Project Description

Oranges Call the Shores of Serenity

The Komola Rocket is a historic British-era paddle steamer moored at Sadarghat, Dhaka, carrying over a century of river heritage.  Once among the fastest “Rockets” linking Dhaka to southern  districts, it was more than transport — it was a floating meeting  place, alive with tea stalls, conversations, and the bustle of Puran Dhaka’s riverfront life. Its  preserved orange hull honors both conservation and  transformation. In South Asian tradition, gerua — the sacred  orange worn by monks and pandits — symbolizes peace, humility,  and spiritual awakening. On the Komola Rocket, it becomes a  beacon, guiding visitors from the city’s noise into a world of calm connection.

 Three healing anchors shape the new experience:  Meditation Space — an open riverside sanctuary, bathed in soft  orange tones, offering quiet reflection. Herbal Tea Lounge Deck — fragrant teas, shaded seating, and river views invite slow conversation and mindful pauses. Breathing Deck — open-air platform for yoga, pranayama, and sunrise contemplation, aligning body and mind with the river’s rhythm. Other restored spaces carry the heritage essence of Puran Dhaka: the engine room becomes a living museum; the front deck transforms into a riverside restaurant serving local recipes; a rickshaw-paint studio revives traditional artistry; the pontoon hosts a bustling community market; and the amphitheater returns the ship’s deck to music, stories, and laughter — as itonce was. 

Here, heritage, healing, and community meet — transforming an abandoned relic into a vibrant vessel of peace. Here, on the Buriganga’s gentle tide, the Komola Rocket breathes again — not in speed, but in serenity — gifting the city a cultural anchor where history, community, and calm meet on the water.