Outstanding white marble architecture In Rangpur

Structure and style

The palace is well-known for its outstanding white marble architecture, and the huge pleasing garden.

The huge two-storied palace is supported by wonderfully curved Corinthian pillars. There is an octagonal dome mounted on a drum like structure at the centre of the palace which is popularly known as Hawakhana (the chamber of wind). The structure roofed by the dome is built in such a way that refreshing wind passes through its eight windows every moment. In each corner of the palace, the Corinthian pillars support two chambers with the triangular roof which give those a tower-like an appearance. The huge external staircase of the palace reaches directly to the first floor where a museum has been established with the relics from this royal family. The U-shaped palace has 22 rooms adjoined by a long corridor made of marble. The ground floor of the palace has magnificent hall rooms decorated with coloured tiles. One of the hall rooms was used as the dancing hall and other rooms were used as the living quarter of the king and his queen. Two wooden staircases have connected the first and ground floor of the palace and another secret staircase was also built (now sealed) as the emergency exit which was only for the royal family. The exterior of the palace is well maintained, at present, two galleries of the palace museum have been closed due to cracks on the roof.

History

In the beginning of the eighteenth century, a rich jewellery merchant from Punjab named Manna Lal Roy arrived in Bengal for a business trip. He was so enchanted by the beauty of this part of Bengal that he decided to settle here. By selling many of his properties in Punjab, he transferred his business to Mahiganj in Rangpur city. Gradually he prospered and became one of the most influential persons of the city. Then, with the decree of the British government, he established his rule as the zamindar of Rangpur and all the surrounding districts. His fame as a rich jewellery merchant was so widespread that when he built a magnificent palace, it was named as Tajhat (The home of Crowns) by local people. After the abolishment of zamindar rule in Bengal, the glory of Tajhat zamindars started to die out. During Indo-Pakistan partition, the last remaining members of the royal family fled to India in 1947 and most of their property including the palace was ransacked. From 1984 to 1991 the palace was used as the high court bench of Bangladesh Supreme Court and at that time several modifications were made on the original structure such as a police barrack was built on the rooftop. In 1995, Bangladesh's archaeological department took control of the palace.