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Baliati Zamindar Bari is billed as one of Bangladesh's largest and most prominent zamindari palaces. This palace, about 18 kilometres from Manikganj Sadar, is located in the village of Baliati in the upazila of Saturia. This is called Baliyati Palace, currently under the preservation and authorisation of the Archaeological Department.
Baliyati Zamindar bari is a testament to the Renaissance and the colonial and Greek architectural styles. The palace complex comprised seven traditionally constructed sculptures and buildings surrounded by three identical gateways.
The palace occupies an area of 5.88 acres of land, with more than 200 spectacular and multi-dimensional rooms. There is a decorative hall named the Rong Mohol, which is now mostly renowned and used as a museum, holding enriched and traditional heritages of the artefacts of the Zamindari family. There are several halls and corridors including Nat Mandir, the Thakur Mandir, and the Baoli.
Baliyati Palace carries a two-hundred-year-old heritage, built in the 19th century by the renowned, wealthy and influential Baliati Zamindari family. The Zamindars were under the British colonial government.
Like other zamindars during the British period, the Baliati zamindars were also responsible for enforcing the common populace to collect taxes.
The zamindar bari was also introduced as 'Dosh-Aani-Zamindar Bari. Zamindar Kishorelal Chowdhuri and 'Roy Bahadur,' titled Zamindar Harendro Kumar Roy, founded some educational institutes during their time.
The Zamindar family comes from an impoverished and financially insolvent 'Saha' bloodline. The family started to turn aristocratic with the developing business of Gabindra Roy Saha, the ancestor of the Baliati Zaminaders. He was a salt businessman. There was a salt farmhouse in the northwestern side of his house.
Over time, the Rath Yatra Fair festival was organised on the banks of the Tal pond to the west of the farmhouse. This Rath Yatra is still held near the Kali temple, but the festival is no longer organised.
According to the historical records and archives, the zamindars entered the house on the 1st Baishakh in 1300 Bengali year. There are several memorable personalities in this family--- Nityananda Roy Chowdhury, Brindavan Chandra, Jagannath Roy, Kanai Lal, Kishori Lal, Harendra Kumar Roy Chowdhury, Hira Lal Roy Chowdhury.
Baliati Palace is also a tourist spot. Tourists come from all over the country. It remains open 5 days a week from 10 am to 6 pm in the summer and from 9 am to 5 pm in the winter, with a break of one to two hours; it remains closed on Sunday and Monday.