Known as the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Bangladesh is a country in South Asia which shares its borders with India and Myanmar. The country is known to be close to Nepal, Bhutan and China and is also known to be a flat delta with the Bay of Bengal being roughly equal to its land area. It is the eight more populous country in the world as well as being one of the most culturally rich countries. Going there ensures that you soak in a lot of culture and experience the diverse life.
The beach is always a great place to go to and Cox’s Bazar is known to be the sea town of Bangladesh. Activities such as paragliding, sailing and horse riding are common and can be easily achieved through visitations to any of the beaches along the area.
Travel time:
8 hours by car (12000 tk)
55 minutes by flight (4000 tk, can vary depending on airline)
10 hours by bus (1200 tk, can vary depending on different bus lines)
Distance from Dhaka: 181 km
Srimongal is the tea capital of Bangladesh and is one of most picturesque parts of the country. Cycling around the tea estates and the villages can create great memories as well give you a taste of the Bangladeshi lifestyle. The tour itself has activities such as hiking, cycling and sightseeing.
7 hours by bus (500 tk, prices vary depending on bus line)
Distance from Zanzibar city: 50km
Sundarban is the largest mangrove forest in the world and as such, its main attraction is the Royal Bengal tiger. Along with the several tribes that you might happen to chance upon, the forest provides many things to see and discover through the tour. The trip starts on a boat trip from Khulna and lasts for three to four days. Sites such as( www.guidetoursbd.com, www.bengaltours.com and www.bangladeshecotours.com) run reliable tours that can cost 12000tk to 15000 tk.
This monument is known to be the official residential palace and seat of the Nawab of Dhaka. It is situated at Kumartoli along the banks of the Buriganga River and was started in 1859 before being completed in 1872. In the present day, it has been made a museum. As a palace, it is lavish and contains many relics of the old time.
Travel by: car
Time taken: 47 minutes
Distance from city center: 15.5 km
Made by Mughal Aurangazeb, it wasn’t completed until much later. The fort itself is divided into three parts, the mosque, the tomb of Bibi Pari and the Diwan-i-Aam. The Diwan I Aam is the residence and the tomb of Bibi Pari contains her remains as well as rooms covered in white marble. It’s a large complex where the day will finish through exploring it.
Travel by: car
Time taken: 45 minutes
Distance from city center: 8.9 km
This is the house of the Parliament of Bangladesh located at Sher e Bangla Nagar in Dhaka. It is one of the largest legislative complexes in the world. There are nine individual blocks with the Main block being restricted for tourists. Tourists can navigate the rest of the areas and opposite the structure is Crescent Lake and Chandrima Uddan which is another popular attraction for tourists.
Travel by: car
Time taken: 30 minutes
Distance from city center: 390 km
The official beach city of Dhaka, it has several beaches along the coast and resorts that add to the enjoyment. You can go sailing, horse riding or simply soak up some rays by the sea. Everything is up to you!
Travel by: by car
Time taken: 8 hours
Travel by: bus
Time taken: 10 hours
Travel by: flight
Time taken: 55 minutes
Distance from city center: 384 km
In the Barisal district, it is the second most popular tourist destination with its panoramic beach. It allows for sailing or exploring along the beach. You can also get a great view of the Bay of Bengal as the sun disappears into the horizon.
Travel by: car
Time taken: 11 hours
Travel by: bus
Time taken: 8 hours
Launch / Steamer is another option but it is very risky and tedious. It can take up to 12 hours.
Distance from city center: 260 km
Located in the port city of Chittagong, it is a beach which does not allow many activities but is more for viewing pleasure. It is not advised to swim in the sea because of the narrow width but the beach has the best street food, the highlight of which is a spicy crab dish. You can go there to view the sunset and sunrises.
Travel by: car
Time taken: 5 hours 17 minutes
Travel by: bus
Time taken: 8 hours, will have to change buses at Chittagong to go to Patenga.
travel by car, takes 30 minutes
The second largest mall in Dhaka as well as in the Indian Subcontinent, it opened in 2004. There are 19 stories of which 8 are of the mall themselves while the rest is for the corporate section. There are more than 1500 shops which an underground gymnasium and good court. A multiplex movie theater, theme park and skating rink are there as the entertainment section. It is usually filled with visitors.
travel by car, takes 34 minutes
It is the largest shopping complex in Hatirjeel and is a more informal form of a mall, lacking air conditioning but has many shops and great bargains. The day will go by as you navigate your way through the complex and bag great deals. You can also snatch some great food.
travel by car, takes 15 minutes
The largest shopping complex in Bangladesh and hence in the Indian Subcontinent, it boasts several facilities such as air conditioning and WIFI. There are also several shops in the seven floors with a cinema, bowling alley, amusement park and food court. There is also a gym and soon to be, a supermarket as well. There are great bargains to be had here as well as a variety of items in the shops.
24/C Rd 113, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
A Japanese restaurant which serves authentic sushi dishes and is known for their great service and atmosphere. The prices are a bit on the high side but the food is a must have during the visit. The restaurant itself is quaint and gives private rooms for their patrons.
+880 1762-635083, Open every day from 12 to 2.30 PM and 6 PM to 10.30 PM.
Biryani
A spiced rice dish that can be served with meat or chicken, sometimes mixed or placed over the rice. The most famous version of biryani is definitely kacchi biryani which is traditionally made with mutton and potatoes, heavily spiced and fragrant. It’s a must try on the visit to Bangladesh.
Bhuna
A style of cooking that incorporates spice pastes such as red chili, ginger, onion, garlic and cinnamon which are then heated in oil and cooked with fish, meat or vegetables. It can be adjusted and with a bit of water to thin the sauce, it can then be eaten with rice.
Rasgulla
A sweet dish that is made with cottage cheese and semolina, rolled into balls and submerged in sweet syrup. It’s a great end to any meal and is incredibly sweet.
Service Rd, Dhaka 1230, Bangladesh
A restaurant that serves Chinese, specifically Cantonese dishes to its patrons. It is known for its large area and great food though the service can lack at times. The food makes up for it in the end though and can be great as a night out.
+880 2-7912588, Open every day 10 AM to 11 PM
Another hotel that has clubs within its area to allow for some recreation. With its two clubs, one being a shisha club, it does offer many amenities for tourists. In one of the clubs, Club 13, you can unwind after a long day while the Shisha club is more energetic and allows more activities.
A quaint lounge popular among the youngsters of the city, it serves good food and great seat but unfortunately no place for dancing. There are live bands and such on certain nights and you can still enjoy yourselves with your friends.
Satmasjid Road, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 880 2 819-1556
The five star hotel in Dhaka may not seem like a great place to go for a night life experience but looks can be deceiving. The hotel has a great lounge where everyone can hang out and listen to live music For foreigners, there can be drinks and cocktails.
Alcohol is prohibited to drink but is available in certain establishments for foreigners.
While prostitution is legal, it is not considered respectable and so is done discretely.
Homosexuality is illegal in Bangladesh and is punishable to 10 years in prison.
While travelling to Bangladesh, it is best to get the basic vaccinations done such as polio, hepatitis A and B, yellow fever etc. There is health care available in the capital but in case you are visiting the rural areas, it’s best to keep a medical kit at hand. Tap water should not be drunk and food from street venders are not advised.
Safety is necessary and should be taken care to maintain. It’s better not to be out in lonely areas at night and its better not to flaunt your personal belongings as there might be pickpockets or muggers lurking nearby.
Though the original origin of Bengal is not known, it remained a part of some ancient cultures before the influence of Islam arrived in 7 BC, followed by the rule of the Turkish Empire. The leadership changed hands several times over the next couple of hundred years before the Mughal era arrived during the reign of Akbar. It was during Aurangazeb’s rule that the Lalbagh Fort was created. It was after the Nawab’s rule that the British arrived in Bengal. The Bengal Renaissance occurred during the British rule during the 19th and 20th century. The partition of Bengal in 1905 brought the separation of Hindi, Oriya and Assameses areas to form Bihar, Assam and Oriya.
It was soon afterward that East Pakistan and West Pakistan were formed. At this time, West Pakistan announced that Urdu would be the national language causing students in East Pakistan to rise up in protestation. This led to terrible consequences in the form of martyrs. Due to years of political instability, Bangabandu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, known to be the father of the nation called for the citizens to stand up for their country for the Liberation war. Before getting arrested in 1971, on March 26, he announced the Liberation War.
What followed was nine months of war which ended on 16th December, 1971 and Bangladesh was formed as an independent country. From that time, it grew into the country that it is now.
The official language of Bangladesh is Bengali (Bangla).
