Lalbagh Fort
Lalbagh Fort is one of the key tourist attractions of Dhaka City in Bangladesh. This is an unfinished Mughal fort from the 17th century, the construction of which was started by a Mughal prince who was the governor of Dhaka at that time. But when he left, the construction was not finished by the next governor in charge because of a family tragedy. Nevertheless, the fort's massive size and the structures inside bring many local tourists to the fort every day. Located in the Lalbagh area in Old Dhaka and hence achieving its name, it is the most popular and renowned fort and a great art signature by the Mughal Empire in Bangladesh. It is also known as Fort Aurangabad. It is situated by the bank of the river Buriganga in rich red soil. For anyone visiting Bangladesh, Lalbagh Fort is one of the must- visiting attractions.
Lalbagh Fort Location
Lalbagh Fort is located in the old town of Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. Old Dhaka is the part of Dhaka where the city was originally founded by the Mughals in the 17th-century as the capital of eastern Bengal. The fort is located in Dhaka beside the river Buriganga, which flows a little further in the present days.
The co-ordinate of Lalbagh Fort is 23.7189, 90.3882. You can view the location of Lalbagh Fort on a map
Lalbagh Fort visiting hours
Lalbagh Fort maintains specific visiting hours during the summer and winter. The summer season runs from April 1st to September 30th, and the winter season runs from October 1st to March 31st. It is worth checking the schedule before you plan a visit to Dhaka's most popular tourist attractions that showcase its rich heritage and culture.
| Day | Time | Winter | During Ramadan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM | 9:00 AM to 12 PM, and 2 PM to 5 PM | 2.00 PM to 4.00 PM |
| Saturday | 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM | 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Sunday | The museum remains closed on Sunday and any other public holidays. | ||
| Monday | 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM | 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM | 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM | 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM | 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Thursday | 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM | 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
Lalbagh Fort Entrance Fees
Lalbagh Fort maintains specific visiting hours during the summer and winter. The summer season runs from April 1st to September 30th, and the winter season runs from October 1st to March 31st. It is worth checking the schedule before you plan a visit to Dhaka's most popular tourist attractions that showcase its rich heritage and culture.
| Nationality | Ticket Price |
|---|---|
| Morning walk ticket (6:00 AM to 8:00 AM) only for Bangladeshi | 2.00 Taka |
| Bangladeshi (students up to secondary level) | 5.00 Taka |
| Bangladeshi (Regular Tourists) | 30.00 Taka |
| Visitors from SAARC member countries | 100.00 Taka |
| Any other foreign nationalities | 200.00 Taka |
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The Construction of Lalbagh Fort
Lalbagh Fort is an incomplete structure by a Mughal prince, and later emperor himself named Muhammad Azam (the third son of Aurangazeb). He started the work of the fort in 1678 during his vice-royalty in Bengal. He stayed in Bengal for 15 months. It remained incomplete when he was called by his father Aurangazeb to the capital, Delhi. Shaista Khan was the new Subedar (Governor) of Dhaka after Muhammad Azam, and he did not complete the fort. In 1684, the daughter of Shaista Khan named Iran Dukht (Pari Bibi) died there. After her death, he started to think of the fort as ominous and left the structure incomplete. Among the three major sections of the Fort, one is the tomb of Pari Bibi.
The Tomb of Pari Bibi
Of the Mughal buildings inside the fort, Bibi Pari's Mausoleum is the most important, as it is a unique structure. It is the only building where black basalt from Rajmahal Hills, white marble from Rajputana, and encaustic tiles of various colors, have been used to decorate its interior.
The Governor's Residence
The second structure in the fort is the governor Shaista Khan's residence, a two-storied building with a projecting annex to the West containing the Audience Hall and the Hammam. The central hall contains a sunken ornamental fountain in the middle.
Lalbagh Fort Mosque (Quilla Masjid)
The Lalbagh Fort Mosque (Quilla Masjid) is situated in the western part of the complex, aligned with the tomb of Bibi Pari. It is a typical Bengali Mughal-type mosque - a rectangular structure crowned with three domes. It is one of the finest examples of its kind, where the central dome is larger.
The South Gate of Lalbagh Fort
The main entrance of Lalbagh Fort, located on the southeast corner of the fort and facing the river, presents a grand appearance and rises gracefully in three stories. A lofty archway opens from the riverside into a domed square hall, flanked on either side by slender octagonal minerates with two stages oriel windows. A cupola tops each.