Lalbagh Fort
Prince Muhammad Azam Shah began work on the fort in 1678 during his vice-royalty in Bengal. He stayed in Bengal for only fifteen months before being called back by his father, Emperor Aurangzeb. The prince was a future Mughal emperor himself and served as the son of the ruling monarch. After he departed to assist in war against the Marathas, construction halted abruptly. Shaista Khan took over as the new subahdar of Dhaka but did not complete the project. The original name of the site was Fort Aurangabad. It was intended to be the official residence of the governor of the Mughal province of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. During this period, Mughal Bengal became the economic engine of the empire. Emperor Aurangzeb referred to the region as the Paradise of Nations. Dhaka grew into an imperial city with one of the richest elites in the entire Mughal Empire.
In 1684, the daughter of Shaista Khan named Iran Dukht Pari Bibi died inside the complex. She was warmly known as Pari Bibi or Fairy Lady. Her death resulted in a halt to the construction process apparently due to Shaista Khan's superstition that the fort brought bad omen. Pari Bibi was buried inside the fort within a central square room containing her remains. A false octagonal dome covers the tomb while a brass plate wraps around it. The entire inner wall is covered with white marble. Eight rooms surround the central chamber where she rests. There is another small grave located in the southeastern corner room. Some researchers claim she was actually a nine-year-old Ahom princess taken during Mir Jumals expedition. Others believe she was the loving daughter of Nawab Shaista Khan who was engaged to Prince Azam at the time of her death.
The southern fortification wall has a huge bastion in the southwestern corner. Five bastions stand at regular intervals along the south wall and are two stories in height. The western wall had two bastions with the biggest one near the main southern gate. These bastions contained tunnels leading through the structure. The central area of the fort is occupied by three buildings arranged in a line from east to west. Diwan-i-Aam sits on the eastern side while the mosque occupies the western position. The Tomb of Pari Bibi stands between them but not at equal distances. A water channel with fountains connects all three structures from north to south. The Diwan-i-Aam serves as a two-story residence for the Mughal governor of Bengal. A single-story hammam attached to its west includes an underground room for boiling water. Black spots found in this underground room proved that fire was used for heating water through terracotta pipes.
Once located beside the Buriganga River, the river has retreated from the vicinity of the fort over centuries. European paintings from 1787 depict the view from the Buriganga River showing the site's original proximity to water. Robert Home created a painting titled View from the Buriganga River in 1799 documenting this relationship. Archaeologists discovered the continuity of the main fort walls extending eastward below Shaishta Khan Road today. They opined that the present area represents only half the portion originally planned by Prince Azam Khan. The other half to the east likely intended for administrative purposes became incomplete or extinct long ago. The gate at the southeast fits properly as the Central Gate in the middle of Fort according to requirements. This geographical shift explains why the fort no longer commands the same strategic position it once held during the Mughal era.
Recent excavations carried out between 1994 and 2009 revealed the existence of other structures beyond the three major buildings. These digs showed there was a special room below the Hammamkhana where archaeologists found arrangements for heating water. Terracotta pipes specially manufactured supplied both hot and cool water to the bathhouse. A toilet room existed by the side of Hammamkhana confirming extensive use by the Subadar of Bengal Shaista Khan. Reports from the Governor of English Factory indicated Shaista Khan lived in this room while some Europeans were kept in custody here. Tunnels within the fort are now sealed after British researchers sent elephants and dogs into them without return. Many defeated sepoys of the Sepoy Revolution of 1857 tried to run away through passages but lost their lives chasing soldiers also did not return. The Department of Archaeology of Bangladesh continues investigating these hidden spaces today.
Today Lalbagh Fort is one of the most visited sites in Dhaka serving as a major tourist attraction. Several pieces of artillery remain inside the fort guarding the historical grounds. The Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation funds restoration projects for parts of the fort currently underway. It stands as one of the most recognized symbols of Mughal rule in Bengal among modern visitors. In 1844 the area acquired its name as Lalbagh replacing Aurangabad permanently. The term refers to reddish and pinkish hues found throughout the Mughal architecture itself. Lawns fountains and water channels cover much of the complex today making it visually striking. The fort was depicted in European paintings during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries showing its enduring appeal across cultures.
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Common questions
Who started the construction of Lalbagh Fort in 1678?
Prince Muhammad Azam Shah began work on the fort in 1678 during his vice-royalty in Bengal. He stayed in Bengal for only fifteen months before being called back by his father, Emperor Aurangzeb.
Why did the building process stop at Lalbagh Fort after 1684?
Construction halted abruptly following the death of Iran Dukht Pari Bibi inside the complex in 1684. Shaista Khan stopped the project due to superstition that the fort brought a bad omen after his daughter died within the grounds.
What is the original name of the site now known as Lalbagh Fort?
The original name of the site was Fort Aurangabad when Prince Muhammad Azam Shah initiated its development. The area acquired the name Lalbagh permanently in 1844 to replace Aurangabad.
Where are the main buildings located within the central area of Lalbagh Fort?
Three buildings occupy the central area arranged in a line from east to west with Diwan-i-Aam on the eastern side and the mosque occupying the western position. The Tomb of Pari Bibi stands between them while a water channel connects all three structures from north to south.
How far has the Buriganga River retreated from Lalbagh Fort over time?
The river has retreated from the vicinity of the fort over centuries since it once stood beside the Buriganga River. Archaeologists discovered the continuity of the main fort walls extending eastward below Shaishta Khan Road today indicating the present area represents only half the portion originally planned by Prince Azam Khan.