On the day I visited Baldha Garden in Wari, Dhaka, I visited Dhaka’s first Christian cemetery. Portuguese farmers built this 17th-century cemetery in Dhaka. Historically the graveyard is quite important. The tombs of many famous people include the tomb of Sir Colombo, the tomb of Reverend Joseph Paget, and the tomb of Jeanette van Tassel.
Dhaka Christian Cemetery or Narinda Christian Cemetery, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Priest Sebastian Manrique said that this cemetery is the first Christian cemetery in Dhaka and there was a church here. The Portuguese Augustinian is believed to have built this church first. The church does not currently exist. Most of the gravestones in the cemetery have no gravestones but are in the face of destruction due to carelessness and neglect. The area that local elders and historians talk about in the cemetery is far from real. It has shrunk to what it is today. The entire cemetery is paved with paths to explore.
The Christian cemetery has a tall octagonal Gothic tower with eight windows known as Colombo Saheb’s Tomb. There are 3 graves inside the mausoleum but the mystery still surrounds this mausoleum.
Image of the interior of the dome above Colombo Saheb’s Mausoleum
Besides, there are several mass graves here. Although the Portuguese built this cemetery, there are graves of people from different countries. Over time, most of the graves and their memories are lost.
The Tombstone of the legendary Chinese man Wonsi Quan
Hindu Mausoleum or tomb
How to go: The Christian Cemetery in Wari of Old Dhaka is located on the south side of Baldha Garden. If you want to visit Baldha Garden, you can take time to visit this cemetery located on Narinda Road. Entry is possible with the permission of the local caretaker.
Opening and closing hours: You can enter during the day. However, they are not allowed to enter when prayer or Sankara work is going on. No eating or drinking here and rules should be followed.
What to do here: There is no exception to the customs that usually have to be followed in the cemetery. Can only be sent on foot. If you have a historian with you, you will get a lot of interesting information. Now there are several organizations in Dhaka for such tours. You can get more details by contacting them.
When to come: You can enjoy the beauty here in the morning or afternoon. There are no food facilities inside the park but you can bring water bottles with you to quench your thirst.
After visiting Baldha Garden, I went back in time. It was nice to see each plaque and learn about them. A cemetery is never a comfortable place, but a great place to learn and understand history. I returned to my destination with the hope that this cemetery would soon return to good condition from such a dilapidated condition.