Ideas Manzil is the brainchild of owner Barry Ison, a long time foreign resident of Bangladesh and indeed, this end of South Asia. Originally born and raised in Darjeeling, Ison has long had a passion for the culture and history of Bengal, and is now one of the few foreign hospitality business owners in Bangladesh, which is probably why the property is so unique.

The Manzil (Arabic term for house) is an intimate heritage guesthouse situated in a quiet corner of Dhaka’s Gulshan neighbourhood, where many of the foreign missions and development agencies are based. With five guest rooms, an upstairs roof terrace, a restaurant and handicrafts boutique, Ison is indeed offering everything that a responsible traveller could want in a single, accessible package.

The atmosphere of the guesthouse speaks of an old world hospitality not easily found amongst the modern tile-and-concrete hotels and guesthouses of the rest of Gulshan. Corridors are decorated with hand-carved Mughal doorways; Bangladeshi art and photography is displayed prominently around the property. In essence, Ison has created an experience that could be called true Bangladeshi hospitality.

The guesthouse is best suited for those who are seeking an authentic experience of Bangladesh and a taste of its old world charms, and so historians, culture vultures and a professional traveller would appreciate this place more than young adventure seekers. It’s a good place to base yourself if you’re a visiting development worker or business person, or are a short-term tourist to Dhaka and want to see how local upper class people live in a supposedly ‘poverty stricken’ country.