Dhaka
Overview
The capital city of Dhaka, gateway to Bangladesh for most international visitors, is a colorful and thriving metropolis of some 12 million people. Bangladesh is one of the most crowded countries in the world, with millions of people crammed into a small area, and most of them seem to fill the streets of the pleasant capital city, making even a short walk along the road an exercise in bumping into people and then apologising. Dhaka bears an exciting history and rich culture. Known all over the world as the city of mosques and rickshaws, it has attracted travellers from far and near through the ages. According to recorded history it was founded in 1608 A.D. as the seat of the imperial Mughal viceroy of Bengal. Having a splendoured blending of old and new architectural trends, Dhaka has been developing fast as a modern city and is vibrating with activities in all spheres of life. It is the centre of industrial, commercial, cultural, educational and political activities for Bangladesh. Motijheel is the main commercial area of the city. Dhaka's main waterfront sadarghat is on the bank of the river Buriganga and is crowded with all kinds of river craft, yachts, country-boats, motor launches, paddle steamers, fishermen's boats all bustling with activity. Colorful rickshaws (tricycle) on the city streets are common attractions for the visitors. The city of Dhaka is about as developed as it gets in Bangladesh, and visitors are instantly surprised by the...more
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General Shopping
Bangladesh is one of the largest RMG (ready made garments) exporters in the world, exporting clothing for famous brands for companies such as nike, adidas, levis, etc. Though these products are usually not meant for sale in the local markets, they can be found in abundance in famous shopping areas such as Banga Bazaar, Dhaka College, etc. Tourists will enjoy the Aarong stores that can be found all over Dhaka City that have interesting items all with a bengali flavour, great place for soveniers. As a female traveller, it's a good idea to buy a salwar kameez - a nice and comfortable three piece outfit with a knee length tunic (kameez), pants (salwar) and a matching scarf. You can buy a cotton salwar kameez for 400 taka from a market place or 800-1500 taka from a shop. Silk is more expensive. Aarong is a well known store and it has several outlets around Dhaka. It is owned by BRAC (a large NGO) and sells products such as handicrafts and clothing. It is a bit more expensive though. Aranya is another good store with beautiful crafts. It's located in...more
[Edit]General Sights
There is the stunning Parliament Building, designed by Louis Khan, numerous bookshops, and art galleries around the city, Ramna Park, Lal Bagh Fort and museum, Old Dhaka, the Shahid Minar memorial, the Shattarghat port, Ahsan Manjil, the National Museum, Bangabandhu Memorial, the Mukti Juddha Museum, National Poets' Graveyard, Suhrawardy Uddyaa, National Leader Mausoleum, Banga-Bhaban, Shadhinota Stambha, the Arts & Crafts Institute, Curzon Hall, Old High Court and 1857 Memorial, the National Zoo, the Botanical Gardens, Baldha Garden, Sitara Mosque, Baitul Mukarram Mosque, Hindu and Christian churches and temples, New Market, Boshundhara City Mall, countless other bustling bazaars and shops, and many other places to visit. Ahsan Manjil, the pink palace, has a 2 taka entrance fee and a small exhibition about the history of the palace and a garden. Star Mosque (Sitara Mosque) is a small mosque dating back three hundred years, inlaid with mosaic and tiles. Shisu Mela is the children playground in Shyamoli.
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