Dhaka
From 400 hundred years old Mughal Emporium to now, Dhaka is one of the most ancient cities in South Asia, which is currently the capital of Bangladesh. It has so many historical places to visit, and so many traditional foods to eat, which is located in old Dhaka, the most chaotic, cultural, and crowded place, and lots of shopping malls for modern life which is located in New Dhaka.
Unbearable Traffic, Friendly People, Rampant Pollution, Foodie Paradise, and Many Forms of Transportation will be a remarkable memory for a traveler.
BEST THINGS TO DO IN DHAKA
Without making a list it’s going be difficult to visit any unknown city which are you going to for the first time. Here I am sharing with you a shortlist to get experience with new things in Dhaka.
1. Ride in a rickshaw
The paddle-powered three-wheel transportation can give you a different experience in this city which sometimes causes heavy traffic on the road. On the other hand, it will give you a quick transport service on a narrow road.
2. Visit historic mosques
People say Dhaka is the city of the mosque. As a majority of Muslim religious people here, there are a lot of historic and modern mosques situated here like the Tara mosque, shath gambuze mosque, and National Baitul Mokarrram mosque.
3. Explore an Armenian Church
As a historical city, there is an Armenian church which is a historically significant architectural monument situated in the Armanitola area of old Dhaka, where many graves go back hundreds of years.
4. Ride in a Traditional Paddle Boat
This will be the high point of your Dhaka adventures, as you cross the river in a hand-paddled wooden boat in Buriganga with some various kinds of boats.
Best Places to Visit in Dhaka
There are so many significant and attractive/enchanting places in Dhaka. Most of them are located in the old town called “Puran Dhaka”. Despite Unbearable Traffic, after reaching in old Dhaka you will be heading into the narrow lane where people moving here and there for their livelihood.
I have listed some of the most attractive places that a traveler must visit.
1. Lalbagh Fort
Lalbagh Fort is the unfinished Mughal architecture and one of the most attractive tourist spots in Dhaka which is founded in the old town. Most of the visitors didn’t find it to be the most gripping place. However, you can see the best picture from any high view near Lalbagh Fort.
2. Ahsan Manzil
The “Pink Palace” named Ahsan Manzil was built on the bank of the river Buriganga. This two-story building was the residential palace of the Nawab Family from Dhaka, Currently used as a museum. The style of this building is truly amazing with its Indo-Saracenic Revival architecture.
3. Old Dhaka
Old Dhaka is famous for its traditional food, historic buildings, cultural festivals, and narrow roads. The people of this city are very amiable with their visitors. Their cultural activities are far different from the new Dhaka. In my opinion about Old Dhaka, you can find different kinds of crazy things to do.
4. National Parliament House
The National Parliament House also known as “Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban” is one of the most magnificent architecture in the world which was designed by great American architect Louis Isadore Kahn. His design philosophy represented the Bengali heritage and culture of this country.
Best Food to Eat in Dhaka
Dhaka is a Foodie Paradise. You can eat different kinds of mouthwatering traditional foods and drinks. Especially the old Dhaka’s traditional food, like Biryani, Lassi, and Kabab.
1. Haji’s Biryani
You may be tasted biryani in Hydrabad or Lahore with a different flavor, but you never think what kind of flavor is waiting for you in Dhaka’s Haji Biryani in Najira Bazar at Old Dhaka.
2. Kabab
Kabab is one of the popular/famous foods in Dhaka. There are many delicious kabab shops. Star Kabab is one of the famous kabab shops in Dhaka. Another renowned kabab is Manjar Kabab. Moreover, there are many other kabab shops available in Dhaka, like Kabab Ghar, Kabab Factory, etc.
3. Beauty Lassi
Beauty Lassi is most the prevalent drink to the Foodies in this city which is made of sweet yogurt, water, ice, and sugar syrup. I love this drink because this is refreshing and tasty, especially in the summer.
4. Bakarkhani
Bakarkhani is one kind of biscuit that Dhakaiya people eat for breakfast. it is prepared by plane flour. It’s one of the traditional foods in Dhaka. They eat Bakarkhani with tea.
Best neighborhoods to see in Dhaka
1. Victoria Park
Victoria Park is one of the oldest historical parks in Dhaka city, which was named after Queen Victoria. This is an oval-shaped small park located in old Dhaka. In the year of 1957, this park was renamed Bahadur Shah Park, but the local people still called this park Victoria Park. To me, this is an ordinary place to visit.
2. Ramna Park
The most important side /part of Ramna/this park is its establishing time which is 1610 in the Mughal Emporium. The city people go there to get rid of their exhausting life by having fresh air and doing/do their daily gymnastic activities. My recommendation to the travelers put this place at the forefront of your list
3. Sohrawardi Uddan
The Historical place of this country ever where Lt Gen A A K Niazi signed the Pakistani Instrument of Surrender marked the end of the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 and the creation of Bangladesh. Just go to the park and see the historical architecture called Swadhinata Stambha and The Monume & The Eternal Flame (left side).
Travel Itineraries
If you are planning a quick trip to Dhaka and searching for a set plan, we have some great stopover itineraries here.
2 Days in Dhaka
If you have a short time and plan to stop for a couple of days at Dhaka then you can follow Bino’s perfect 2-day itinerary for Dhaka, who is a part-time wanderer and a Singapore-based travel blogger. He has 7+ years of travel experience and shares his travel itineraries and tips for different countries.
You can get an idea of how to plan a couple of days in Dhaka by reading his blog here
KACH & JONATHAN HOWE from the Philippines and UK run a travel blog named “Two Monkeys Travel Group” where they share their blog ‘THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN DHAKA, BANGLADESH AND OUR 2 DAY TOUR ITINERARY’.
Read in detail here
36 Hours in Dhaka
A Netherlands travel blogger named Tom has already visited 100+ countries and has shared his travel itineraries for the city of Dhaka.
Read his blog to understand how he spent his time in Dhaka from here
3 days in Dhaka
Katrijn & Yentl who are Belgian travel bloggers started traveling in 2015 and travel lot of countries. They have shared their three-day travel plan to stay in Dhaka. Please read their Dhaka travel itineraries here
