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Lalbagh Fort photo by Anik Sarkar –

10 Best Facts about Lalbagh Fort

Lalbagh Fort is also known as Fort Aurangabad. It is an incomplete 17th-century Mughal fort complex. Lalbagh Fort is located before the Buriganga River in the southwestern part of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The construction was started in 1678 AD by Mughal Subahdar Muhammad Azam Shah, who was the son of Emperor Aurangzeb. Mughal Subahdar succeeded his father and built Lalbagh Fort after a short while.

Shaista Khan who succeeded Mughal Subahdar did not continue the work, though he stayed in Dhaka up to 1688. The fort was never completed and was unoccupied for a long period. Much of the complex was built over and now sits across from modern buildings. In the article are the top ten best facts about Lalbagh Fort.

1. Muhammad Azam Shah is the one who started building the fort

A photo of Lalbagh Fort by Diego Tirira –

Azam Shah was the Mughal emperor. He was the third son of the sixth Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and his chief consort Dilras Banu Begum. Azam was appointed as the heir-apparent to his father on 12 August 1681.

Azam retained that position until Aurangzeb’s death. He started the work of the fort in 1678 during his vice-royalty in Bengal. He stayed in Bengal for 15 months. The fort remained incomplete when he was called away by his father Aurangzeb.

2. Iran Dukht Pari Bibi died in the Fort

After Azam Shah left Bengal, Shaista Khan became the new subahdar of Dhaka. Iran Dukht Pari Bibi, the daughter of Shaista Khan died in Lalbagh Fort. Khan developed a negative mentality after the death of his daughter.

He started to think that the fort was unlucky. Therefore, Khan left the structure incomplete willingly without reconsidering his choice. This is the reason why the fort remained unfished to date which makes it unique.

3. The fort officially gained its name in 1844

A photo of Lalbagh Fort by SabbirAbeir (md sabbir) –

After Shaista Khan left Dhaka due to the death of his daughter Pari Bibi, Dhaka lost its popularity. The leaving of Khan was the main cause that the capital was moved from Dhaka to Murshidabad.

After the end of the royal Mughal period, the fort became abandoned. In 1844, the area acquired its name Lalbagh. It replaced Aurangabad, and the fort became Lalbagh Fort because the fort was named in the area where it was located.

4. The fort was initially thought to be a combination of three buildings

A photo of Lalbagh Fort by Diego Tirira –

It was the Department of Archaeology of Bangladesh revealed the existence of other structures in the Lalbagh Fort. For the fort was initially considered to be a combination of three buildings.

The buildings that were anticipated to be the only ones that made up the fort are; the mosque, the tomb of Bibi Pari, and the Diwan-i-Aam, with two gateways and a portion of the partly damaged fortification wall.

5. Lalbagh Fort stands as a monument to the

A photo of Lalbagh Fort by SabbirAbeir (md sabbir) –

Numerous myths have revolved around the fort since its establishment. Among all the historical stories and debates, it is widely believed that Lalbagh Fort stands as a monument to the unfulfilled dreams of Prince Muhammad Azam Shah.

Azam Shah was the beloved son of Emperor Aurangzeb. In the mid-17th century, he was serving as the Viceroy of Bengal. He was the Viceroy of Bengal when he began the construction of the impressive Lalbagh Fort complex.

Before the construction was finished myths say that, Prince Azam was called back to his father, to assist in the war against the Marathas. Legend says after the Mughal prince departed, Shaista Khan continued building the project, but upon the untimely death of his much-loved daughter Iran-Dukht, Pari Bibi.

6. Pari Bibi was buried in the Lalbagh Fort premises

A photo of the Grave of Pari Bibi by Mohd Elias –

As I said early, Pari Bibi was the daughter of Shaista Khan. Khan did not continue building the fort but he added a structure to the fort, a tomb! Pari Bibi was buried in Lalbagh Fort. The tomb is in the middle of the complex.

There is a central square room. It contains the remains of Pari Bibi covered by a false octagonal dome and wrapped by a brass plate. The entire inner wall is covered with white marble. Eight rooms surround the central one.

7. Lalbagh Fort Mosque is part of the fort

A photo of Lalbagh Fort Mosque by Diego Tirira –

The mosque was believed to be inexistent since the fort was built. Therefore, it is a major part of the Lalbagh Fort. The mosque has three domes. It is relatively small for a large site, with a water tank for ablutions in front. The mosque has an oblong plan of 66’9″ x 33’6″ externally and 53’8″ x 20’2″ internally.

8. There are speculations of a secret passage to India in the fort

A photo of Lalbagh Fort as of 1967 by Gwynn  –

It is said that there are secret passages that lead to India. Stories speculate that Prince Azam took a passageway to India Azam Shah proclaimed himself Emperor and seized the throne There are several underground passages in the fort which are now sealed at present.

Legends say that two of these underground passages led to the now ruined Zinzira Fort which was situated on the other side of the Buriganga river. The other passages were built as mazes where invaders and intruders would lose their way and finally be starved and suffocated to death.

It has been claimed that during Sepoy Revolution against the colonial rulers in 1857, many of the surrounded and defeated sepoys tried to flee through those passages and lost their lives inside those passages.

9. The fort has the strangest maze in its tunnel

I am not trying to sound horrendous but it’s good I let out this interesting story about the tunnels in the fort. Apart from the tunnel passage to India, there is also a passage that was made as a maze. It is claimed that many defeated soldiers of the Sepoy Revolution of 1857 tried to run away through the passage and lost their lives.

The British soldiers who chased them to arrest also did not return. To investigate the claim, British researchers sent an elephant and dogs to the tunnel but they did not return either. After that, the tunnels were sealed.

10. A continuity of the fort was discovered

A photo of the aerial view of Lalbagh Fort by Azim Khan Ronnie –

Archeologists discovered the continuity of the main fort walls eastward below Shaishta Khan Road. They suggested that the present area of Qilla represents half the portion planned by Prince Azam Khan.

The gate at the southeast of the fort adjacent to Lalbagh Shahi Masjid as per requirement fits properly as the Central Gate in the middle of the fort. The other half to the east (Girde Qilla area) which was likely planned for administrative purposes was incomplete or extinct long ago.

The 4.5 historical land Lalbagh Fort is open to the public. You need a half-a-day to properly walk through and enjoy this Mughal fort complex. Better to get the assistance of a local guide if you are interested in knowing the history in detail and the importance of structures/places on the side. Be sure to visit Lalbagh Fort.

Address: Lalbagh Rd, Dhaka 1211, Bangladesh
Construction started: 1678
Hours:
Tuesday 9 am–1 pm, 1:30–5 pm
Wednesday 9 am–1 pm, 1:30–5 pm
Thursday 9 am–1 pm, 1:30–5 pm
Friday 9 AM–12:30pm12:30 PM, 2–5 PM
Saturday 9 AM–1 PM, 1:30–5 PM
Sunday Closed
Monday 2–5 pm
Architectural style: Mughal architecture
Founder: Muhammad Azam Shah
Burials: Pari Bibi, Muhammad Habibur Rahman, Charles D’Oyly