While browsing my photo album on my computer, I stumbled upon a folder of my visit in Ahsan Manzil Museum from last year. This museum is one of the oldest historical buildings in Bangladesh and it happened to be beside our cousin’s house in Old Dhaka. He initiated to bring us (Joanna, my father-in-law and me) there. That was last year. It was risky to go but thank God for His protection. Anyway, Wikipedia describes this place as:

“…the official residential palace and seat of the Dhaka Nawab Family. The magnificent building is situated at Kumartoli along the banks of the Buriganga River in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The construction of this palace was started in 1859 and was completed in 1872. It was constructed in the Indo-Saracenic Revival architecture. It has been designated as a national museum.“

Our visit there was surreal and an indelible one! I’m not exaggerating. I have to apologize ahead of time though, since I will not be able to show you what I saw inside this building. Before our entrance, the guard told us that we cannot take any photos inside the building. 😦

These are all I can share with you. Hurray!

Well, despite that, let me share with you my honest review about this particular museum.

GOOD POINTS: 

• The entrance fee is very cheap.
  • The fee for kids is almost free (i.e. about $0.13) while local adults should pay about $0.30. Foreigners are expected to pay about $1.20. Isn’t that cheap?
• The place gives you a surrealistic feeling.
  • Most of the antique furniture and memorabilia were indeed worth-viewing! One of my favorite parts of the museum was the enchanting dining area where there was an extremely long dining table. In my assumption, it can seat more than 30 people. The setting of the dining area hinted that it was indeed owned by a royal family. If you were inside, you would feel like you are inside an ancient palace. My other favored compartment was the drawing room. The kitchen wares looked really expensive and primordial while the furniture in the said drawing room looked really elegant and grand!
• The memorabilia are well-labeled. It’s a thumbs-up for foreigners who cannot read the local language-Bengali.
• The place in itself is certainly attractive to foreigners who are curious about Bangladeshi history.
• Photos of the ancient residents were posted around the house. I felt like these photos were there to entertain us and I imagined that they were showing us their phenomenal home.
• It’s safe to tour around the premises. The security guards are very responsible and friendly.
• It’s not overcrowded.
  • This is a big deal for photography enthusiasts. You won’t have so many photobombers. (lol!) 😀

POINTS FOR IMPROVEMENT:

• The displays were obviously dusty. 
• The lightning in the museum  needs a little more improvement.
• They don’t sell any souvenir. 😦
  • I am not sure about you but one of my passions is collecting magnets from the places I visit. So if in case you are like me, please prepare your heart to be a “little disappointed” that you cannot bring home any magnet to display on your fridge later. 🙂 Thank me because I warned you ahead of time. (lol!)

In a nutshell, I believe that this place is worth-visiting and if you happen to be in Bangladesh, don’t miss going to this bygone yet fascinating tourist spot!

Alright! I hope you can come and visit this place. If you are a friend of mine and you have plans to visit my family here, I will surely give you a chance to visit this place (Lord willing). 🙂

And here’s a verse I would like to share with you today:

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8

God bless you! 🙂