Dhaka Things to Do Tips by travelife Top 5 Page for this destination

Liberation War Museum

This museum has a very moving display on the1971 War of Independence, with lots of English and Bangla newspaper reports, photographs (some quite graphic ) and memorabilia . The lines on the floor take you on a chronological tour of the conflict. It's one of the best museums in the country.

This is the first museum under private initiative and functions very well with good management. In the courtyard there is a cosy cafeteria.

Recommeded.

Fazlul Haque Hall

Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall was established in 1940 according to the name of A.K. Fazlul Huq, former prime minister of non-divided Bangla. It is one of the oldest residential Hall of Dhaka University and divided into three parts, i.e. Main Building, South Building and Extension of South Building.

Apart from being an old residential hall of Dhaka University, Fazlul Huq Hall is also the birthplace of language movement of Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) by the first organized meeting held on September 15, 1947.

Tamuddun Majlis (Cultural Society, an organization by scholars, writers and journalists oriented towards Islamic ideology) in a booklet titled State Language of Pakistan : Bengali or Urdu? demands Bengali as one of the state language of Pakistan. The Secretary of the Majlis, at that time a Professor of Physics in Dhaka University, [Abul Kashem] was the first person to convene a literary meeting to discuss the State Language issue in the Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall, a student residence of Dhaka University. Supporters and sympathizers soon afterwards formed a political party, the Khilafate-Rabbani Party with Abul Hasim as the Chairman.

Apart from its involvement with Language Movement, Fazlul Huq Hall is one of the oldest student dormitories of Dhaka Universities. It was established to house muslim students in undivided India, in a university established on muslim majority area. The architecture is dominated by Islamic arch motif as well as domes on the roof. This lies adjacant to Curzon Hall, another architecturally distinguished establishment from British era.

Curzon Hall

These days Curzon Hall is a part of the school of science of Dhaka University. Curzon Hall meant to be a town hall, was named after Lord Curzon, the Viceroy of India, who laid its foundation in 1904. A year later Bengal was partitioned and Dhaka or Dacca as it was known then, became the capital of the newly created province of East Bengal and Assam. Following the annulment of partition in 1911 it was used as a premise of Dhaka College, and after the establishment of the University of Dhaka in 1921, the decision that made to please Muslims in East Bengal as a compensation for the annulment of the partition, became part of the university's science section and continued as such til date.

Directions: very accessible and well-known by its name in Dahak University area.

Sculpture Against Terror

This sculpture installed on TSC roundabout, Dhaka University was funded by private donors and overseen by a left wing student organization to make a point against political violence among the student activists, a serious problem among the public universities in the country. The sculpture is dedicated to a student killed by political violence.

Address: TSC roundabout, Dhaka university area

Gurudwara Nanak Shahi

This Sikh temple is out of few still found in Bangladesh and is administered from India. There is no resident Sikh community left in Bangladesh but in recent years has been a good number of Sikh visitors mostly on work in Bangladesh.

The gurudwara was founded by a missionary sent to Bangladesh by Baba Gurditta, Son of Guru Hargobind (6th Guru) within 17th century and was completed in 1830. Religious
celebrations include weekly prayers every friday.Social functions such as Baisakhi are
celebrated. Old relics-an old handwritten volume of Guru Granth Sahib, a copy of the Portrait of Guru Teg Bahadur are preserved here.

Address: Nilkhet road, Ramna, Dhaka

Directions: very close to TSC (Teachers Students Centre), Dhaka University

Dhakeshwari Temple

This is the oldest Hindu temple in Dhaka City (12th century). The meaning of the name is "Temple of the Goddess of Dhaka". Legend has it that the city of Dhaka was named after this temple.

The origin of the Dhakeshwari temple is obscure. According to the popular legends, the original temple was built in 12th century by Ballal Sen, a Sena dynasty King based in Arakan (Myanmar) and the name of the city was coined after this temple. But the researchers found that the style of architecture of the temple cannot be a resemblance of that period. The temple complex has undergone repairs, renovation and rebuilding in its long years of existence and its present condition does not clearly show any of its original architectural characteristics. Nevertheless, it is certainly an essential part of the cultural heritage of Dhaka city.

The temple consists of four adjoining rekha temples (buildings with a square sanctum on a raised platform with mouldings on the walls covered by tall pyramidal roofs of the typical curvilinear Bangla style. You are likely to find some long-haired sadhus (itinerant holy men) hanging around this colorful establishement.

Directions: this temple is within the walkin distance of the Lalbagh Fort in the old city close to the edge of the new city.

Bara Katra & Choto Katra

The two Mughal Katras in old Dhaka were originally built as caravanserais. Bara Katra was designed and built by Mughal emperor Shahjahan’s son Shah Shuja. Emperor Shah Shuja had initially wished to use this place as his Shahi Mahal (royal palace) but for unknown reasons changed his plan.

Choto Katra was built in 1663 by Shayesta Kha, Subedar of Gujrat and later Bengal, chief commander of the army in the Golkunda battle after he arrived here. Now it remains in the most hideous and dilapidated state, its massive walls under cakes of mildew and its interior encroached by wretched, deplorable homes resembling slums, and small factories manufacturing soaps and tubes.

Both the katras are private properties now, under negligence, in a stinky crowdy areas, lackin proper government attention and inaccessible to tourists. The picture was taken from the street. These katras are in short walkin distance from Chawkbazar square.

Address: Near Chawkbazar, Dhaka old city.

Lalbagh Fort Complex

Built in 1678, the fort complex is located in the northwestern part of Dhaka on the banks of the Buriganga River. Prince Muhammad Azam, son of Emperor Aurangzeb, began the construction while he was serving as the Viceroy of Bengal. Governor Nawab Shaista Khan continued the project after Prince Azam was recalled to assist his father in the war against the Marhattas.

The southeastern gateway is a majestic structure built in the Mughal style. It was intended to be three storeys, but the upper storey was never completed. The inner facade has a four-centered archway with deep plastered semi-octagonal alcoves on either side. Short octagonal minarets define edges. The outer facade also has a four-centered archway flanked with plastered semi-octagonal alcoves. Above each alcove there is an oriel window in two stages that is capped by an elegant cupola. The central archway leads to a square domed hall with guardrooms on either side.

It appears that the defensive walls were reinforced by an internal embankment of earth along the east portion of the southwest corner. It contains an underground room, which may have been used as a summerhouse. The entrance is under a half-dome, which is decorated with ornamental plaster-cut work.

(compiled)

Directions: Lalbagh road, close to Azimpur.

Ahsan Manjil (Pink Palace)

The Palace of Nawab (i.e. local ruler) of Dhaka is turned into a museum these days. Built on the bank of river Buriganga in Dhaka the pink majestic Ahsan Manzil is a part of nations cultural heritage. Nawabs of Dhaka contributed to the advancement of largely Muslim population of the East Bengal being stationed here.

This palace now has 31 rooms 23 galleries displaying portraits, furniture. household articles and collections belonging to Nawabs' families. Interesting to visit are the 'andarmahal' (innerhouse / harem), 'rangmahal' (hall room). The pink colored palace has a huge dome at the top and wide staircase open to the river Buriganga in front. A century ago this was the prime location of residenc eof the rich people, all wanted to live by the river. The red colored additional building is used as a museum to display paintings, furniture and collections.

The palace compound is open on all business days with nominal entrance fee.

Address: near sadarghat (ferry terminal) of Dhaka

Mausoleum of Three Leaders

Known in Bangla as 'Teen Netar Kobor' this is the place of graves of three national leaders who contributed to the indepence and political shape up of the country at differenct times. This is located in Dhaka Universit area within a short walk of the Doel roundabout. The 'Tin Netar Mazar' in Dhaka marking the burial place of the three pre-Liberation Bengali political leaders - A K Fazlul Huq, Khwaja Nazimuddin and Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy - is both structurally and aesthetically an appealing interpretation of the traditional Islamic architecture motif of arch.

This establishment overlooks 'Khaja Shahbaj Mosque', a Mughal era historic mosque, built in the 16th century.