Day trips in and around Dhaka

Foreword: The fastest growing megametropolis of Asia, bursting with energy and never dormant, will never be discovered completely, no matter how often you come here. With Dhaka you do not visit a “city” – Dhaka is anything but not a city – at least not in the traditional sense. Dhaka is a nightmare come true of every city planner. Dhaka is a juggernaut, better a supermassive black hole – all attractive and devouring everyone.

A sea of people and deafening ringing rickshaws makes its way through the entrails of the metropolis to one of the largest river ports of the world – Sadarghat. From its filthy shores to the chic restaurants of Gulshan, Dhaka bows you with immeasurable force the world of the poor and the rich.
It’s very unlikely that you will recognize the charms of Dhaka, but sooner or later you will be defeated and the worst case scenario will turn into a kettle of art, intellect, passion, poverty, love and hate. What can you do in one day in Dhaka? Here are some travel suggestions:

OLD-DHAKA – THE HEART

The most important points like Shankharia Bazar (Hindu Street), Ahsan Manzil, Sadarghat, Armenian Church, Tara Masjid, Dhakeshwari National Temple and Lalbagh Fort. You should take your time, because Old-Dhaka is above all an almost impenetrable tangle of roads, paths and alleyways around one of the world’s largest river ports – the Sadarghat – and the Shankharia Bazar (Hindu Street). The many small business and artisan lanes will be discovered as well as the culinary highlights.
Shankhari Bazar and Sadarghat on our YouTube channel
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DHAKA HYPERMODERN

For the one “grim 1970s architecture” for those who (want to) understand something of architecture, it is one of the ten most beautiful buildings in the world. How about an exclusive tour of the Parliament building (Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban, architect: L. I. Kahn)? In addition: Novo Theater, the trendy scene-quarters Banani and Gulshan, Jamuna Future Park (the largest shopping mall in South Asia), Baitul Mukarram (unique national mosque), Suhrawardi Udyan (modern but historical site with multimedia museum).
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MARKETS, MARKETS, MARKETS

”What a city is good for, you recognize in their markets.” someone once said. If you are one of those who like to plunge into the market bustle, then this is just the right thing for you. Dhaka has about ninety markets, you should definitely visit the Kawran Bazar – Dhaka’s oldest and most original market, which has only marginally changed since British times, and the New Market – quite the contrary. The streets around the Sadarghat are also crowded by traders.
The Kawran Bazar and New Market on our YouTube channel
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STUDENTS & INDEPENDENCE

The campus as the nucleus of the Bengali liberation, the National Monument for the millions of victims of the 1971 war at Savar, the Liberation War Museum, the National Museum, the historical Suhrawardi Udyan with the underground multimedia museum on the history of independence, the eternal flame as well as the campus as a mirror of student life. Last but not least the Curson Hall of the University of Dhaka (the oldest and largest public university in the country).
Museum of Independence on our YouTube channel
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SONARGAON – THE CITY OF GOLD

The history of the “City of Gold" (because nothing else means “Sonargaon”) on the outskirts of Dhaka dates back to the 13th century. Its best times it experienced as a trading center and capital of the empire of Isha Khan in the 16th century. There are mosques, tombs, stupas, and Hindu temples, as well as a whole street of reviving colonial architecture and extensive gardens. Worth seeing is also the Folk Art and Crafts Museum, Shilpa Jadughar.
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BHAWAL – THE GREEN LUNG OF DHAKA

Around one hour north of Dhaka is the Bhawal National Park. This is where you can enjoy, refreshing, picnicking, playing a game of cricket or football. A national park in in terms of recreational park. Extinct animal species are resettled and reforested, but still a park in the terms of recovery – not to observe rare species and wilderness. If you really want to relax, avoid the park but then on the weekend (Friday and Saturday).
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OUT OF DHAKA – ON THE SHITALAKSHYA

Would you like to escape from the capital for one day? On the outskirts of Dhaka, on the opposite bank of the Shitalakshya River, is a small village for craftsmen. The same is known and appreciated in the nearby Dhaka for its woven fabrics and saris. The manufactories can of course be visited (but on Friday the most are closed). By boat we continue to Murapara. An old mansion – now a college – and lots of children are waiting for you there.
An antique weaving in Rupshi and Happy kids in Murapara on our YouTube channel
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MAINAMATI – BUDDHIST PEARLS

Comilla is located in the Tropic of Cancer and is the warmest city in the country. In Mainamati, near Comilla, are the remains of more than 50 Buddhist settlements dating back to the 8th to 12th centuries. The archaeological site is one of the most important, while Shalban Vihara is one of the most famous monastic sites of the subcontinent. It was founded around the end of the 8th century by King Shri Bhava Deva. Originally, the monastery was named as the king (Bhavadev Bihar), today the name refers to a grove of shals trees.
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MYMENSINGH – BANGLADESH FOR BEGINNERS

The trip can be done in one day, but it is better to plan an overnight stay in Mymensingh because there is so much to discover in the city on the banks of the Brahmaputra. Mymensingh was really big by the East India Company and their traces can be found almost everywhere. You will like the city – the botanical garden, the many students, buildings like the Mymensingh Rajbari or the Alexander Castle where some of the famous guests were. In the evening, funfair is at the “small” Brahmaputra.
Welcome to Mymensingh! on our YouTube channel
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BALIATI PALACE - HISTORY OF RENAISSANCE AND SALT

Matching attributes for Baliati Palace would be fabulous, mysterious or mystical. After about two hours drive through the countryside – the villages, markets and rice fields are definitely worth a visit – you reach the Baliati Palace at Manikganj. Experts speak of one of the most beautiful palace complexes in the Renaissance colonial style of the 19th century in Bangladesh. Founder Ram Shaha was once a salt wholesaler. But this goal should not be on the weekend.
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ARPARA ZAMINDAR PALACE – THE UNKNOWN

”The Unknown” because we could not get any really credible background information about the object to this day. But it is well connected with a visit to the National Monument in Savar, because even without usable information, the building ensemble – consisting of the mansion, auxiliary building and Hindu temple – is more than just worth seeing. Sculptures, wild little gardens, nice inhabitants, a small pond and craftsmen round off the day trip and compensate for the chaotic, nerve-racking overall situation of Savar.
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TEOTA – THE FORGOTTEN BEAUTY AT THE JAMUNA

Even the 300-year-old ruins of the palace in the village of Teota are impressive, framed on the western side by the Jamuna, which flows only a few kilometers further south into the Padma and the bright white Navaratna temple, in front of the palaces, caps it all! The journey through the country is very entertaining. On the one hand, in the rural Nirvana, awaits you the Palace of Betila, on the other hand, the architecturally unique Temple of Motto, which looks more like a tower. A tour for early risers!.
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