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Historical territory of the city of Dhaka
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Mak assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Old Dhaka is located on the banks of Buriganga River.
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A small, cosy church built in 1781 by Armenian missionaries. Mass is conducted only a few times throughout the year, usually during Christmas and Good Friday. Tours are informal, and could be organised by the caretaker, Mr Martin.
Anglican church built in 1821.
A mosque in Old Dhaka that dates from the 17th century, most likely built by the Mughals.
Star Mosque
Built in the early 18th century, it has since been redecorated with hundreds of tiles with star patterns. Tourists are welcome to visit outside of prayer times.
Dhakeshwari Jatiya Mandir
National Temple of Bangladesh, built in the 12th century, dedicated to the Goddess Durga and God Shiva. It is the seat of Bangladesh's Hindu priesthood.
Built during the 17th century by the Mughals as a house for the imam, a religious leader. Its architecture possesses a mix of Mughal and British influences.
Seven-domed Mosque
A mosque built during the 15th century; it is characterised by its seven white domes that peek upwards from the structure.
Built in 1640 the Dhanmondi Eidgah, is the oldest surviving Mughal monument in Dhaka. It was used for Eid prayers for both Eid ul Fitr and Eid ul Zoha. The Eidgah consists of an open courtyard measuring 45 m by 40 m, and is surrounded by a 5-m-high wall. Entrance is through an arched gateway in the East. The Western wall contains an arched semi octagonal Miharba.
A well-preserved historic mosque on Lalbagh Road. It lies on a raised platform with a stairway on the east, an arched gateway and a central doorway. Persian inscriptions on its arch and Mihrab speak of its construction in 1705.
An ornate early 19th-century mosque in the Armenian quarter decorated with blue star-motifs.
It is the oldest surviving mosque in Dhaka, dating back to the Sultanate of Bengal. It was built in 1454 by Bakht Binat in the reign of Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah. It is beside the Hayat Bepari Bridge in the Narinda area.
It was built by Murshid Quli Khan, the last Mughal governor and first Nawab of Bengal.
Pink Palace
A British Raj-era building that served as a residence for the Nawab of Dhaka. It lies on the banks of the Buriganga River, and is famous for its pink stonework. There are 31 rooms within, and the huge dome on top can be seen from miles around. It has been renovated into a museum with displays concerning its history, with a beautiful garden accompanying the building.
Bengali: Lalbagh Kella
Built in 1678 AD by Prince Mohammad Azam, son of Mughal emperor Aurangazeb. The fort was the scene of many bloody battles, including those during the Mughal era, a revolt against the British during the time of the Raj and protection for the revolutionary forces during the Bangladesh Liberation War. Monuments of the Lalbagh site include the Tomb of Pari Bibi, Lalbagh Mosque, the Audience Hall and the Hammam of Nawab Shaista Khan, which now houses a museum.
Former residence of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. It has been transformed into a museum and contains a rare collection of personal effects and photographs of his life and times. He was assassinated in 1975 along with most of his family members.
The Katras were the caravansaries of the city under Mughal rule. The most prominent were the palatial Bara Katra (Great Caravansary) and the smaller Choto Katra (Young Caravansary). Built in 1643 and 1663 respectively, they hosted merchants and travellers for centuries. Today, only a small portion of the original structures remain standing and are large dilapidated.
A unique creation of the late Narendra Narayan Roy, the landlord of Baldha. Established in 1904, the garden with its rich collection of indigenous and exotic plants is one of the most exciting attractions for botanists, naturalists and tourists.
formerly Victoria Park
In the late nineteenth century Bahadur Shah Park was the centre of Dhaka with European style architecture with several civic and religious buildings and educational institutions around it. It was here that the revolting sepoys and their civil compatriots of the first Liberation War (1857-1859) were publicly hanged. A large park surrounds the memorial, with various other monuments. It has a memorial dedicated to the soldiers killed by the British in the aftermath of the Indian Mutiny of 1857. It was built in 1858 at the initiative of Nawab Khwaja Abdul Ghani. In 1947 the name of the park was changed from Victoria Park to Bahadur Shah Park.
A huge river port on the banks of the Buriganga River. Catch a ride on a boat here and cruise along the river, soaking in the surrounding chaos and sites.
Old Dhaka was famed for its lines of biryani restaurants. Some of the more famous outfits are still going and Hajjee Beryani is one of them. It revels in its eccentric reputation for opening only at certain times and only cooking a certain amount (well-below demand).
On the ground floor of the hotel is a large and popular restaurant, busy anytime of the day with Bangladeshi families and businessmen. Food is pretty darn good, if unpredictable in its timing. Sometimes you'll have a choice of chicken and mutton curries, fish and vegetables, other times it's chicken biryani or the highway. Fish will double the price of a meal, at least. It is located between a clean and well-stocked fruit juice bar and a clean and well-stocked sweet shop. Each plate cost Tk 80.
Does fantastic biryani and goat leg roast.
High-end Chinese restaurant
Kebab and Mughlai food. Mouth-watering and unbelievably tasty.
Very inexpensive local food, famous for Kacchi Biryani and kebabs. A meal for one can run you Tk 50-300.
Famous for its beef and mutton kebab. Different from the other Star Hotel listed here also.
A moderately priced hotel popular with Bangladeshi men, it's got decent clean rooms with attached bathrooms with squat toilets and a popular restaurant.
A big hotel on busy Nawabpur Rd, just south of Bangsal Rd.
It's cheap and it's what to be expected of a cheap hotel, not very exciting or hygienic.
In Dhanmondi Residential Area. Tk 2,876 per night, with breakfast and free broadband Internet connection from the rooms.
This is the largest market in the city and it has more class, more room, and more choice. Prices may be a little higher because the stall rents are more expensive than elsewhere in the city, but it is very affordable compared to Western prices. In addition to clothing, there is leather, linen, jewellery, household goods, CDs, DVDs, and food.
Old Dhaka has little of public transport infrastructure so cycle rickshaw is your best option. Buses are used by locals but signage is rare and utterly confusing for a tourist.
Read in the guideRickshaws and taxis are the main mode for getting around the rather chaotic streets of Old Dhaka. Distances are fairly short but the striking heat can make walking quite a challenge.
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