Students from the Bachelor of Architecture program at American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) gained firsthand experience of Bengal’s architectural heritage during a day-long study trip to Rose Garden Palace, Tikatuli, and Lalbagh Fort, Lalbagh, on Saturday, August 22, 2026. The visit was organized as an academic activity for the course “Society and Architecture of Bengal.”

Carefully arranged by the Course Teacher, Ajmeri Nusrat Shoma, the trip aimed to connect classroom discussions with direct observation and analysis of historic architecture. The students were accompanied by faculty members Rashed Hasan, Mehedi Amin, and Alvi Md. Ragib Nihal Khan.

The first destination was Rose Garden Palace, Tikatuli, an important example of Dhaka’s colonial architectural heritage. Students closely observed its façade, architectural elements, ornamentation, spatial organization, and other features reflecting the architectural character of its period. As part of their academic assignment, they were asked to identify, document, sketch, and analyze different building elements of the palace, encouraging a deeper understanding of how individual elements contribute to the overall architectural character of a historic building.

After lunch, the group visited Lalbagh Fort, one of Dhaka’s prominent examples of Mughal architecture. Students explored the complex and studied its architectural vocabulary, spatial organization, ornamentation, and functional relationships. Their assignment focused on documenting and analyzing the architectural elements of the Tomb of Pari Bibi, Audience Hall and Hammam, South Gate, and Lalbagh Mosque through sketches, observations, and architectural analysis.

The comparative study of Rose Garden Palace and Lalbagh Fort enabled students to explore the distinctive characteristics of Colonial and Mughal architecture within Dhaka’s historic context. The visit also helped them understand heritage buildings as expressions of the social, cultural, technological, and architectural developments of different periods.

The excursion was conducted with the support of the Head of the Department of Architecture, Arefeen Ibrahim, whose encouragement contributed to the successful organization of the visit. AIUB continues to support academic excursions and experiential learning initiatives that provide students with opportunities to engage directly with architectural heritage and enrich their classroom learning through firsthand experience.