Lalbagh Fort
লালবাগ কেল্লা
An unfinished 17th-century fortress begun by Mughal prince Azam Shah, with the Bibi Pari Tomb and mosque, it is one of Dhaka's most representative historic sites.
Lalbagh Fort was begun in 1678 by Azam Shah, a son of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Construction stopped when the death of Bibi Pari, daughter of his successor Shaista Khan, was considered a bad omen. Three main buildings survive inside the fort: the Bibi Pari Tomb, decorated with marble and colorful tiles; the three-domed mosque; and the Subahdar's Audience Hall, now a small museum. Red brick walls, gardens, and a pond surround them. Foreign visitors pay about 500 taka for entry. The fort is in western Old Dhaka, where traffic is heavy, so it is best to visit in the morning by rickshaw or CNG three-wheeler.
Opening hours
Tue–Sat 10:00–17:00 (Apr–Sep); open Mon afternoon; closed Sun
Nearby sights
- Khan Mohammad Mridha Mosque
- Dhakeshwari Temple
- Bara Katra
- Hussaini Dalan
- Central Shaheed Minar
- Star Mosque
- New Market
- Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection