This means that the government has a responsibility to make proper use of these heritage sites by making them proper tourism destinations.
One of such sites is Baliati Zamindar Bari. The Zamindar Bari is 35 miles northwest of Dhaka and 5 miles east of Manikganj district.
Taking up 5.88 acres of land in Manikgani district of Saturia Upazila of Baliati village, lies the magnificent 200 years old Zamindar Bari. The palace was founded by Gobinda Ram Shaha, who was a salt merchant in the 18th century and later his four sons, Dadhi Ram, Ananda Ram, Pandit Ram and Gopal Ram built all of these 19th century monuments and building of Renaissance and colonial style structures in the palace complex. The palace was formerly known as “Dosh-ani-Zaminder bari”.
Gobinda Ram Shaha was a settler of Zamindari at Baliati. His forefathers were very poor and later they started small business. He became an heir of the business and extended it to establish Zamindari.
This remarkable complex has been acquired by the Bangladesh archeological department with a new given name “Baliati Palace” as a protected cultural property in 1987.
This extravagant archeological site has a touch of Greek-Roman style roofs and pillars, having a complete aura of the antiquity. Each of the buildings were built in different times by different people of the landlord's family. The building complex consists of seven separate but similar blocks enclosed by three identical gateways with lion sculptures surmounted on each of them.
A river named Gazikhali, which is dried up and dead now, flowed at the northern side of the palace. And also in the northern side of the palace is a tank with masonry landing. There is a huge pond with four ghats (a landing) at the back of the palace. The other side of the pond has a series of lavatory.
The south facade of the grand palace presents an attractive frontage of about 400 feet divided into four blocks. The two central blocks are two-storied and the other two terminal ones are three-storied. The lofty encircling walls of the Zaminder Bari complex are decorated by three gorgeous gateways, identical in their architectural features.
The palace has approximately 200 rooms in various crafted designs, shapes and structures. A Rong Mahal (Entertainment room), bright and decorative is situated in the upper storey of the palace. This has now been transformed into a museum so that tourists can get an insight of the palace history.
Interesting fact:Babu Kishorilal Chowdhury, a member of the Baliati family, founded Jagannath College and K.L Jubily High School.
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
