Rose Garden Palace is located in Tikatuli, the capital of Dhaka. In the 19th century, a Hindu landlord named Hrishikes Das built the Rose Garden Palace for entertainment. Jalsa was organized at Baldha Garden as a social affair of wealthy Hindus during those times. Hrishikes Das was a low-caste slave who was humiliated in a jalsa. Hrishikesh Das then built the Rose Garden Palace for entertainment and held Jalsa here. At that time, the main attraction of this garden house was its spectacular decoration. Once Hrishikes Das was forced to sell his property after becoming bankrupt due to his unaccountable lifestyle.
Khan Bahadur Kazi Abdur Rashid bought this garden house from Hrishikes Das in 1936. He changed the name of this house to Rashid Manzil. Later Kazi Abdur Rashid’s eldest son Kazi Mohammad Bashir (Humayun) has maintained the tradition of this house till date. Initially this garden house was built only for entertainment purpose but later its owners also started living in it.
Rose Garden Palace has a historical significance. Bangladesh Awami League was formed in this Rose Garden in 1949. The ground floor of the house has a hall, eight rooms and Corinthian columns. Upstairs there are five more rooms including another hall. Once upon a time there was a fountain in the palace grounds, but today the fountain is not functioning but traces of it can be seen. The garden in front of the palace has some beautiful statues made of marble. But the rose garden for which the palace was named Rose Garden Palace is now extinct.
Timings: There is no fee to enter the Rose Garden. The Rose Garden is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm. However, prior permission is required to enter the main building.
Nearby attractions: Baldha Gardens and Christian Cemetery are located near the Rose Garden. If you have time, you can visit Baldha Garden and other places of interest in Old Dhaka.
How to go
From anywhere in Dhaka, you can come directly to Rose Garden on KM Das Lane, Tikatuli by rickshaw from Gulisthan or Jatrabari. But to know the rickshaw-puller, you have to talk about Humayun Sahib’s house.
Where to eat
Old Dhaka has a special tradition for food. From Al Razzak, Hajir Biryani, Kashmir Kachchi, Beauty Boarding or Sultan’s Chai, you can undoubtedly choose what to eat.
