Built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Raja Kali Prasanna Ghosh, this sprawling complex has hundreds of rooms set around internal courtyards. It gained international fame through the sensational Bhawal Raja court case, in which the supposedly dead second prince Ramendra Narayan Roy reappeared years later as an ascetic monk to reclaim his estate. Today the building serves as the Gazipur District Commissioner's office and court. Visitors can admire the grand classical portico and brick colonnades during office hours.
- Best time
- October to March
- Give it
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free to view courtyards; auto-rickshaw from Chowrasta roughly ৳30
How to get to Bhawal Rajbari
In Joydebpur town centre, about 3 km east of Gazipur Chowrasta. Local auto-rickshaws from the Chowrasta reach the gate in 10 minutes.
Gazipur town is about 35 km from Dhaka, around 1.5 hours by road. Every way to get there is in the Gazipur guide.
Because government administrative offices operate here, access to interior rooms is restricted on working days.
More to see in Gazipur
Photo: Salim Khandoker, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Bhawal National Park ভাওয়াল জাতীয় উদ্যান
A protected reserve of copper-leafed sal forest forty kilometres north of Dhaka, with shady dirt trails and quiet lakes.
- Best time
- November to March
- Give it
- Half a day
- Cost
- Entry roughly ৳20; car parking about ৳100; paddle boats roughly ৳100–200 per hour
Photo: Khondkar Mostaque ahmed, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Nuhash Polli নুহাশ পল্লী
A 40-acre wooded estate and sculpture garden founded by author Humayun Ahmed, set with ponds and medicinal plants.
- Best time
- November to March
- Give it
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Entry roughly ৳200 per person; auto-rickshaw from Hotapara junction about ৳150–200
Photo: Anik Sarker, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Sreefaltali Zamindar Bari শ্রীফলতলী জমিদার বাড়ি
A tranquil 19th-century zamindar estate in Kaliakair, split into two ornate wings with ponds and brick archways.
- Best time
- October to March
- Give it
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- No official entry fee; bus to Kaliakair roughly ৳60, rickshaw to the estate about ৳30