Jahaj Bari or boat house(Chistia Palace):amazing architecture on Dhanmondi lake side

Jahaj Bari or boat house

Lake side view of  Jahaj/Jahaz Bari or Chistia/Chistiya Palace

Chistia/Chistiya Palace or Jahaj Bari

Close view of the main tower or minaret of the Jahaj/Jahaz Bari

Partial view of the roof and inside the boundary space

Partial view of the roof and other side of the Jahj Bari

Close view of the Jahaj/Jahaz Bari

Close view of  Jahaj Bari or Chistia Palace

Full view of Jahaj/Jahaz Bari or Chistiya Palace

Back side of the Chistiya/Chistia Palace

Front view of the Jahaj Bari shaped as a ship

Partial view of the front side of Jahaj Bari or Chistia Palace

Walking way beside the Jahaz/Jahaj Bari and the boundary wall

Night view on the Dhanmondi lake side Jahaj/Jahaz Bari or Chistiya Palace

View of Jahaj Bari or Chistia Palace without boundary wall in 1997

A aerial view of Jahaj/Jahaz Bari or Chistiya Palace in 1997

This red house with a tall tower like minaret besides the Dhanmondi lake is locally known as “Jahaj Bari”(boat house). But the owner of this house has named this house “Chistiya/Chistia Palace”. He adopted the name of the silsila or spiritual order of the Chistia founded by Khwaja Mainuddin Chisti(R.A.). This magnificent palace is owned by Mr. A.K.M. Anwarul Huq Chowdhury popularly known as Sher-e-Khwaja - a religious leader cum business tycoon, a charismatic person with high connection abroad and widely traveled.

This is one of the nice house and popular spot of the locality. While passing by Shatmasjid road it is hard not to notice the red-brick castle near old road 13, now road 5, overlooking Dhanmondi Lake. The huge majestic structure with its domes and pyramid-like protrusions reminds one of Disneyland’s Magic Kingdom or a palace right out of the Arabian Nights. Dhaka City Corporation Authority broke down the side construction on the bank of the lake of this house. DCC made a walking road besides the lake. Then the owner made the boundary wall shaped like a ship. Before that there were coconut trees on the lake’s bank side of the house and no boundary.

 This type of palace is a renaissance to Islamic architecture, it is outlined to show the name of God ‘Allahhu’ in Arabic from particular angle. The tall tower regards as ‘alif’ and the two adjacent structures representing ‘laam’ and ‘he’.

 So far as we can know that Sher.e-Khwaja was a student of the then Jagannath College and claimed himself that he took part in the liberation war of Bangladesh. He was the Chairman of the ‘Chistia Group of Industries’ with trading businesses in Bangladesh and England. His business includes garments, household goods and a construction consultancy. He was also the founder of WPEDO NGO.

He breathed his last on the 15^th November 2011, at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore on Tuesday at the age of 59.  He left behind his wife, one son and one daughter.

This colossal structure has been designed, architect and engineered as claimed by Sher-e-Khwaja even the unbelievable designs and lay out inside this palace has been done by himself . In an interview he told that the entire concept and mode of the project came to him in a trance.(The Bangladesh Observer, April 11, 1997). The impressive complex was probably started to build in the year 1993 and completed in the year 1994. This complex has about 40 rooms. This house is now used as Sher-e-Khwaja’s family resident and as head office of Chistia Group and WPEDO.

S: sher-e-khwaja.com; dhakadailyphoto.blogspot.com; flickr.com(for some photos); The Daily Star, september 9, 1994.

Read also: Lonely Planet-Bangladesh is the best value destination for 2011

Lonely Planet - Bangladesh is the best Value Destination for 2011

 Khagrachori

Lonely Planet - one of the leading travel guide company, now owned by BBC Worldwide has ranked Bangladesh as the best Value Destination in the world for 2011. It has listed nine other countries/cities for making the list of top ten. Behind Bangladesh stand Nicaragua, Washington D.C., Paris, Namibia,Philippines, Argentina, Naples, Ukraine and Syria.

As a turist destination Lonely Planet recomends Bangladesh, specially to that turist group those who want a beautiful and a cheap destination. Many other countries have and can offer cheap service. But one thing people say often and obviously they experience that cheap is not always good. Regarding this point Lonely planet says in their briefing that it should not be perceived as one containing only ''cheap''destination. Rather,the list is based on travellers ''getting their money's worth''. So within a economic budget when travellers in Bangladesh, they not only pay a small amount of money, but also get as return a high quality of service and commodity, see worthy places. They describe Bangladesh as a ''can-do country of open-hearted people, tigers, tea plantations and the world's longest sea beach''.

Tiger in Sundarbans

Lonely Planet is renowned for its first-hand approach, upto date maps and commitment to providing the best information for travellers. Their authors are experienced, insightful travel experts. They personally research the places they write about - both in the first and in subsequent editions - and provide essential travel details along with a wealth of insider information and first-hand tips.

For the year 2009 Bangladesh was named as one of the 10 Interesting Destinations by Lonely Planet.

Lonely Planet has their own tv channel, travel guide book publications, mobile phone apps, experienced staff, authors and 600,000 - strong online community to present the best places to go and things to do around the world to its readers.

Sitakunda eco park

Lonely Planet to its website as introduction to Bangladesh describes as a ''trend-setting breathtaking and hard working'' country that others can learn from.

Bangladesh is one of the few countries in the world that was not affected by the recent global recession. Today, Bangladesh boasts of shipbuilding capability and is looking forward to becoming a regional communication hub. Success can also be seen in many sectors in Bangladesh , like leather, pharmaceuticals and jute manufacturing. Agriculture is , of course, already a success in many ways. And human development is also noteworthy.

Lonely Planet says that a traveller will be rewarded most and get the maximum ''value for his   money'' if he visits Bangladesh. And Bangladesh is ready to offer  the visitors - the world's longest sea beach in Cox'sbazar, world's largest mangrove forest Sundarbon with tigers and spoted deer, a rare combination to watch sunrise and sunset from Kuakata sea beach, koral island ST.Martin, tea gardens, rain forest, hilly areas and many other exotic islands.
Bangladesh is waiting for you, those who want to discover and meet Bangladesh. Backpack and travel to Bangladesh. See you then some where in Bangladesh.

S: lonelyplanet.com/bangladesh;thedailystar.net(5 nov2010);defence.pk; thefinancialexpress-bd.com(3 jan2011)         

Read also: Jahaj Bari or boat house(Chistia Palace): amazing architecture on Dhanmondi lake side            

Chittagong Hill Tracks of Bangladesh

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A Mini Bangladesh in Chittagong

Ferry Journey in Bangladesh

Balaka

Collected from pagebangla.webs.com

Armenian Church,Dhaka

Shiv Mondir in Rajshahi

Pachani Zaminder Rani Vubonmoyi Devi built
this temple/mondir in the year 1823.

Corridor of the Shiv Mondir.

Shiv Shila inside the temple/mondir.


Collected from bangla newspaper Daily Prothom Alo's picture album

Madhab Kundo Water Fall