The Best Travel Guide to Dhaka (UPDATED 2024) | ArrivalGuides.com

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Dhaka

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Asia Bangladesh Dhaka

Overview

Dhaka The guide was updated: 2024-05-22

Hectic, bustling, chaotic — Dhaka is an enormous city of endless possibilities with energy to spare. Though it can seem a bit overwhelming at first, visitors who take the time to explore will find the experience most rewarding. Delicious food, bustling markets, serene parks and gardens, lazy river cruises and death-defying rickshaw rides, fascinating museums, temples and mosques to ease the soul, and tantalising musical and dance performances; all this and more awaits the adventurous traveller who dares to venture into this unique city.

Facts

Population:	The city: 10.3 million Dhakaiyas Metro area: 22.5 million
Currency:	Bangladeshi Taka (BDT or Tk) 1 BDT = 100 poisha
Search Accommodation:	Hotels »
Emergency numbers:	Emergency: 999
Newspapers:	The Bangladesh Today: thebangladeshtoday.com Daily Sun: www.daily-sun.com The Daily Observer: observerbd.com The Financial Express: thefinancialexpress.com.bd The Daily Star: www.thedailystar.net Dhaka Tribune: www.dhakatribune.com
Opening hours:	Most businesses generally open at about 9 am and remain open until around 6 pm. Restaurants close later, between 8 pm and 10 pm, and bars at about 11 pm or midnight.
Tourist information:	Bangladesh Tourism Board Bangladesh House Building Finance Corporation Bhaban (7th floor) 22, Purana Paltan, Dhaka +880 2 9513328 btbnto@gmail.com

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Section in Dhaka

Dhaka offers a mix of people, cultures and religions, and the city's many temples and mosques could keep visitors occupied for days. Add to that the impressive monuments and historic buildings, palaces and forts, and a few fantastic museums, and there won't seem to be enough time to take it all in. And of course, don't miss the chance to take a ride down the Buriganga River for a glimpse at real Bangladeshi life.

National Assembly of Bangladesh (Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban)

National Assembly of Bangladesh (Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban)

The construction of this masterpiece, designed by Louis Kahn, took 22 years from 1961 until its completion in 1983, interrupted only by the war for liberation from Pakistan. Today, the structure is used as assembly grounds by the parliament of the country. The monumental building ranks among some of the finest examples of modern Bangladeshi architecture.

Ahsan Manzil (Pink Palace)

Ahsan Manzil (Pink Palace)

Perhaps the city's most iconic landmark, this impressive palace dates back to 1872 and is a must for any visit to Dhaka. Renovations in the 1980s have left all 23 rooms just as they looked at their most luxurious and grandiose, and a walk through the palace is like a trip through time. A standout feature is the enormous elephant skull, a former Nawab's favourite.

Lalbagh Fort

Lalbagh Fort

The fort and its beautiful gardens are a great place to escape the bustle of the city streets for a while. Dating back to 1684, the complex includes three monuments: the Quilla Mosque, the Tomb of Pari Bibi and the Hall of Audience. This last one, the only one visitors can enter, houses a small museum containing coins, carpets, paintings and more.

Sadarghat Boat Terminal

Sadarghat Boat Terminal

The Buriganga River, which runs peacefully through Dhaka, showcases a microcosm of the whole country on its banks. You can see people fishing by the shore as your vessel navigates through the maze of boats making their way down the river. Taking a ride here is one of the best ways to get a true view of Bangladesh and its way of life.

Dhakeswari Temple

Dhakeswari Temple

Although this temple may seem modern, it stands on a most sacred spot, where temples have stood for centuries. It is the centre of the Hindu religion in Bangladesh, dedicated to Dhakeshwari, the protector deity of the city, and gathers thousands of followers every year during the Durga Puja festival in September.

Tara Mosque

Tara Mosque

Another iconic monument of Dhaka, the Tara Mosque, or Star Mosque, has fascinated visitors and locals alike for years with its beautifully detailed mosaics. Interestingly, some tiles feature illustrations of Mt Fuji, since a renovation was done some 50 years ago using Japanese and English porcelain tiles.

Bangladesh National Museum

Bangladesh National Museum

The Bangladesh National Museum takes visitors on a tour through the country's natural, social and art history, its geology, flora and fauna, and much more, with its high-quality displays and unique artefacts (a standout feature is the large river racing boat). It is well worth a visit to get an understanding of the country's fascinating history.

Botanical Gardens

Botanical Gardens

These beautiful and serene botanical gardens offer city-dwellers a tranquil and quiet place to escape the hectic and noisy city life. The gardens cover over 40 hectares and feature a rich array of thousands of examples of local and foreign plant life, as well as a wealth of birds that have made the gardens their home.

Liberation War Museum

Liberation War Museum

Bangladesh's War of Independence from Pakistan in 1971 was a deadly and haunting conflict. The Liberation War Museum takes visitors on a difficult but important recollection of the war and its tragedies, and though it can be quite graphic at times, it is essential to understanding the country as it is today.

Armenian Church

Armenian Church

For centuries, there was a significant Armenian community in Bangladesh, though their presence is minimal today. Founded in 1781, the Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection in Dhaka's Armanitola neighbourhood — named after the Armenian settlers — is a remnant of that era. This beautiful church is worth a visit, serving as a marker of the city's past and ongoing diversity.

Suhrawardi Park

Suhrawardi Park

Once a racetrack, and the place where the Bangladeshi Declaration of Independence took place, this vast park holds historical importance. A fine place to relax by day, it converts into an open-air market at night, so there is never a bad time to visit.

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