| Dhar Zamindar Palace | |
|---|---|
_2015.jpg) The Palace in 2020 | |
| Founder | Virendra Mohan Dar |
| Built | 1797 |
| Built for | Royal residence |
| Original use | Palace Royal residence |
| Demolished | 2023 |
| Owner | House of Dar (Till 1947) |
Dhar Zamindar Bari (Dhar Rajbari) was a historic zamindari palace located in the Dhamrai Upazila of Dhaka District, Bangladesh.[1]
History
The Dhar Zamindar Palace (formerly known as Nannar Palace) was established by Maharaja Virendra Mohan Dar in the year 1797 and was completed by the end of 1802.[2] During the Zamindari era, this house was not only a place of residence, but also a center for administrative activities, meetings, and land-related decision-making. In 1919, a large part of the Palace was converted for educational purposes at the initiative of Raja Mohini Mohan Dhar. In the same year, the building was converted into the first school building of the Alokeshi (Elokeshi) High School. As a result of this change, the identity of the building was not limited to the Zamindari tradition, but also associated with education and social development.There is a pond in the courtyard of the Dhar Zamindar's house, which was locally known as the Maharaja's name - Maharaja Birendra Sagar.
Architecture
The architecture of the Dhar Zamindar House is largely based on the traditional Bengali zamindari style, with British colonial influences. The building was constructed using thick bricks and lime mortar, an important feature of the construction techniques of the time.[3] The house had a spacious courtyard, high pillars, arched doorways, and long verandas. This design was particularly well-suited to the hot and humid climate, allowing natural light and air to enter easily. The interior also featured simple ornamentation, cornices, and floral designs.[4] When the building began to be used as a school in 1919 , many of the residential rooms were converted into classrooms and some were used as administrative offices. However, a large part of the original zamindari structure remains intact.
Current status
The Palace was demolished by the Elokeshi High School, Jalsin Commitee in 2023 because of increased security concerns.
References
- ↑ Dhar Zamindar Bari- Tripadvisor- Things to Do
- ↑ ধর জমিদার বাড়ি | Opar Bangla Dhaka | Retrieved 7 October 2026
- ↑ Panda, Chitta. The Decline of the Bengal Zamindars: Midnapore, 1870–1920 . Oxford University Press, 1996.
- ↑ Akhtar, S. (1973). The Role of the Zamindars in Bengal (1707–1772) . University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies.