Idrakpur Fort

Idrakpur Fort is a traditional monument of Mughal architecture located in Munshiganj district headquarters. In 1660 AD, the then subadar and general of Bengal, Mir Jumla, built this fort at a place called Idrakpur on the banks of the Ichamati river. The 82 meter long and 72 meter wide brick Idrakpur fort was built to protect against Mughal pirates and the Portuguese.
Folklore has it that there was a tunnel from Lalbagh Fort to Idrakpur Fort in Dhaka. The high walled fort has a circular enclosure at each corner and the only arched gate of the fort is placed on the north side of the fort. There are numerous holes on the wall to fire at the enemy. There is a round platform in the middle of the main wall on the eastern side. Almost every fort has arrangements to monitor enemy movements from a distance. Four (Dhaleswari, Ichamati, Meghna and Shitalaksha) rivers are located within 3 km of Idrakpur Fort. In 1909, Idrakpur Fort, a unique example of Mughal architecture, was given the status of a protected monument. This walled round fort is locally known as SDO Kuthi.
It is believed that the construction of Idrakpur Fort started in 1658 and was completed in 1660. The northern side of the divided fort wall has three cannon emplacements. From 1845 to 1984, Idrakpur Durg was used as a residence for the Sub-Divisional Administration. It is currently under the supervision of the Department of Archeology of the Ministry of Culture. Idrakpur is growing in popularity among travelers due to its proximity to the capital Dhaka and day-trip convenience.

How to go

Idrakpur Fort is located near the old court office of Munshiganj district headquarters. From Gulistan in the capital of Dhaka, you can reach Muktarpur by Dighirpar and Dhaka Transport Buses for an autorickshaw fare of Tk 10 per person and Idrakpur Fort for a rickshaw fare of Tk 20-25.

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