Ruplal House, imposing, elegant, shabby...

Downstream of the Buriganga (today directly on the Sadarghat), on the left bank of the river, an imposing mansion was built in the first half of the 19th century, Aratoon House. It is difficult to imagine the grandeur and elegance of the building complex, given its current state. On the one hand, the palace is covered by urban buildings, on the other hand the building (officially protected as a monument) is falling into disrepair or is used as a spice market. Apart from this part, the building cannot be visited as it is also used as a residential building for families of members of the military. One of the largest and most magnificent historical buildings in Dhaka is currently in danger of imminent deterioration.
Aratoon House was built in 1825 by the Armenian businessman Stephen Aratoon and acquired in 1840 by the brothers and businessmen Ruplal and Raghunath Das, who had the building extensively rebuilt and expanded. The name of course also changed to Ruplal House. The result is a palatial two-story building in the style of the late European. Renaissance, which in its ground plan corresponds to a [. The building (based on designs by the Martin Company from Calcutta) was in constant competition in terms of splendor and elegance with the not far away Ahsan Manzil (Pink Palace). In 1886 there was a ball in honor of Lord Dufferin (Frederick Temple Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava, Viceroy of India 1884-1888), during his visit to Dhaka.
The flank (large river facade) replicated a portico, a little over 91 meters long and consisting of Doric columns, facing the river. The wings (two blocks) face the city and are built in different styles. The west wing, domicile of the rulers (approx. 2,300 m² on two floors) in neoclassical style, the east wing mostly for employees and utility rooms (approx. 1,100 m² on two floors) and the central wing (approx. 850 m² on two floors) ) with clear resemblance to Ahsan Manzil (Pink Palace). This was practically the entertainment wing and offered, among other things, two ballrooms and various salons, including one for classical music.