'Nawab Manzil 'of Dhanbari still stands tall
Siraj Al Masud, Tangail
One of the oldest 'Zamindar Bari ' in the country is Dhanbari in Tangail. It is better known to the locals as 'Nawab Palace' or 'Nawab Manzil'.
In the flow of time, the landlord system and landlords are no more. But the lime-surki Nawab Palace stands tall with its splendor and tradition as a witness to history. The centuries-old walls of the landlord house are witnesses to our history and time. The eroded lime-surki layers hide a rich tradition. The luxurious palace of the landlord has a grandeur of elaborately decorated buildings. Every wall of the building has a touch of beauty. Every day, travelers and history lovers from different parts of the country flock to see the landlord house. Especially during the winter season, there is a lot of walking by travelers.
The 'Zamindar Bari 'was founded in the mid-1800s by Khan Bahadur Syed Nawab Ali Chowdhury. He was one of the founders of Dhaka University, the first proponent of making Bengali the state language, and the first Muslim minister in the British government. This Zamindar Bari has a long history. It is believed that during the reign of Mughal Emperor Jahangir, Senapati Ispinjar Khan and Manowar Khan established a zamindari in Dhanbari after defeating Dhanpati Singh. The Nawab of a few generations after them was Syed Janab Ali. Syed Janab Ali was the father of Syed Nawab Ali Chowdhury. Nawab Syed Nawab Ali Chowdhury married Altafunnahar, daughter of Nawab Abdus Sobhan of Bogra.
Altafunnahar was childless. After her death, the Nawab married Syeda Akhtar Khatun, the last descendant of Isha Khan. Nawab Ali Chowdhury's third wife was named Sakina Khatun. Nawab Ali Chowdhury died in 1929. In the Waqfnama, the Nawab mentioned the names of Syed Hasan Ali Chowdhury and Umm Fatima Humaira Khatun, the only son of his third wife. Syed Hasan Ali Chowdhury was later elected as the Industries Minister of the then East Pakistan. After the country gained independence, he was also elected as a member of parliament in 1978. He died in 1981. The current heir to the Zamindar house is his only child, Syeda Ashika Akbar. His son Afif Uddin Ahmad is currently looking after it.
Due to the wonderful architectural works built on 17 acres of land, the landlord's house gradually became an attractive place for tourists. So the heirs of the Nawab built a picnic spot in the landlord's house. Which has gained fame as the Nawab Syed Hasan Ali Royal Resort. However, after the construction of the resort, the Nawab Palace has increased in glamour and modernity. This century-old Nawab Palace is built in a wonderful Mughal architectural style with 14 domes. The entire Nawab Manzil or Nawab Palace is surrounded by walls. The palace faces south and has a long veranda. There is a large arcade on the east side of the building.
The arch was built by Zamindar Nawab Ali Chowdhury to welcome the British governor. In addition to the two residential buildings, the walled courtyard also has a flower garden, a meeting room, a governor's house, a courthouse, a paikpeyada settlement, and a slave-slave courtyard. Next to the palace is a huge 30-bigha pond. There is a beautiful and picturesque paved ghat in the pond. If you wish, amateur travelers can take a boat trip and fish here. Another attraction is the Nawab Mosque. Locals say that right next to the Zamindar's house is a mosque that is about 700 years old. The mosaics of this mosque, a symbol of Mughal architecture, and the skillful craftsmanship of marble on the floor are extraordinary. The old mosque was renovated by the Nawab family 150 years ago.
It is learnt from the spot that as soon as you enter the garden after paying a ticket of 100 taka, you will see a beautiful green garden. There are different species of trees in the garden. Tourists from different parts of the country are flocking to see it. Many have been seen bringing their families. Sayem Hossain, a visitor from Jamalpur, said, 'I have seen a lot of zamindar houses on social media. Today I came to see the zamindar house for the first time in Dhanbari. I really liked seeing the zamindar house. The zamindar house is even more beautiful than in the pictures.'
Saima Jahan, a visitor from Sirajganj, said, "I came to see the Zamindar house with my friends after watching YouTube. There are many places to visit here. The interior environment is very good. Anyone who comes here will like it. Later, I will come to visit with my family."
Mohammad Ishaq, the caretaker of Nawab Bari, said, "I have been looking after it for 50 years. I like it very much. The crowd is more on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays."
Sharif Uddin, manager of Dhanbari Zamindar Bari, said, "This tradition is a source of pride for our Tangail and the whole country. We try to highlight the establishments among the younger generation. Next to the Zamindar Bari is the 6-domed Zamindar's residence. The traditions have been highlighted through beautiful craftsmanship. It is being run privately. It is about 200 years old.
There is a direct Dhaka-Dhanbari bus service from Mohakhali in the capital. You can reach Dhanbari by Bhanchi, Mahanagar or Sahayak Paribahan. Apart from this, you can also take buses of various transport companies from Azampur, Abdullahpur and Sayedabad. Zamindar Bari is not far from Dhanbari bus stand. If you wish, you can reach there on foot or by rickshaw.
There are three types of accommodation in the landlord's house. Palace (Kachari Ghar), Villa (200-year-old tinshed building) and Cottage (recently built tinshed bungalow). All the furniture including the beds and sofas in the palace are from the ancient period. Which was used by the Nawabs. But the furniture of the Nawabs will not be available in the villas and cottages. The rent is two to five thousand taka. As a result, you will stay here in Nawab style.
