History of Lalbagh Fort

Lalbagh Fort is an incomplete structure by a Mughal aristocrat. later emperor himself named Muhammad Azam (third son of Aurangzeb). He started the work of the fort in 1678 during his vice-royalty in Bangladesh. He stayed in Bengal for fifteen months. It remained incomplete once he was called by his father Aurangazeb to the capital city.

Shaista Khan was the new Subedar (Governor) of Dhaka in this time, and he didn't complete the fort. In 1684, the daughter of Shaista Khan named is Iran Dukht (Pari Bibi) died there. when her death, he started thinking the fort as ominous and left the structure incomplete. Among the three major components of Lalbagh Fort, one is that the tomb of Pari Bibi.

after Shaista Kahn left the capital of Bangladesh, the fort lost its popularity. the most cause was that the capital was shifted from Dhaka to Murshidabad. after the tip of a royal Mughal period, the fort became abandoned. In 1844, the world achieved its name as Lalbagh replacement Aurangabad, so the fort as Lalbagh Fort.

After an explicit time Mughal emperor Aurangazeb donated the fort to Shaista Khan in memory of his female offspring Pari Bibi. The successor of Shaista Khan got revenue once his death by leasing the fort to the govt. after 1853 the military quarters were replaced in Lalbagh Fort from Purana Paltan.

Currently, the archeologic department of Bangladesh is maintaining this Historical place. This has become a key traveler attraction in the capital of Bangladesh. nearly three million people visit Lalbagh Fort each year.

Different elements of Lalbagh For

The Mosque

This mosque is located within the western part of the complex, aligned with the tomb of Bibi Pari. The Lalbagh Fort mosque could be a typical Bengali Mughal kinda rectangular structure topped with three-domes. it's one in all the best samples of its kind, wherever the central dome is larger. The mosque continues to be in use and separated with a fence from the fort. in order that people will enter it for prayer without any ticket.

Lalbagh fort mosque

The grave of Pari-Bibi

Of the Mughal buildings inside the fort, Bibi Pari’s sepulcher is the most vital, because it is a distinctive structure. it's the only building wherever black basalt from Rajmahal Hills, white marble from Rajputana and paint tiles of varied colors, have been accustomed decorate its interior.

66′-0″ sq. a monument stands within the center of a raised, stone-flagged platform. At every corner, it's four graceful polygonal shape turrets, that are capped by plastered kiosks with ribbed cupolas. The roof is roofed by a false copped dome and crowned by a tall decoration.

The interior of the mausoleum is split into 9 chambers together with the 19′-0″ sq. central grave. This chamber is entirely veneered in white marble and there's a simply stepped monument in its center.
Of the opposite eight chambers, the dados of the corner rooms were originally decorated with glazed tiles. varied colors but these have currently been coated with plaster.

The remaining rooms are still decorated with marble. as a result, for is looking so gorgeous. Curiously the roofs of all the 9 chambers are spanned by overlapping courses of huge black volcanic rock. slabs on the principle of the corbel.

Access to the tomb-chamber is from the south, through an entrance crammed with a stone door upright and a door of sandalwood, that is embellished with a Chinese cross pattern. opening on the opposite 3 sides is blocked by fretted marble screens. the ground of the tomb chamber is beautifully laid enter geometric patterns of marble and black stone.

In layout, the tomb of Pari Bibi resembles the additional formidable tomb of Humayun in a city.

Residence of the Governor

The third structure within the fort is the residence of the governor Shaista Khan, that could be a two-storied building with a projected annex to the west, and contains the Audience Hall and also the Hammam. The central hall contains a sunken decorative fountain in the middle.

The hammam is roofed by a dome which originally had an opening in it for lightweight and ventilation. there's a masonry tank with steps leading into it, which contained temperate water for bathing. apart from the 2 finish rooms that contain the steps, the upper floor corresponds specifically in setting up therewith of the bottom floor.

Lalbagh fort south gate

The South Gate

The main South Gate of the fort, facing the river, presents a grand look and rises graciously in 3 stories. A lofty entranceway opens from the riverside into a vaulted sq. hall, that is flanked on either side by slender octangular minerals with 2 stages of oriel windows. every is flat-topped by a cupola.

The four corners have pillared kiosks graciously breaking the skyline. the doorway hall of the entry is flanked on either facet with guardrooms and staircases resulting in the higher story.

The southern and western fortification walls, which rise to a height of about 25′-0″ from the encircling ground level, have a variety of octangular bastions, that are largely back-filled with earth, up to rampant level, have underground cells below.

Lalbagh fort front view

Secret Tunnels in Lalbagh Fort

There are many secret tunnels in Lalbagh Fort, 2 of that used to reach the currently ruined Zinzira Fort of the Mughals situated on the opposite side of the Buriganga. Others were engineered as mazes so attackers and intruders of the fort lose their way on them and starved to death.

throughout the colonial period, several mutant troopers of the Sipahi Revolution and also several British soldiers chasing them died here. These secret tunnels are sealed for good afterward.

Entry fees of Lalbagh Fort

native Tourists: 20 TK
SAARC Country Tourists: 100 TK
different Foreigners: 200 TK

Visiting hours of Lalbagh Fort

Summer Season (April – September)

Tues – Saturday: ten.00 AM – 01.00 PM, 01.30 PM – 06.00 PM
    Friday: 10.00 AM – 12.30 PM, 02.30 PM – 06.00 PM
    Sunday: Weekly vacation
    Monday: 02.30 PM – 06.00 PM

Winter Season (October – March)

Tues – Saturday: 09.00 AM – 01.00 PM, 01.30 PM – 05.00 PM
    Friday: 09.00 AM – 12.30 PM, 02.00 PM – 05.00 PM
    Sunday: Weekly vacation
    Monday: 01.30 PM – 05.00 PM

Eid Holidays

Lalbagh Fort can stay closed for guests during Eid day and also the previous day of Eid. it'll stay open as usual from following the day of Eid day.
Govt. Holidays

    Lalbagh Fort can stay closed during any govt. holiday.

Ramadan timing

    Lalbagh Fort is closed at 04.00 PM during the holy month of Ramadan.

Things to do:

The fort is structured in 3 levels with towers donning the south gate. The fort is full of hidden passages and a huge mosque. It also incorporates a fortified perimeter with a variety of glorious monuments.

Among the notable monuments within the fort are the tomb of Pari Bibi and therefore the audience room and a showering area of Nawab Shaista Khan that is currently being used as a museum.

How to Go:

This Lalbagh Kella is located within the Older a part of the capital of Bangladesh. it's very simple to access. you'll ask any rickshaw puller from Gulistan to drop you there.

going to Lalbagh fort by rickshaw

Where to Stay:

Dhaka is the capital town of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. Every day a lot of visiting individuals from around the country and also the foreigners use to measure in the capital of Bangladesh. that is why this town has all the quality of hotels (including the bests from the country). Check here for the list of hotels from the capital of Bangladesh.

Other places nearby:

The Khan Mohammed Mridha musjid is within walking distance from this Lalbagh fort. when visiting this place you may go to see the musjid. it might only take 5-10 minutes to go to the mosque.

The river Buriganga is incredibly near to this place. you'll have a boat ride from there if you've got time in hand. round the rainy season, the Buriganga river is incredibly pleasant for the guests.