Lalbagh Fort is a 17th-century Mughal fort that stands before the Buriganga River, and it’s located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was built in 1678 AD, and the founder is Mughal Subahdar Muhammad Azam Shah. He was the son of Emperor Aurangzeb.
History
In 1678, Muhammad Azam, third son of Aurangzeb, started the work of the fort while staying in Bengal for 15 months. When his father called him away, the fort remained incomplete. It was never completed and unoccupied for a long time.
After that, Shaista Khan became the new subahdar of Dhaka. Iran Dukht Pari Bibi, the daughter of Shaista Khan, died there in 1684. Then Shaista Khan started to think of the fort as ominous. That’s why he didn’t complete the fort. The tomb of Bibi Pari is one of the three major parts of Lalbagh Fort.
It lost its popularity when Shaista Khan left Dhaka because that time the capital was moved to Murshidabad from Dhaka. The fort was abandoned after the royal Mughal period ended. It was 1844 when the area was named Lalbagh, replacing Aurangabad; the fort became Lalbagh Fort. Over the years, it has become one of Dhaka’s most popular tourist attractions, drawing thousands of visitors who come to admire its historical significance, stunning architecture, and cultural heritage. Every year, almost 3 million people visit Lalbagh Fort.
Lalbagh Fort | A Remarkable Mughal Architectural Masterpiece
Structures
The fort is a combination of three buildings—the mosque, the tomb of Bibi Pari, and the Diwan-I-Aam. The Diwan-I-Aam is on the east, the mosque on the west, and the Tomb of Pari Bibi is situated between the two. The three buildings are connected by a water channel with fountains. Recently the existence of other structures has been found by the excavations carried out by the Department of Archeology of Bangladesh.
There were utility buildings, an administration block on the north of the south fortification wall, and a beautiful roof garden with fountains and a water reservoir on its western part. The residential part was situated to the east of the west fortification wall.
Tomb of Bibi Pari
It is in the middle of the complex. Bibi Pari was the daughter of Shaista Khan. Its inner wall is made of white marble. It has a central square room and eight rooms surrounding the central one. It’s covered by a false octagonal dome and wrapped by a brass plate.
Diwan-I-Aam
It is located on the east side of the complex and is a two-storied residence of the Mughal Governor of Bengal. There’s a hammam attached on the west. Hammam has an underground room for boiling water. A main central hallway connects the living quarters on each level of two stories. A hammamkhana (bathhouse) is situated in the southern part of the building. Archaeologists found the arrangements for heating water in a special room below the Hammamkhana.
There were arrangements of supplying hot water and cool water to the Hammamkhana through terracotta pipes. Black spots were found in the underground room, which showed that fire had been used for the purpose of heating water. These show that it was very much in use by the Subahdar of Bengal. Shaista Khan used to live in this room. A square-shaped water tank is located in the east of the Diwan-I-Aam.
The Mosque
The Lalbagh Fort mosque is a Bengali Mughal-type rectangular mosque with three domes, where the central dome is larger. It is situated on the western side of the complex, occupying a prominent position within the site. Its location complements the overall architectural layout and contributes to the balance and symmetry of the entire complex. The mosque is in use still now, and people can enter it for prayer. It is separated from the fort with a fence.
Secret Tunnels in Lalbagh fort
There are some secret tunnels; two of them are used to reach Zinzira Fort, located on the other side of the Buriganga, which is now ruined. Others were made so that the intruders of the fort lose their way and starve to death. During the Sipahi Revolution, many mutant soldiers and many British soldiers chasing them died there. The tunnels were sealed permanently afterwards.
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