Dilkusha Bhulbhulaiya Garden Tower
| Dilkusha Bhulbhulaiya Garden Tower | |
|---|---|
The tower of the Dilkusha Bhulbhulaiya Garden in 1880 | |
Interactive map of Dilkusha Bhulbhulaiya Garden Tower | |
| Location | Dilkusha Garden, Dhaka |
| Coordinates | 23°43′38″N 90°25′07″E / 23.72722°N 90.41861°E |
| Built | 1866 |
The Dilkusha Bhulbhulaiya Garden Tower (Bengali: দিলকুশা ভুলভুলাইয়া গার্ডেন টাওয়ার) is a historic garden tower located within the former Dilkusha Garden in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The site, originally developed in the 19th century by the Nawab family of Dhaka, featured a distinctive labyrinth or bhulbhulaiya of trees planted around the central tower. It served as a leisure and recreation spot where the Nawab family and guests played hide-and-seek.
History
The Dilkusha Garden was purchased in 1866 by Khwaja Abdul Ghani from a European owner, E. F. Smith. The Nawab commissioned the development of the garden house as a residence and leisure retreat for his family, particularly for his son, Khwaja Ahsanullah. Within the estate grounds, a central tower was erected and encircled by trees planted in concentric patterns to form a maze.[1][2]
Current condition
Today, little remains of the original maze or the tower. The tower's exact remnants are believed to be lost or buried under later constructions.[3]
See also
References
- ^ "ঢাকার পুরনো এক হারানো রহস্য: দিলকুশার ভুলভুলাইয়া". Ajker Patrika (in Bengali). Ajker Patrika. Retrieved 2025-10-28.
- ^ "The Dilkusha Maze: Hide and Seek in Dhaka's Historical Bhulbhulaiya". The Daily Star. The Daily Star. 2024-10-20. Retrieved 2025-10-28.
- ^ "অতীতের রাজধানী: কেমন ছিল ঢাকার কার্জন হল, মেডিকেল কলেজ, মিটফোর্ড, ভুলভুলাইয়া বা দিলখুশা". The Business Standard (in Bengali). The Business Standard. 2025-02-12. Retrieved 2025-10-28.