Major Cities / Tourist Places

Dhaka

Bangladesh

Located at the edge of the Buriganga River, Dhaka has a pulsating vibe about it. Given that it was the Mughal capital of Bengal, pre Independence, for 75 whole years, one can find architectural influence in the old monuments. Dhaka is the cultural and political capital of the country, but for a traveller it is a great base to access different parts of the nation and get oriented to the social fabric of the place.

With Dhaka taking the centre stage for all political and administrative activities, other cities in the small country of Bangladesh take the onus of travel oriented exposure to the visitor. For this, Chittagong, Khulna and even Barisal offer their wonderful scapes to explore. Use these as base camps to get around, as the infrastructure is better in major towns rather than small villages. There are eight such division towns in Bangladesh that make for perfect springboards.

Chittagong

Bangladesh

The largest seaport of the country, Chittagong is better met with some travel mettle behind you. After all, it needs some time to get used to. Its rickshaw covered streets and a buzz that announces it as a commercially important city can be overwhelming at first. It needs a fine eye to look beyond and see the prominent cultural effervescence that it exudes. Important mosques, museums, shrines and a beach are the highlights for travellers. This is the gateway city to the important tourist circuit consisting Chittagong Hill Tract and Cox’s Bazar.

Cox’s Bazar

Bangladesh

Coxs Bazar’s global claim to fame is having the longest natural beach in the world. A prominent fishing port of a small country, an interesting spin on its name, and a window into the paced out life of Bangladesh – this is what Cox’s Bazar offers. Watching fishermen get fresh catch from sea might be one of the many local sights that enthrall a traveller. Also visit the Himchari National Park and Aggmeda Monastery, a representative of the small but vibrant Buddhist community of Bangladesh.

Rajshahi

Bangladesh

Located on the banks of the Padma River, Rajshahi is also known as the ‘Silk City’ of Bangladesh, owing to its production prowess of pure silk. Apart from being the resting place for a Sufi saint, Shah Makhdum, the historical interest of the city is created by remnants of Dutch and British settlements in the 19th century, and indeed by some of the best terracotta Hindu temples.

Sylhet

Bangladesh

Located on the northeast edge of the city, the town lies on the banks of the River Surma. Carpeted by lush sprawling tea estates, sub-tropical hills, dense rainforests and river valleys, Sylhet is one of the most relaxing cities of the country, ideal to unwind in. It is also known as the ‘spiritual capital’ of the country with its numerous Sufi shrines. Nature’s bounty and the spiritual vibe of the town inject a truly peaceful ambience to the city.

Khulna

Bangladesh

An old river port located on the Rupsha and Bhairab River, Khulna is one of the key industrial towns of the country. But its touristic draw lies in some stunning things that are worth the travellers’ while. There is an old colonial steamboat service that still runs through the town and also connects to the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, popular for sightings of the Royal Bengal tiger. It is also the gateway to the ancient mosque city of Bagerhat, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Mymensingh

Bangladesh

Mymensingh, the place of sufi songs, folklores and huge water bodies called Haaor (a distortion of Sagar – the sea), is a city in Mymensingh District in central region of Bangladesh, situated on the Brahmaputra river. It is also the district headquarters. Mymensingh is the anglicised pronunciation of the original name Momenshahi, named after a ruler called Momen Shah. It is also the home to the old Brahmaputra river, handcrafted duvets called Nakshikanthas and the traditional rural ballad called Maimansingha Gitika.

Rangpur

Bangladesh

Rangpur is better known for Kantaji’s Temple, claimed to be the best crafted terracotta temple in South Asia. This is one of the major cities in Bangladesh and in Rangpur Division. Rangpur was declared a district headquarters on 16 December 1769, and established as a municipality in 1869, making it one of the oldest municipalities in Bangladesh. This small town is an easy gateway to North Bengal in India through the road border.

Chittagong Hill Tract

Bangladesh

Consisting of three hill districts – Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhori - Chittagong Hill Tract is one of the most picturesque parts of Bangladesh, dotted with hillocks, rivers and the largest lake in Bangladesh. This region is a melting pot of tribal living and culture in the country.

Bogra

Bangladesh

Bogra finds its names in the ancient texts of the subcontinent, which shows that it was the oldest city in the kingdom of the great Emperor Ashoka. It also lies close to a place called Mahasthangarh, which is said to be the earliest recorded capital city of Bangladesh. A short distance from Bogra, one can visit the erstwhile citadel of Mahasthangarh that still stands here. There is ample for the traveller to see and do here, and to get oriented to Bangladesh’s history.

Srimongol

Bangladesh

The northeastern town of Srimongol has swathes of green as far as you can see. Experiencing the tea estates and life around them is the highlight of this town, where life goes on at an easy place. No wonder, travellers like to visit here after a hectic history filled itinerary. It is ideal to unwind and take in the great outdoors. Nature walks, plantation visits and mild hikes are what one can do here.

Teknaf

Bangladesh

The southernmost tip of the country, Teknaf is the gateway of the pristine coral island in Bay of Bengal – St. Martin. Originally Zanjeeraa Dwip, (the island where ships use to anchor) St. Martin is a popular tourist spot & can be accessed by the day cruisers voyaged from Teknaf. One can make a return on the same day with ease.

Barisal

Bangladesh

Barisal is a major city that lies on the bank of Kirtankhola river, in south-central Bangladesh. It is the largest city and the administrative headquarter of both Barisal district and Barisal Division. It is one of the oldest municipalities and river ports of the country. Barisal municipality was established in the year 1876 during the British Raj. Barisal’s very own beauty is in her rivers, rivulets, canals and backwaters. It is home to the largest floating market of the subcontinent and produces the best catches of which they call “silver corps from water” – the hilsa fish.

Iconic Places

The heady rural sprawl of the country is sure to strike as paradisical – that is what Bangladesh promises. The country is a small one and easy to traverse distance wise. But one encounters a plethora of wondrous sights even in these short distances. Some of the iconic destinations include Kantanagar Temple, swamp safaris in Ratargul, Sunderbans, Kaptai Lake and others.

Sundarbans

Bangladesh

At Sundarbans, you’re in the middle of the largest single block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world. This is also the reason why the elusive Royal Bengal Tigers take shelter in their dense network of forests. The 10,000 sq km vast spread of jungle is accredited as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The forest can be accessed by local Cruise (vessel) or local dinghies that glide in the network of canals taking visitors close to the edges of the mangroves, from where animal sighting are plenty.

Paharpur

Bangladesh

Paharpur largely comprises of ruins of the 8th century Buddhist Viharas and is one of the most important archeological sites in the country. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Paharpur is a window into the history of Buddhism in the country. Ruins of the living quarters, monasteries and other structures of the era lie in a soothing backdrop of green.

Bagerhat

Bangladesh

Bagerghat lies on the confluence of two major rivers of the country – Brahmaputra and the Ganges. The city has been given the moniker of ‘Mosque City’, given that it is dotted with numerous domed structures from the 15th century. The fascinating thing is that these are built out of bricks, which is an architectural marvel.

Experiences

Amongst the experiences, Bangladesh’s wildlife trips can be counted as some of the best in the world. Tracking tigers in Sundarbans is one of the most intriguing and popular things to do in the country. Add to that the swamp safaris, visit to the largest floating market of the subcontinent or hiking through off the beaten track trails in the lower Himalayas and tea gardens. Turbulent rivers and unending tracts of greenery across the region with small hamlets rising amidst this, offer a multitude of experiences for the traveller.

Festivals

The multicultural fabric of Bangladesh allows the country to have celebrations from all religious and cultural backgrounds. You will find the same zeal in Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations as in Durga Puja. These are the two main festivals of the country. Apart from this, Buddha Purnima, too is celebrated with enthusiasm. Amongst the more contemporary festivals, the Literature festival, Art Summit, International Photography Festival, International Film Festival and Chhobi Mela have been making waves.

💗💗💗This is our beautiful homeland" Bangladesh" 💞💞💞💞